Category: Business News

HMRC has published Revenue and Customs Brief 4 (2026) following a recent First-tier Tribunal (FTT) decision concerning the VAT treatment of electricity supplied at public electric vehicle (EV) charging points.

The case, Charge My Street Ltd v HMRC, found in favour of the taxpayer, concluding that electricity supplied through public EV charging points qualified for the reduced rate of VAT (5%), rather than the standard rate.

However, HMRC has applied for permission to appeal the decision and has confirmed that its position has not changed. It continues to treat electricity supplied at public EV charging points as standard-rated for VAT (20%).

Why is there a difference?

Electricity supplied to domestic premises generally qualifies for the reduced 5% VAT rate.

HMRC’s long-standing view is that public EV charging points are not domestic premises. As a result, electricity supplied through public charging stations remains subject to the standard 20% VAT rate.

What does this mean?

At present, there is still a difference in the VAT charged depending on where an electric vehicle is charged:

• Charging an EV at home is generally subject to 5% VAT.
• Charging an EV at a public charging point remains subject to 20% VAT, in line with HMRC’s current policy.

Although the tribunal ruled in favour of the taxpayer, First-tier Tribunal decisions do not create binding legal precedent. Until any appeal is concluded or HMRC changes its guidance, businesses and charging point operators should continue to follow HMRC’s published policy.

If you have any questions about the VAT treatment of electric vehicle charging or how it could affect your business, please get in touch. A&C Chartered Accountants will be happy to help.

The government has launched GOV.UK Chat, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot designed to help people find official government information more quickly. Users can ask questions in plain English and receive instant answers based on guidance published on GOV.UK.

The chatbot can help with a range of tax and financial topics, including:

• Understanding Income Tax
• Calculating Stamp Duty
• Planning for retirement and the State Pension

Since its soft launch in March 2026, thousands of people have used the service, with tax-related questions proving particularly popular.

Use with caution

While GOV.UK Chat can be a useful starting point, it does have limitations. It is important to remember that:

• It only uses information published on GOV.UK.
• It does not access HMRC’s detailed technical manuals or specialist guidance.
• It is primarily designed to answer straightforward questions rather than complex tax issues.

Like any AI tool, its responses are not guaranteed to be accurate. Occasionally, it may provide incomplete information or generate incorrect answers that appear convincing.

Our advice

GOV.UK Chat can be a helpful way to find official guidance quickly, but it should not replace professional advice. To get the most from the tool:

• Use it to help locate information rather than relying on it to make important decisions.
• Read the full response, including any notes or limitations.
• Make sure your question includes all the relevant facts and circumstances.

For straightforward queries, GOV.UK Chat may save you time. However, when it comes to tax planning or decisions that could affect your finances, it’s always worth seeking professional advice.

If you’re unsure how the rules apply to your circumstances, A&C Chartered Accountants is here to help. We’ll ensure you receive advice that’s tailored to your situation and gives you confidence before you act.

HMRC has updated its advisory fuel rates for company cars with effect from 1 June 2026. These rates are used when employers reimburse employees for business mileage in a company car or when employees repay the cost of private fuel.

If an employer does not provide fuel for private use, the advisory rates can be used to reimburse business mileage without creating a taxable benefit.

Previous rates are shown in brackets. Employers may continue to use the previous rates for up to one month after the new rates take effect.

Hybrid vehicles should use the appropriate petrol or diesel rate.

For fully electric vehicles, the advisory rate remains 7p per mile where the vehicle is charged at home and 15p per mile where it is charged using public charging facilities.

Employees Using Their Own Cars

The Approved Mileage Allowance Payment (AMAP) rates for employees using their own vehicle for business journeys increased from 6 April 2026 to:

• 55p per mile for the first 10,000 business miles in the tax year.
• 25p per mile for each business mile over 10,000.
• An additional 5p per mile can be paid for each business passenger carried.

For National Insurance purposes, employers can continue to reimburse at 55p per mile regardless of the total business mileage, as the 10,000-mile threshold does not apply.

VAT Recovery

Where employees are reimbursed using the AMAP rates, employers may be able to reclaim the VAT element relating to the fuel cost, provided they hold a valid VAT receipt from the filling station.

