What if I can't pay my tax bill by 31 January?
My tax bill is bigger than I expected and I don't have the full amount ready.
Asked by Anonymous on 31 January 2026
1 Answer
Contact HMRC as soon as possible rather than staying silent, as you may be able to set up a 'Time to Pay' arrangement to spread the bill in instalments, which can often be arranged online if you owe below a certain amount. Interest will still accrue on the outstanding balance from 1 February, and if you don't pay or arrange a plan, late payment penalties kick in at 30 days, 6 months and 12 months. Filing your return on time even if you can't pay in full also avoids the separate late-filing penalty, so don't delay submission just because of the payment.