HM Revenue & Customs has started the countdown to 31 July 2026, the date for the second payment on account for the 2025 to 2026 Self Assessment year. For sole traders, landlords and freelancers, this is less a diary note than a mid-summer cash-flow test, especially for those whose income arrives unevenly across the year. (gov.uk) HMRC says millions of taxpayers need to be ready. Market Pulse UK's read is that the rule still catches people out because it is built around what was owed last year, not necessarily what a business or property portfolio is earning right now. (gov.uk)

Payments on account are advance instalments towards the next bill, with one due by 31 January and the second by 31 July. Each payment is usually half of the previous year's tax owed, and HMRC says you normally have to pay unless last year's bill was under £1,000 or more than 80% was already collected outside Self Assessment. (gov.uk) That mechanical rule matters because it can feel out of step with the way smaller businesses actually trade. A freelancer coming off a quieter spring, or a landlord hit by a run of repair costs, may find that a payment based on last year's figures lands awkwardly even when it is expected.

HMRC is pushing digital payment routes quite hard. In its 29 June announcement, the department said the HMRC app is the quickest way to pay, with more than 110,000 payments made through the app since April and nearly 2 million Self Assessment taxpayers having used it since the app launched in January 2022. The app also lets users set reminders and track payment history. (gov.uk) Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC's Chief Customer Officer, framed the message around choice and support: pay straight away if possible, or spread the cost if needed. That is a sensible line from the department, but it also underlines a practical point for taxpayers - the earlier the issue is tackled, the more room there is to manage it calmly. (gov.uk)

For taxpayers who cannot comfortably clear the full amount in one go, GOV.UK guidance points to weekly or monthly Budget Payment Plans for the next Self Assessment bill, and HMRC says payments already made through those plans will count towards what is due. If a bill is already overdue, separate payment-plan arrangements may also be available through HMRC. (gov.uk) There is another pressure valve worth knowing about. If this year's liability is likely to be lower than last year's, taxpayers can ask HMRC to reduce their payments on account. That can help with cash flow, although GOV.UK guidance warns that interest may be charged if the estimate turns out to be too low. (gov.uk)

One detail in the press release deserves more attention than it usually gets: taxpayers do not need to wait until January 2027 to file the 2025 to 2026 return. HMRC says filing early helps people see the final number sooner, even though any remaining tax due for that year still has to be paid by 31 January 2027. (gov.uk) For many self-employed people, that is the cleaner way to manage the year. Turning a vague future liability into a confirmed figure can make budgeting far easier, particularly for households juggling mortgage costs, rent voids or irregular client payments.

HMRC also used the update to flag two wider admin changes. From mid-July 2026, around 300,000 taxpayers affected by the High Income Child Benefit Charge will see their own or their partner's Child Benefit payment information pre-populated on the online return, a move that should cut down one of the more fiddly parts of the process. (gov.uk) At the same time, Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is no longer a future project for higher-earning sole traders and landlords. GOV.UK guidance says people with qualifying income over £50,000 from self-employment or property must use the service from 6 April 2026, with the first quarterly update for the 2026 to 2027 tax year due by 7 August 2026. (gov.uk)

The compliance housekeeping is familiar but still important. HMRC says taxpayers should update their details if they change address or name, tell the department if they have stopped being self-employed or no longer need Self Assessment, and remember that existing users should keep using Government Gateway for now while new digital-service sign-ups are being moved towards GOV.UK One Login. (gov.uk) The final reminder is the least glamorous and probably the most useful. Scam texts, emails and calls still cluster around tax deadlines, and HMRC's advice is plain enough: stop, check the message is genuine, and never hand over sign-in details through an unexpected link. (gov.uk)