Pay Insurance Premium Tax
Find out how to pay your Insurance Premium Tax bill, and how long it takes for your payment to reach HMRC.
HMRC will send you a Notice to File with a deadline to send your return and pay what you owe.
You can extend the deadline by 7 days if you pay by:
- Direct Debit
- Faster Payments
- Bacs
- CHAPS
If you’re an overseas insurer and use an agent, they must complete and submit the return and pay HMRC by the deadline.
How much time to allow
You must pay HMRC by the deadline or you may have to pay a penalty.
The time you need to allow for payment to reach HMRC depends on how you pay.
| Payment method | Time allowance |
|---|---|
| Direct Debit | 10 working days |
| Approve a payment through your online bank account | Same or next day |
| Online or telephone banking (Faster Payments) | Same or next day |
| Bacs | 3 working days |
| CHAPS | Same or next day |
| By cheque through the post | 3 working days |
If the deadline is on a weekend or bank holiday, make sure your payment reaches HMRC on the last working day before — unless you’re paying by Faster Payments.
How to set up a Direct Debit
To set up a Direct Debit, you can print out and post the Direct Debit Instruction form (EEITT15).
You should allow 10 working days for HMRC to set up your Direct Debit. If it will not be set up in time, you’ll need to use another payment method.
You’ll need your 15-character payment reference number starting with X when you pay. This is on the registration certificate, Notice to File and other correspondence HMRC sends you.
There could be a delay to your payment if you use the wrong reference number.
Once HMRC has set up your Direct Debit, we’ll automatically collect the amount shown on your return.
Approve a payment through your online bank account
You can pay directly using your online or mobile bank account.
When you’re ready to pay, start your Insurance Premium Tax payment. Select the ‘pay by bank account’ option. You’ll then be directed to sign in to your online or mobile banking account to approve your payment.
The payment is usually instant but sometimes it takes up to 2 hours to show in your account.
You’ll need to have your online banking details ready to pay this way.
Bank details for online or telephone banking
You can pay by Faster Payments, Bacs or CHAPS to HMRC’s account. Use the following details to make a payment if your account is in the UK:
- sort code — 08 32 00
- account number — 11963163
- account name — HMRC Insurance Premium Tax
You’ll need your 15-character payment reference number starting with an X when you pay. This is on the registration certificate, Notice to File and other correspondence HMRC sends you.
There could be a delay to your payment if you use the wrong reference number.
Payments by:
- Faster Payments (online or telephone banking) usually reach HMRC on the same or next day, including weekends and bank holidays
- Bacs payments usually take 3 working days
- CHAPS payments usually reach HMRC the same working day if you pay within your bank’s processing times
Check your bank’s transaction limits and processing times before making a payment.
Overseas payments
Use the following details to pay from an overseas account. You must make all payments in sterling (GBP).
- account number (IBAN) — GB51 BARC 2005 1780 4439 99
- bank identifier code (BIC) — BARCGB22
- account name — HMRC Insurance Premium Tax
You may need to give your bank HMRC’s banking address:
Barclays Bank Plc
1 Churchill Place
London
United Kingdom
E14 5HP
Paying by cheque through the post
Send your return, along with a cheque made payable to ‘HM Revenue and Customs only’. Write your 15-character payment reference number starting with an X on the back of the cheque, and send it to:
HM Revenue and Customs
Direct
BX5 5BD
United Kingdom
You must not fold the cheque or fasten documents together.
You should allow 3 working days for your payment to reach HMRC. If you’re sending your payment by post, you can include a letter to request a receipt from HMRC.
What to do if you have nothing to pay
If you get a Notice to File, but you’ve calculated that you have nothing to pay or are due a repayment, you must still send it back to HMRC.
Last updated 1 April 2022 + show all updates
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Information about approving a payment through your online bank account has been added.
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The sections on paying by Euros and other currencies have been removed as all payments must be made in sterling.
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Change to the Direct Debit instruction form, and the postal payment address.
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First published.