Questions and Answers
What are the consequences if I pay tax late?
I am newly self-employed and have been rather unorganised this year. I have just managed to get my tax records in order and arranged to have my tax return filed by the deadline, but I haven't set enough cash aside to pay my tax. What are the consequences of paying my tax late?
Last updated 16 Feb 2026 | First published 30 Jan 2020
By Helen Wood, CA 1 min read
Self-Assessment Tax Returns
The payment deadline tax from a self-assessment tax returns is usually 31st January and interest is charged from 1st February on any amounts outstanding. You may also be required to make payments on account which will result in a higher tax bill in January and a further payment in July.
After a delay of 30 days, late payment penalties of 5% of the tax you owe will apply. Additional 5% late payment penalties will be added if the delay exceeds six months and again at 12 months.
HMRC interest rates are linked to the Bank of England base rate. Late payment interest is 4% above the base rate. This is currently 7.75%.
How to pay self-assessment tax
You can pay your tax bill online through your online tax account, or through online banking.
You may be able to set up a monthly payment plan online for future self-assessment years here. This allows you to spread the cost of your self-assessment tax bill into monthly instalments so these are more manageable.
HMRC encourages anyone worried about paying their tax bill to contact them for help and support as soon as possible.
How we can help
At TaxAssist Accountants Cricklewood, we are experts in self-assement. If you’re struggling to keep on top of your tax affairs, call us on 020 3988 0580 or complete our contact form here and we'll be in touch.
Last updated 16 Feb 2026 | First published 30 Jan 2020
This article is intended to inform rather than advise and is based on legislation and practice at the time. Taxpayer’s circumstances do vary and if you feel that the information provided is beneficial it is important that you contact us before implementation. If you take, or do not take action as a result of reading this article, before receiving our written endorsement, we will accept no responsibility for any financial loss incurred.
Helen Wood, CA
Helen is a qualified chartered accountant (CA) and joined TaxAssist in 2025 following three years as a freelance content writer for clients in the tax and accounting publishing sector. Prior to this, She spent 17 years at Big Four and Top 10 accountancy firms. Helen writes clear and helpful articles on tax and accounting for businesses and individuals.
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