Self Assessment customers are using the self-serve Time to Pay
facility to spread the cost of their tax bill into manageable
monthly payments.
Since 6 April 2022, almost 21,600 Self Assessment customers who
were unable to pay their tax bill in full have set up a payment
plan to spread the cost into manageable monthly instalments – an
increase of around 3,900 customers on the previous year – HM
Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has revealed.
The deadline for customers to submit their tax returns for the
2021 to 2022 tax year and pay any tax owed is 31 January 2023 and
HMRC is encouraging
anyone yet to complete their return to do it early. Those who
have already completed their Self Assessment know what they owe
and can budget to make payments on time.
Filing early also means customers, who are unable to pay their
tax bill in full by the deadline, will have plenty of time to
access support and advice on GOV.UK. HMRC may be able to help by
arranging an affordable payment plan.
Visit GOV.UK to find out more about Time to Pay
arrangements.
In the 12 months to 5 April 2022, almost 142,000 customers chose
to use self-serve Time to Pay to pay any tax owed for the 2020 to
2021 tax year, spreading the cost of around £475 million into
monthly instalments.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s
Director General for Customer Services, said:
We’re here to help customers get their tax right and if you are
worried about how to pay your Self Assessment bill, help and
support is available. Visit GOV.UK and search ‘help pay Self
Assessment’ to find out more.
Using HMRC’s
self-serve Time to Pay facility means customers benefit from a
tailored payment plan via monthly direct debits. This means they
can spread the cost of their tax bill based on how much is owed
and the length of time they need to pay. Self Assessment
customers can apply on GOV.UK if they:
- have filed their tax return for the 2021 to 2022 tax year
- owe less than £30,000
- can pay in full within 12 months
If customers owe more than £30,000, or need longer to pay, they
should call the Self Assessment Payment Helpline on 0300 200
3822.
A list of alternative payment options,
including payment via the free and secure HMRC App, are available on
GOV.UK.
A full list of payment
options and eligibility criteria is available on GOV.UK by
searching ‘HMRC
payment option’.
Help and support is
available on GOV.UK for those completing their Self Assessment
tax returns. There is also a series of videos on YouTube.
All Self Assessment customers need to be alert to the risk of
criminals emailing, calling or texting claiming to be from
HMRC. Scams come in
many forms - some threaten immediate arrest for tax evasion,
others offer a tax rebate. Contacts like these should set alarm
bells ringing and HMRC advises customers to take
their time and check scams advice by searching for ‘HMRCscams’ on GOV.UK.
HMRC also urges
customers never to share their HMRClogin details. Someone using
them could steal from the customer or make a fraudulent claim in
their name.
Further information
More information about Self Assessment.
Almost 21,600 Self Assessment customers have set up an online
payment plan between 6 April 2022 and 3 November 2022 and more
than 17,700 customers set one up between 6 April 2021 and 3
November 2021.
Customers can check if they need to complete a
tax return by using the free online tool on GOV.UK.
Find out more about how to declare taxable
COVID-19 support in your tax return if you are self-employed,
in a partnership or run a business.
Payment can be made through HMRC App. To download the free
HMRC App,
customers can visit the App Store from their iPhone or Google
Play for Android and follow the download and set up instructions
from there.
If you think you are no longer required to complete a Self
Assessment return, you can Check if you need to send a Self
Assessment tax return.
