Your first January bill is 150 per cent of a year’s tax

Payments on Account Calculator

Work out what is due in January and July, and how much bigger the first one is. On £55,000 of profit that first bill is £17,683, not £11,789.

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Payments on Account Calculator

January is the balancing payment for the year just gone plus the first payment on account for the year already running. In the first year that comes to 150 per cent of a year's tax.

Your liability
£
£
What your payments on account were based on.
Due on 31 January

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Already paid on account
Balancing payment
First payment on account
January as a share of a year's tax
Due on 31 July
Set aside a month to cover both

Three things worth knowing

Each payment on account is half of last year's liability, due 31 January and 31 July. Once it settles, a flat income means 50 per cent in January and 50 in July. It is the first year that comes to 150 per cent.

No payments on account if your liability is under £1,000, or if at least 80 per cent of your tax was collected at source.

The first year of self employment has nothing behind it, so the January after it carries a full year plus a half with no warning.

The same sum, in a workbook

With the monthly amount to set aside for both dates.

Download the workbook Free Excel workbook, no signup. Current for 2026/27.

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