Use your VAT online account to set up a Direct Debit. Set up the Direct Debit at least 3 working days before you submit your VAT return, otherwise the payment will not be taken from your bank account. Once you’ve set up the Direct Debit and submitted your return, payments will be collected automatically from your bank account 3 working days after the payment deadline on your VAT return. If you file your VAT return late , your payment will be taken 3 days after you file your return. If you’ve not used your Direct Debit for 2 years or more, check with your bank that it is still set up. You cannot pay by Direct Debit if you have a ‘payments on account’ arrangement . Reference number You’ll need your 9-digit VAT registration number to make a payment. Find your registration number: in your VAT online account on your VAT registration certificate Do not put any spaces between the digits when paying your VAT bill. If you need to pay a VAT surcharge or penalty You’ll need to use your 14-character reference number starting with X when you pay. You’ll find this on the letter HM Revenue and Customs ( HMRC ) sent you about your surcharge or penalty. Getting VAT repayments The bank account details you use to set up your Direct Debit will not be used for VAT repayments. To get VAT repayments paid into your bank account, update the registration details in your VAT online account . Otherwise HMRC will send you a cheque.

Approve a payment through your online bank account

You can pay your VAT bill directly using your online or mobile bank account. You’ll need your banking details ready before you start. When you’re ready, start your VAT payment . Select ‘pay by bank account’. You’ll then be directed to sign in to your online or mobile banking account to approve your VAT payment. You can select a date to pay, as long as it’s before your payment is due. Check your account to make sure that the payment has gone out on the correct day. If the payment has not gone out as expected, speak to your bank. The payment is usually instant but can take up to 2 hours to show in your bank account. Reference number You’ll need your 9-digit VAT registration number to make a payment. Find your registration number: in your VAT online account on your VAT registration certificate Do not put any spaces between the digits when paying your VAT bill. If you need to pay a VAT surcharge or penalty You’ll need to use your 14-character reference number starting with X when you pay. You can find this on the letter HM Revenue and Customs ( HMRC ) sent you about your surcharge or penalty.

Pay HMRC by bank transfer

You can pay HM Revenue and Customs ( HMRC ) directly from a UK bank account with Faster Payments, CHAPS or Bacs. Contact your bank or use your online bank account or banking app to make the payment. Use the following bank details for HMRC : Sort code - 08 32 00 Account number - 11963155 Account name - HMRC VAT Overseas payments To pay from an overseas bank account, use the following bank details for HMRC : Account number ( IBAN ) - GB36BARC20051773152391 Bank identifier code ( BIC ) - BARCGB22 Account name - HMRC VAT Barclays Bank PLC 1 Churchill Place London United Kingdom E14 5HP Reference number Use your 9-digit VAT registration number, without spaces, as the payment reference. Find your registration number: in your VAT online account on your VAT registration certificate If you need to pay a VAT surcharge or penalty You’ll need to use your 14-character reference number starting with X when you pay. You’ll find this on the letter HMRC sent you about your surcharge or penalty. Your payment may be delayed if you use the wrong reference number. How long it takes Check your bank’s processing times before you pay. Faster Payments usually reach HMRC on the same or next day, including weekends and bank holidays. CHAPS payments usually reach HMRC the same working day if you pay within your bank’s processing times. Bacs payments usually take 3 working days.

Pay online by debit or corporate credit card

You can pay your VAT bill online . You can also pay any surcharges or penalties you owe. You can pay with: a corporate credit card a corporate debit card a personal debit card You cannot pay with a personal credit card. There’s a non-refundable fee if you pay with a corporate credit card or a corporate debit card. There’s no fee if you pay with a personal debit card. HM Revenue and Customs ( HMRC ) will accept your payment on the date you make it (even on bank holidays and weekends) - not the date it reaches their account. If you’re unable to pay your VAT bill in full by card, you should use another payment method like a bank transfer. Reference number You’ll need to give your 9-digit VAT registration number. You can find your 9-digit VAT registration number: in your VAT online account on your VAT registration certificate If you need to pay a VAT surcharge or penalty You’ll need to use your 14-character payment reference number starting with X when you pay. You’ll find this on the letter HMRC sent you about your surcharge or penalty. Your payment may be delayed if you use the wrong reference number.

At your bank or building society

You’ll need to order paying-in slips online or by phone from HM Revenue and Customs ( HMRC ) before you can pay this way. It can take up to 6 weeks for them to arrive. Use the paying-in slips to pay at your own bank or building society by cash or cheque. Make your cheque payable to ‘HM Revenue and Customs only’. Write your 9-digit VAT registration number on the back of your cheque. You will find your registration number: in your VAT online account on your VAT registration certificate If you need to pay a VAT surcharge or penalty Write your 14-character payment reference number starting with X on the back of your cheque. You’ll find this on the letter HMRC sent you about your surcharge or penalty. Your payment may be delayed if you use the wrong reference number. Allow 3 working days for your payment to reach HM Revenue and Customs’ bank account.

Businesses using the Annual Accounting Scheme or making payments on account can pay a VAT bill by standing order. Standing orders take 3 working days to reach HM Revenue and Customs’ ( HMRC ) bank account. Annual Accounting Scheme Ask to pay by standing order on your application form for the Annual Accounting Scheme . After you’ve received a letter from HMRC accepting your application, set up a standing order either: using form VAT 622 with your bank - use the same details for paying by bank transfer Payments on account Set up a standing order either: using form VAT 622 with your bank - use the same details for paying by bank transfer

Pay your VAT bill

Overview

You must pay your VAT bill by the deadline shown on your VAT return.

You may have to pay a surcharge or penalty if you do not pay on time.

There are different deadlines if you use:

Check what to do If you cannot pay your tax bill on time.

Pay your VAT bill online

You can pay HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) online by:

approving a payment through your bank account using your online banking details
debit or corporate credit card
Direct Debit

You’ll need your 9-digit VAT registration number.

Pay now

This service is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

If you cannot pay online, you can contact your bank to pay by bank transfer.

Payment confirmation

You’ll get a payment reference number from HMRC immediately if you pay using the online service.

You do not need to contact HMRC to check your payment’s been received.

It will appear in your VAT online account within 3 to 5 days.

Ways to pay

Make sure your payment will reach HMRC’s bank account by the deadline.

You can use the VAT payment deadline calculator to work out how much time to allow.

Pay the same or next day

by bank transfer using Faster Payments or CHAPS - check with your bank
through your online bank account
online by debit or corporate credit card

Pay in 3 working days

Direct Debit
by bank transfer using Bacs
standing order (only for businesses using the Annual Accounting Scheme or Payments on Account)
at your bank or building society

If the deadline falls on a weekend or bank holiday, your payment must arrive in HMRC’s bank account on the last working day before it (unless you pay by Faster Payments).

View a printable version of the whole guide

Pay your VAT bill

Overview

Pay your VAT bill online

Payment confirmation

Ways to pay

Pay the same or next day

Pay in 3 working days

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Pay your VAT bill

Overview

Pay your VAT bill online

Payment confirmation

Ways to pay

Pay the same or next day

Pay in 3 working days

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