How to Pay Bankruptcy Fee in England and Wales

The question of how to pay bankruptcy fee can feel like one more impossible problem when every penny is already spoken for. In England and Wales, you cannot submit a voluntary bankruptcy application until the full application fee has been paid. That can be frustrating when debt is the reason you are applying in the first place, but there is a practical way to approach it without making your situation worse.

The key is to understand what the money is for, how instalments work and, just as importantly, what not to do in a panic. You do not need to pay everything on the day you start your application.

What is the bankruptcy application fee?

The fee to apply for bankruptcy in England and Wales is £680 at the time of writing. It is paid to the government as part of the online bankruptcy application. This is separate from the money you owe to creditors and separate from any professional support you may choose to use with your application.

The fee is made up of an adjudicator fee and a bankruptcy deposit. The deposit helps fund the work involved once a bankruptcy order is made, including the Official Receiver’s administration of the case.

Fees can change, so always check the current amount on the official application service before you make plans around it. What does not change is the central rule: your application cannot be submitted for a decision until the full fee has cleared.

There is no general fee remission for bankruptcy applications. Being on benefits, out of work or in severe financial difficulty does not automatically reduce the charge. That may sound harsh, particularly when you are already under pressure, but it is better to know this clearly than to be caught out at the final stage.

How to pay bankruptcy fee in instalments

You can create an online bankruptcy application and pay towards the fee in instalments. The minimum payment is normally £5, which means you can begin putting money aside even if you cannot find £680 immediately.

There is no need to complete the application in one sitting. You can save your progress, return to it and make further payments as your money allows. Some people pay £20 or £50 at a time from wages or benefits; others put aside a set amount each week until they reach the total. There is no prize for rushing into a payment plan that leaves you unable to cover food, rent, travel or essential bills.

Once the balance is paid in full, you can submit the application. The Adjudicator then considers it and usually makes a decision within 28 days, although many decisions are made sooner. Paying the fee does not itself make you bankrupt. Bankruptcy begins only if the application is accepted and a bankruptcy order is made.

The payment process is designed to be straightforward, but the emotional side often is not. People can spend months delaying because £680 feels like a wall in front of them. Breaking it into smaller, realistic payments can turn that wall into a date on the calendar.

Which payment methods can you use?

Payments are made through the official online bankruptcy application service, generally using a debit or credit card. You can make several card payments against the same application until the required total has been reached.

Before using a credit card, pause and think carefully. Taking on new borrowing to fund bankruptcy is not automatically wrong, but it needs an honest explanation if the Official Receiver asks about it. A small payment made openly, where bankruptcy was already the intended solution, is very different from running up significant new credit when you had no realistic prospect of repaying it.

If a partner, family member or friend wants to help with the fee, they can usually make a payment for you. This is common, and there is no shame in accepting support where it is freely offered. Keep a simple record of where the money came from, especially if it is a larger one-off amount, so you can explain it clearly if asked.

Do not send the fee directly to the court, the Official Receiver or a creditor. It must be paid through your bankruptcy application. Equally, do not hand money to a company simply because it says it can “write off” your debts. Be clear whether you are paying the government’s bankruptcy fee, paying for optional application support, or paying for something else entirely.

Ways to raise the fee without causing more damage

There is no single right answer here. It depends on your income, household situation and how urgent the creditor pressure has become. But the best route is usually the one that does not create a fresh problem.

For some people, a modest weekly instalment is enough. For others, the fee may come from a tax refund, final wages, selling an item that is not essential, or help from someone close to them. If you have surplus income after essential living costs, setting up a separate pot for the fee can stop it disappearing into day-to-day spending.

Be cautious about payday loans, high-cost credit and borrowing from people who will expect repayment you cannot afford. Bankruptcy may deal with many unsecured debts, but borrowing more simply to get the application submitted can increase your stress and complicate the questions you will later need to answer.

If your circumstances are particularly difficult, some charities and local organisations occasionally offer grants that may help with bankruptcy fees. Funding is limited and eligibility varies, so it should not be your only plan. It can be worth exploring while you continue to save in instalments.

Most importantly, protect priority costs first. Rent or mortgage payments, council tax, gas and electricity, food, travel to work and children’s needs come before the bankruptcy fee. Bankruptcy is meant to bring relief, not force you into a crisis while trying to reach the starting line.

Do not confuse the fee with the bankruptcy process

A fully paid application is not a guarantee that every issue has been dealt with correctly. The form asks detailed questions about your income, spending, assets, debts, recent transactions and reasons for financial difficulty. It is not a test designed to catch you out, but it must be completed honestly and carefully.

This matters particularly if you are self-employed, have closed a business, own or part-own a property, have a vehicle, have received a lump sum, or have transferred money or assets in recent years. Those situations do not necessarily prevent bankruptcy, but they deserve proper explanation before you submit.

It is also worth separating the government fee from any fee charged for personal support with the application. The government charge is unavoidable. Professional help is optional, but many people choose it because they want someone experienced to go through the form with them, prepare them for the Official Receiver interview and remain available once the order is made.

At The Bankruptcy Helpline, the focus is on making sure people understand exactly what they are submitting and do not face the process alone. The right support should be transparent about costs, explain what is included and never pressure you into a solution that does not fit your circumstances.

A simple plan when money is tight

Start by checking the current government fee and deciding what you can genuinely afford each week or month after essentials. Open the application when you are ready, make the first instalment and keep a note of your remaining balance. Then use the time while you are saving to gather creditor balances, income details, bank statements and information about any assets.

That approach is calmer than waiting for a single £680 windfall that may never arrive. It also means that, when the final payment is made, you are closer to having a complete and accurate application rather than facing another delay.

Debt pressure has a way of making every decision feel urgent and frightening. You do not have to solve the whole situation tonight. A first payment, a clear plan and honest advice can be enough to move things from panic towards control.