Deepee

Hi All, Quick question re interest on early tax payments, I'm aware of the current rate on such payments being 4.25% from HMRC's site, but what I can't find is how and when this would be applied? If I pay for sake of argument £1,000 of tax a month early, presumably the interest earned on this from HMRC is £1,000 x (4.25% / 12), but when and how is this credited? Is it simply used by HMRC as credit against tax liability for the following period? Or is it credited on the date at which the tax is due (and therefore the number of days in advance it has been paid are known)? Also, is such interest itself taxable, so that as a higher rate tax payer, you'd have to book the interest as income and pay 40% on it? Essentially wondering whether it's better to keep the money in my bank account and earn interest there until the last possible moment, or pay it early to HMRC and earn the interest there. Many thanks