For example, for a diesel company car with an engine size of 1,500cc, the fuel element is 15p per mile, allowing input VAT of 2.5p per mile (15p × 1/6) to be reclaimed.

If you would like advice on mileage claims, company car tax or VAT recovery, please get in touch. A&C Chartered Accountants will be happy to help.

HMRC has confirmed that mandatory payrolling of Benefits in Kind (BiKs) will now be introduced in two phases, beginning on 6 April 2027.

The changes will move the reporting of most employee benefits away from the annual P11D process and into real-time payroll. This means Income Tax and Class 1A National Insurance will be reported through payroll each pay period, whether that is weekly or monthly.

From 6 April 2027

The first phase will apply to:

• Company cars and car fuel
• Vans and van fuel
• Employer-provided medical benefits

From 6 April 2028

Most other taxable benefits will also become subject to mandatory payrolling.

The only exceptions will be:

• Beneficial loans
• Employer-provided living accommodation

These benefits will remain voluntary for payrolling and can continue to be reported using the existing process if preferred.

What does this mean for employers?

Instead of reporting benefits after the end of the tax year using P11Ds, employers will need to include relevant benefits in their payroll submissions throughout the year using Real Time Information (RTI).

Although this will reduce year-end administration, it also means payroll records must be accurate from the outset. Any errors are likely to be identified much sooner and may need to be corrected during the tax year rather than after it has ended.

What should you do now?

Although the new rules do not begin until April 2027, now is a good time to prepare by:

• Reviewing the benefits you currently provide to employees.
• Identifying which benefits will be affected in the first phase.
• Checking that your payroll software and processes will be ready for the changes.

HMRC is continuing to work with payroll software providers and is expected to publish further technical guidance during 2026, with final details anticipated ahead of the Autumn Budget.

This is one of the biggest changes to the taxation and reporting of employee benefits in many years. Planning ahead will help ensure a smooth transition and minimise disruption to your payroll processes.

When buying property in England, Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) can be a significant cost. One important distinction is whether a property is treated as purely residential or as mixed use.

A mixed use property includes both residential and non residential elements. This could include a house with farmland, commercial buildings or land used for a genuine non residential purpose. Mixed use properties are subject to lower SDLT rates than residential properties, which can result in substantial tax savings.

However, HMRC continues to closely scrutinise claims for mixed use treatment.

This was highlighted in the recent case of HMRC v Christopher Brzezicki. Mr Brzezicki purchased a large house together with a fishing stream and an island and argued that the transaction qualified as mixed use. Although the First tier Tribunal initially agreed, the Upper Tribunal overturned the decision and ruled that the entire property was residential.

The Tribunal found that the stream and island formed part of the property’s “grounds” and were therefore residential in nature, rather than genuinely non residential land. While trout bred naturally in the stream, there was no active commercial operation in place at the time of purchase.

The decision is a useful reminder that unusual features such as woodland, streams, paddocks or separate parcels of land will not automatically qualify a property for mixed use SDLT treatment. The key consideration is how the land is actually being used and whether it would ordinarily be regarded as part of the home.

For buyers, getting the classification wrong can lead to unexpected tax liabilities, interest and penalties if HMRC successfully challenges the SDLT position.

At A&C Chartered Accountants, we can help review property transactions, assess whether mixed use treatment is appropriate and ensure SDLT claims are properly supported before completion.

A recent VAT case has raised important questions around the correct VAT treatment of public electric vehicle charging.

In Charge My Street Ltd v HMRC [2026], the First-tier Tribunal concluded that supplies of electric vehicle charging at public charging stations could qualify for the reduced rate of VAT at 5%. This contrasts with HMRC’s long-standing position that such supplies should be subject to the standard rate of 20%.

Charge My Street Ltd operated electric vehicle charging points in public locations across the North of England. The company applied the reduced 5% VAT rate on the basis that its supplies fell within the rules for domestic fuel and power.

Under VAT legislation, supplies of electricity for domestic use can qualify for the reduced rate, provided certain conditions are met. One key provision is the ‘de minimis’ rule, which treats supplies of electricity below 1,000 kWh per month as domestic.

The Tribunal found that where charging was supplied to individual users, the level of electricity consumption fell below this threshold. As a result, those supplies qualified for the reduced rate.

