If you are registered for Self-Assessment, you may have a tax payment due by 31 July 2026.
This is known as your second payment on account for the 2025/26 tax year. These payments can sometimes catch people by surprise, particularly where income has changed, cashflow is tight, or the amount due has not been reviewed for a while.
Here is a reminder of how payments on account work and what you may need to do before the deadline.
What are payments on account?
Payments on account are advance payments towards your next Self-Assessment tax bill.
They are designed to spread the cost of your tax across the year, rather than leaving the full amount to be paid in one go at the January deadline.
Payments on account usually include Income Tax and, where relevant, Class 4 National Insurance for self-employed individuals.
There are normally two payments each year:
- The first is due by 31 January
- The second is due by 31 July
Each payment is usually equal to half of the tax you owed for the previous year.
Who needs to make payments on account?
You will usually need to make payments on account unless either of the following applies:
- Your previous year’s Self-Assessment tax bill was less than £1,000
- More than 80% of your tax was collected outside Self-Assessment, for example through PAYE or tax deducted at source
This commonly affects sole traders, landlords, freelancers, company directors with dividend income, and individuals with other untaxed income.
Your Self-Assessment statement or HMRC online account should show whether a payment is due and how much needs to be paid.
Need help before 31 July?
If you have a payment due on 31 July 2026, it is worth checking the amount now rather than leaving it until the deadline.
We can help you:
- Check whether a payment on account is due
- Review whether the amount is correct
- Consider whether a reduction claim is appropriate
- Plan for your January 2027 Self Assessment deadline
Please get in touch if you would like us to review your Self-Assessment position or help you manage your tax payments.
