31 January Self Assessment
The 31 January deadline covers both the actual tax for the prior year AND the first payment on account. Interest starts 1 February.
Action Plan If You Cannot Pay Today
A 5% surcharge applies at 30 days. This page gives a specific, actionable plan - not generic advice. Every day of inaction increases the cost.
Your Action Plan - Day by Day
| Timing | Action | Why urgent |
|---|---|---|
| 21+ days before deadline | (1) Log into HMRC SA - confirm exact amount. (2) Call DBF for bridge quote. (3) Call HMRC TTP helpline. | Maximum options. Best rates. Comfortable completion timeline. |
| 14 days before | (1) Decide: bridge or TTP. (2) If bridging: instruct solicitor immediately. (3) If TTP: call HMRC today. | Bridge still completable in 14 days for standard cases. Every day matters. |
| 7 days before | (1) If bridge in progress: chase lender and solicitor daily. (2) If TTP not yet agreed: call HMRC today. | Last realistic timeline for standard bridge completion. Emergency bridges possible. |
| Deadline day or just after | (1) Pay all available cash now - reduces interest base. (2) Call HMRC same day. (3) Contact DBF for emergency bridge. | Interest starting. Act within 15 days (SA) or 30 days (5% surcharge) for lowest cost. |
Indicative rates - August 2026. Rates change daily. Actual rate depends on LTV, security, credit profile, loan size, and exit strategy. Contact our team for a live rate comparison for your specific case. All rates sourced from lender product sheets and publicly available market data.
What determines your rate
DBF in January - peak demand
January is DBF's busiest month for SA bridging. Contact us before 20 January for the best timeline and rates. Emergency bridges for last-week-of-January deadlines are possible - but earlier contact always produces better outcomes.
Both TTP and bridge simultaneously
The most efficient approach in the final two weeks: contact HMRC for TTP AND contact DBF for a bridge quote simultaneously. Use whichever solution completes or is confirmed first. Having both in progress provides a safety net - TTP (cheaper) if approved, bridge (certain) as backup.
The 5% surcharge at 30 days
For SA, the 5% surcharge falls at 30 days (2 March for January deadline). This is distinct from VAT's day-15 and day-30 penalties. On £50,000 SA outstanding: the 5% surcharge at day 30 = £2,500. Bridging to pay before 2 March avoids this surcharge - which often exceeds the bridging cost.
If the deadline has passed
Pay what you can today. Call HMRC same day. The 5% surcharge at 30 days (2 March) is still ahead if you are within the first 29 days of February. Bridge to clear the remainder and stop interest accrual as soon as the bridge completes.
Worked cost example
Director - 28 January, 3 days before deadline.
SA bill: £52,000. Cash: £15,000. Shortfall: £37,000. Owns BTL (£290,000, no mortgage).
28 January: (1) Pay £15,000 to HMRC SA now - reduces shortfall to £37,000.
(2) Call DBF: bridge £37,000 on BTL at 0.65%/month. AIP issued same day.
(3) Call HMRC: report difficulty, confirm £15,000 paid, discuss TTP for remaining £37,000.
If HMRC TTP approved (low risk given partial payment): interest ~£540 for 6 months. Total: £540.
If bridge completes (7-14 days): cost ~£2,500. But certainty.
Best outcome: TTP covers the gap with partial payment already made. Bridge is the backstop.
Rate context and outlook
This page should be updated in October each year with the current HMRC interest rate and relevant tax year figures. The 31 January deadline has been fixed since the SA system was introduced in 1997 - but the cost of missing it has increased significantly with the April 2025 interest rate change (from base rate + 2.5% to base rate + 4%).
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Frequently asked questions
What is the exact interest rate on late SA payment?
7.75% per annum from 1 February (the day after the 31 January deadline). Set at Bank of England base rate (3.75%) plus 4% from 9 January 2026. On £40,000 outstanding: £8.49/day. The rate adjusts when the base rate changes.
Can I reduce my payment on account for 2025/26?
If current year income will be lower than 2024/25, apply to reduce POA before the deadline via HMRC SA online ("Reduce payments on account"). If reduced below actual liability, interest applies on the shortfall. Get accountant advice before reducing.
I cannot pay and cannot arrange a bridge in time - what now?
Call HMRC SA payment helpline (0300 200 3822) today. Explain your situation, propose TTP. Pay as much as you can immediately - even a partial payment reduces the penalty base and demonstrates good faith. Then pursue the most appropriate finance route in parallel. Call DBF - we handle emergency cases throughout January including the final week.
Will DBF recommend bridging even when it's not the cheapest option?
No. Where HMRC TTP is the genuinely cheaper and more appropriate option, we say so explicitly. Our first response always assesses whether TTP is viable before recommending bridging. We are not paid until a case completes - there is no financial incentive to recommend an inappropriate route.
Does paying with a bridge improve my HMRC compliance record?
Paying on time via bridge means HMRC records you as compliant - no late payment noted, no penalty points (for VAT), no enforcement action initiated. Late payment - even if subsequently resolved via TTP - creates a compliance record entry. For businesses where future HMRC audit risk matters, paying on time has value beyond the immediate cost comparison.
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Get a quote for your situation
Send us the figures and the deadline. We will tell you what is achievable, what it costs, and how quickly it can complete, usually within the working day.