At times you may struggle to pay your company or organisation's Corporation Tax on time. If this happens, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will take action to collect any unpaid tax.
If you continue not to pay, HMRC will take action to collect any unpaid tax.
This guide provides an overview of how HMRC goes about this and tells you where to find more detailed guidance.
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If you can't pay your company or organisation's Corporation Tax, don't ignore any correspondence or phone calls from HMRC. Contact HMRC immediately to discuss the problem.
If you don't do this and you don't pay on time, HMRC will send your company or organisation reminders. These reminders will be sent by post. HMRC may also phone you to discuss what you owe. They'll try to reach agreement with you to settle your bill.
If HMRC doesn't hear from you, or you've not satisfied them that your company or organisation can't pay its Corporation Tax, they will take legal action to collect the debt. What happens next depends on what country in the UK your company or organisation is registered in.
What to do if you can't pay Corporation Tax
Read more about what will happen if you ignore your bill
If your company or organisation's registered office is in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, HMRC will take action to recover what you owe. This may include:
Remember interest is accruing from the date your Corporation Tax was due until it's eventually paid. This is on top of the Corporation Tax you owe.
Read about recovery of unpaid tax: England, Wales and Northern Ireland
If your company or organisation’s registered office is in Scotland, HMRC will take action to recover what you owe. This may include:
Read about recovery of unpaid tax in Scotland
Problems paying HMRC: advice for businesses, individuals and tax agents
Organisations that can help you with debt problems
