I can't afford to pay my tax bill. What should I do?

The most important thing is to file your return on time even if you can't pay. Missing the filing deadline adds penalties on top of the tax debt — so filing and paying late is much better than not filing at all. Once filed, contact HMRC about a Time to Pay arrangement, which lets you spread payments over an agreed period. HMRC is generally willing to set these up for people who engage proactively. If your situation is complicated or you're worried about dealing with HMRC directly, message us on live chat and we can point you in the right direction.