NEWS

False self-employment in the UK labour market is an escalating concern that requires action from HMRC and the forthcoming Fair Work Agency, the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG) warns. LITRG have held long-standing concerns about arrangements...

The Government has tabled a substantial package of amendments to Finance Bill 2026 ahead of Report Stage on 11 March, as follows: APR/BPR reforms: amendments to Sch 12 tighten the conditions for 100% relief. In particular, transfers of securities in...

Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered her Spring Forecast on 3 March, which contained no new tax measures and focused instead on updated projections from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). The OBR reduced forecast GDP growth for 2026 to 1.1%,...

ATED chargeable amounts on enveloped dwellings are increasing by 3.8% from 1 April 2026 (by virtue of SI 2026/156). Separately, HMRC have issued new guidance on ATED online returns. ...

New regulations (SSI 2026/111) introduce, with effect from 1 April 2026, an exemption from the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax for ‘the creation, issue, transfer, redemption or cancellation’ of units in a co-ownership authorised contractual...

Thousands of small businesses appear to be restricting turnover to remain below the £90,000 VAT registration threshold, according to analysis of HMRC data by Lubbock Fine. HMRC figures show the number of businesses with turnover below £90,000 rose to...

In R (oao of BYL) v Chancellor of the Exchequer and others [2026] EWCA Civ 170, the Court of Appeal has dismissed a judicial review challenge to the FA 2025 provisions removing the VAT exemption for private school fees. The court held that the...

HMRC’s Large Business Directorate has doubled the tax revenue it collects or protects since 2021/22, reaching £15.8bn in 2024/25, according to a National Audit Office (NAO) report. The NAO attributes the increase to a more intensive, ‘hands-on’...

Complaints made by taxpayers about HMRC have risen by a fifth to reach the highest level in five years, according to data obtained by the Contentious Tax Group (CTG) under a FoI request. HMRC received 93,589 complaints in 2024/25 up from 78,542 in...

Tax agents should be given the same access to HMRC systems and information as their clients, the ATT says. Jon Stride, Chair of the ATT’s Technical Steering Group, said that with mandatory registration approaching, HMRC should issue clear guidance...