How Do I Pay My Personal Tax bill 2025

Understanding the necessary information and available payment methods can help you manage this process efficiently and avoid potential penalties. Below we will look at the information you will need and how you can easily make payment to HMRC.

Information That You Will Require and How to Pay

Information Required

• Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR): A 10-digit number unique to you, followed by the letter ‘K’ when used as a payment reference. You will find this on any letters received from HMRC or your HMRC tax account.
• Payment Reference Number: Depending on the type of tax bill, this could be your UTR followed by ‘K’ or another specific reference provided by HMRC.
• National Insurance Number: This is required for identification and record-keeping purposes.

How to Pay your Tax Bill

HMRC offers several payment options to accommodate different preferences:

1. Online or Telephone Banking (Faster Payments, CHAPS, Bacs):

• Process: Use your bank’s online or telephone banking service to transfer funds.
• Details Needed: HMRC’s bank account details and your payment reference number, which is your UTR number followed by the letter K.
• Processing Time: This is the quickest method to pay HMRC. Faster Payments usually reach HMRC on the same or next day, including weekends and bank holidays. CHAPS payments typically arrive the same working day if made within your bank’s processing times. Bacs payments take up to three working days.

2. Direct Debit:

• Process: Set up a Direct Debit through your HMRC online account.
• Details Needed: Your bank account information, payment reference number and your HMRC login credentials.
• Processing Time: Allow five working days for the initial setup; subsequent payments take about three working days.

3. Debit or Corporate Credit Card Online:

• Process: Pay via HMRC’s online portal using your card.
• Details Needed: Card details and payment reference number.
• Processing Time: Payments are usually processed on the same or next day.

4. At Your Bank or Building Society:

• Process: Pay by cash or cheque at your branch.
• Details Needed: A paying-in slip from HMRC (this would have arrived in the post) and your payment reference number.
• Processing Time: Payments are accepted on the date made, provided it’s a working day.

Note: This option is only available if you receive paper statements from HMRC and have the necessary paying-in slip.

5. By Cheque Through the Post:

• Process: Send a cheque payable to ‘HM Revenue and Customs only’ to HMRC’s address. HMRC, Direct, BX5 5BD
• Details Needed: Include your payment reference number on the back of the cheque and a paying-in slip if available. Reference will be 11 digits followed by the letter K.
• Processing Time: Allow at least three working days for the payment to reach HMRC.

6. Budget Payment Plan:

• Process: Set up weekly or monthly Direct Debit payments towards your next tax bill.
• Details Needed: HMRC online account access and bank details.

Note: You must be up to date with previous Self-Assessment payments to use this option.