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What you pay and when you pay it

Your tax bill won't always match the amount you calculated on your Self Assessment tax return. That's because sometimes you'll owe 'balancing payments' for the previous year or 'payments on account' for the current year.

Balancing payments

You may have to pay a 'balancing payment' for the previous tax year. This includes any tax you owe and any interest due on late payments and penalties. The balancing payment takes account of any payments you've already made. You'll have to make the balancing payment by 31 January after the end of the tax year.

For example, for the tax year 2007-08 (6 April 2007 to 5 April 2008) the balancing payment will be due on 31 January 2009.

Payments on account

You'll usually have to make 'payments on account' of the current year's tax. You'll have to make two payments, one by 31 January in the current year and the other by the following 31 July. Each payment is half of the tax due for the previous year.

For example, for the tax year 2008-09 (6 April 2008 to 5 April 2009) the first payment on account will be due on 31 January 2009. The second payment on account will be due on 31 July 2009.

You'll have to make payments on account if your previous year's tax was over £500 or if your non-PAYE (Pay As You Earn) tax due is 20 per cent or more than the total tax due for the year.

If you think your payments on account are too high

If you know that your income for the current year will be lower than last year's you can ask to reduce your payments on account. But:

• you'll have to pay interest on any extra tax that we later find was due
• you might have to pay a penalty if you ask to reduce the payments without taking proper care

You can reduce your payments on account on your tax return and explain in the 'Additional Information' section why you have. You can also use form SA303 to claim to reduce your payments or to change your earlier claim.

If you realise that you've reduced your payments by too much - perhaps because your income turns out to be higher than you thought - please tell us straight away. You can use form SA303 or ring us on the phone number on your SA statement. If you delay you may have to pay interest, surcharges or a penalty.

• Go to form SA303 Claim to reduce payments on account Opens new window

Mistakes

If you've made a mistake with your calculations, your statement will show the right amount. HMRC sends you a tax calculation showing how they worked out the correct figure.

What's on your Self Assessment Statement

At the top right of your Self Assessment Statement you'll find:

• the statement number and date
• your 10 digit unique tax reference number (UTR) 
• your National Insurance (NI) number or NINO 
• if you're employed, your employer's tax reference

You'll also find phone numbers for any queries.

The parts of your statement

Your statement shows the balance from your last statement (what you owed then) and details of any changes since your last statement was issued. These may include:

• amounts you've paid - with 'CR' beside them 
• any remaining tax due for the previous tax year - the 'balancing payment' 
• any penalties you may owe 
• any interest or surcharges you owe 
• details of your 'payments on account' due now 
• any 'payments on account' about to become due (within the next 45 days) 
• any repayments due to you - marked 'CR' 
• interest repayable to you if you paid too much tax - marked 'CR' 
• a summary box showings the overall account balance

If you're due to make a payment, you'll find a pay slip at the bottom of the statement. Instructions for how to pay are on the back of the statement.

• How to pay your tax - find out more Opens new window

Penalties, interest or surcharges on your statement

If you're late paying any tax you owe, we may charge you interest, penalties and surcharges. Your statement might also include interest and/or penalties you've got to pay because of a tax enquiry.

• Tax return deadlines and penalties - read the current dates
• Tax inspections and enquiries - learn more

When is the Self Assessment Statement issued?

You can expect to get a Self Assessment Statement:

• within 45 days of a payment becoming due 
• every two months if you owe more than £32 
• every month if you owe more than £500 
• when underpaid tax is going to be collected through PAYE (Pay As You Earn) 
• when you've paid too much tax 
• after an enquiry into your return changed the tax due 
• if an entry in your last statement has changed

Read your Self Assessment Statement online

HMRC usually sends Self Assessment Statements 45 days before payment is due. But if you file your return online your tax is worked out automatically and you can see what you owe straight away. You'll also be able to check your earlier statements, along with other details of your tax history.

How to view your Self Assessment Statement online

If you've already registered for the Self Assessment Online service and have activated the service, you can view your statement online. If you haven't registered yet - and even if you sent HMRC a paper tax return - you can register now.

• File you tax return online - find out how about the benefits and how to register