Self assessment payment showing as credit rather than paying the tax bill

ironmongem

I do my dad's self assessment. This year he owed just under £50, and we made the payment a few weeks ago. On his Self Assessment page, under "Your balance" it says that he's in credit by the amount that we paid, and under that it says that this will pay his tax bill on 31 January 2026.

Last year he owed just over £60, and when we paid that, the payment came off the balance within a few days, and then the balance said that no tax was due. Other than the amount, the only other difference was that last year we made the payment in January.

Anyone got any idea why the payment is being treated differently this year?

Dazed_and_C0nfused

He presumably doesn't "owe" anything until 31 January 2026.

A few weeks before that the payment will be allocated to the amount payable on 31 January 2026.

Maybe check again closer to Christmas?

sheramber

The payment isn’t due until January 26 , so is  showing  as a credit at present. 

ironmongem

Thanks for the replies, I'll check his account nearer the time.