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Government borrowing rose last month, marking the third highest September since records began in January 1993.
Official figures show borrowing – the difference between spending and tax receipts – reached £16.6 billion last month.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the figure was £2.1 billion more than in September last year.
These are the last official public finance figures before next week's budget, as the Treasury is expected to change its self-imposed rules on debt.
The monthly figure was lower than the expectations of economists, who collectively forecast borrowing of £17.5 billion for September.
“Although tax revenues increased, they were offset by increased spending, partly due to higher debt interest and public sector wage increases,” said Jessica Barnaby, deputy director of public sector finance at the ONS.
However, this figure remains higher than previously predicted by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), which monitors the UK government's spending plans and performance.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said the new Labor government had inherited a fiscal “black hole” from the previous government and that fixing it would “require tough decisions” in next week's Budget .
The increase in borrowing means the UK's national debt now stands at 98.5% of its economic output, down slightly from last month but still around levels last seen in the early years 1960.
