Personal tax - when is income tax and capital gains tax payable?

Payment of tax

The UK income tax system requires the payer of key sources of income to deduct tax at source which removes the need for many taxpayers to submit a tax return or make additional payments. This applies in particular to employment and savings income. However this is not possible for the self employed or if someone with investment income is a higher rate taxpayer. As a result we have a payment regime in which the payments will usually be made in instalments.

The instalments consist of two payments on account of equal amounts:

• the first on 31 January during the tax year and
• the second on 31 July following.

These are set by reference to the previous year's net income tax liability (and Class 4 NIC if any).

A final payment (or repayment) is due on 31 January following the tax year.

In calculating the level of instalments any tax attributable to capital gains is ignored. All capital gains tax is paid as part of the final payment due on 31 January following the end of the tax year.

A statement of account similar to a credit card statement is sent to the taxpayer periodically which summarises the payments required and the payments made.

Late payment penalties and interest

Using the late payment penalties HMRC may charge the following penalties if tax is paid late:

• A 5% penalty if the tax due on the 31 January 2020 is not paid within 30 days (the ‘penalty date’ is the day following)
• A further 5% penalty if the tax due on 31 January 2020 is not paid within 5 months after the penalty date
• Additionally, there will be a third 5% penalty if the tax due on 31 January 2020 is not paid within 11 months after the penalty date.

These penalties are additional to the interest that is charged on all outstanding amounts, including unpaid penalties, until payment is received.

Nil payments on account

Where there is only a modest amount of income tax due, after tax deducted at source has been accounted for, then the two payments on account will be set at nil. This applies if either:

• income tax (and NIC) liability for the preceding year - net of tax deducted at source and tax credit on dividends - is less than £1,000 in total or
• more than 80% of the income tax (and NIC) liability for the preceding year was met by deduction of tax at source and from tax credits on dividends.

Claim to reduce payments on account

If it is anticipated that the current year's tax liability will be lower than the previous year's, a claim can be made to reduce the payments on account. We can advise you whether a claim should be made and to what amount.