31 January deadline explained
The most important date in the Self Assessment calendar. What you need to submit, when to pay, and what happens if you miss it.
In one sentence
31 January is the deadline to file your Self Assessment tax return online and pay any tax you owe for the previous tax year.
Quick answer
- File your tax return online by 31 January
- Pay your tax bill by the same date
- Miss it and you face automatic penalties starting at £100
Steps
- 1Gather your income and expense records for the tax year
- 2Log in to your HMRC online account
- 3Complete and submit your Self Assessment tax return
- 4Check how much tax you owe
- 5Pay your tax bill before 31 January
- 6Keep a copy of your submission and payment confirmation
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What is the 31 January deadline?
31 January is the deadline to file your online Self Assessment tax return and pay any tax you owe for the previous tax year.
For example, for the 2023/24 tax year (6 April 2023 to 5 April 2024), you must file and pay by 31 January 2025.
What do you need to do by 31 January?
- File your tax return – Submit your online Self Assessment to HMRC
- Pay your tax bill – Pay the balance owed for the tax year
- Pay your first payment on account – If you owe more than £1,000, you may need to make a payment towards next year's bill
What happens if you miss the deadline?
If you file late, HMRC will charge automatic penalties:
- £100 – immediate penalty on 1 February
- £10 per day – after 3 months (up to £900)
- £300 or 5% of tax due – after 6 months (whichever is higher)
- Another £300 or 5% – after 12 months
If you pay late, you will also pay interest on the amount owed, plus additional penalties after 30 days, 6 months, and 12 months.
How to pay your tax bill
You can pay HMRC in several ways:
- Online banking (Faster Payments or CHAPS)
- Direct Debit
- Debit card online
- Bank transfer
Make sure to allow enough time for the payment to reach HMRC. Bank transfers can take up to 3 working days.
What if you cannot pay?
If you cannot pay your full tax bill, contact HMRC as soon as possible. You may be able to set up a Time to Pay arrangement to spread the cost over monthly payments.
The key is to file on time, even if you cannot pay immediately. This avoids the automatic late filing penalty.
Summary
- 31 January is the deadline for online filing and payment
- File on time to avoid automatic penalties
- Pay on time to avoid interest and late payment penalties
- If you cannot pay, contact HMRC to discuss a payment plan
Key terms
- Self Assessment
- A system HMRC uses to collect income tax from people with income that is not taxed at source, such as self employed earnings or rental income.
- Payment on account
- Advance payments towards your next tax bill. If you owe more than £1,000, HMRC may require you to pay half your expected tax in advance.
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