This decision challenges the long-standing disparity between VAT treatment for electric vehicle charging at home, which benefits from the reduced rate, and charging at public stations, which has typically been standard-rated.

However, it is important to note that this is a First-tier Tribunal decision and does not set binding precedent. It is widely expected that HMRC will appeal the ruling, and the position may evolve further as the case progresses.

A complex and evolving area of VAT

This case highlights the complexity of VAT, particularly where legislation intersects with emerging technologies and changing consumer behaviour. The correct VAT treatment will depend on the specific facts of each supply, including how the electricity is delivered and measured.

At A&C Chartered Accountants, we are monitoring developments in this area closely. Businesses involved in electric vehicle infrastructure, or those uncertain about the VAT treatment of their supplies, should ensure their approach is robust and well-supported.

If you would like to review your VAT position or discuss how these developments may affect your business, we would be happy to assist.

Recent developments indicate a clear shift in HMRC’s approach to monitoring dividends and transactions between companies and their shareholders. With new consultations and expanded data collection, there is a growing focus on transparency and compliance for close companies.

New consultation: reporting company payments to participators

A new consultation, Reporting company payments to participators, has been published, seeking views on proposals to introduce enhanced reporting requirements for close companies.

The government’s position is that the risk of error and tax non-compliance is higher in close companies, where the distinction between the company and its participators can become blurred. HMRC has identified that it does not currently have full visibility over how these companies interact with their shareholders.

Under the proposed framework, close companies may be required to report detailed information to HMRC on transactions with participators, including:

• payments made by cash, bank transfer or other means
• loan repayments and loan write-offs
• sales of assets to the company
• purchases of assets from the company
• dividends and other distributions
• any other transfer of value from the company to the participator

Salary and wage payments are expected to remain outside the scope of these requirements, as they are already captured through PAYE reporting systems.

If implemented, these proposals would represent a significant increase in reporting obligations and HMRC oversight.

Expanded dividend reporting through self-assessment

In addition to the consultation, Finance Act 2024 introduced powers allowing HMRC to collect more detailed information through self-assessment tax returns.

From the 2025/26 tax year onwards, company directors will be required to disclose additional information, including:

• whether they were a director of a company
• whether the company was a close company
• the company’s name and registration number
• the amount of dividends received from the close company during the tax year
• the highest percentage shareholding held during the tax year

This enhanced reporting framework provides HMRC with greater insight into the relationship between directors, shareholders and their companies, particularly in relation to dividend extraction.

A clear direction of travel

Taken together, these developments point to a more data-driven and compliance-focused approach from HMRC. With increased access to information on dividends and participator transactions, discrepancies are more likely to be identified.

For business owners operating through limited companies, it is increasingly important that dividend procedures are robust, properly documented and aligned with both company law and tax legislation.

If you own a business or agricultural land, the last few months have probably felt unsettled. The proposed changes to Inheritance Tax (IHT) reliefs created real concern for many family businesses and farming families who rely on Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) to pass assets down the generations.

There is now some much-needed good news.

What has changed?

The government has confirmed that the cap on 100% relief for APR and BPR – due to take effect from 6 April 2026 – will be increased from £1 million to £2.5 million per individual.

In practical terms, this means you will be able to pass on up to £2.5 million of qualifying business or agricultural assets free from IHT from that date. Anything above this amount will still attract IHT, but at least the starting point is now significantly more generous than originally proposed.

A second important improvement

This is not the only positive adjustment.

When the reforms were first announced in the 2024 Autumn Budget, the new £1 million allowance was not going to be transferable between spouses or civil partners. That would have limited family planning options and, in many cases, increased the eventual tax bill.

The government reversed this position in the 2025 Autumn Budget, confirming that the allowance will be transferable between spouses and civil partners.

What does this mean for you?

Taken together, these changes mean that couples could potentially pass on up to £5 million of qualifying agricultural and business assets free of IHT from April 2026.

For many family-owned businesses and farms, this is a significant relief and removes a lot of the immediate pressure that followed the original proposals.

What should you do now?

This is a welcome development, but it does not mean planning is no longer needed. The rules around what qualifies for APR and BPR can be complex, and ownership structures, wills, and succession plans still need to be reviewed.

If you complete a Self Assessment tax return, you’ve probably been hearing about Making Tax Digital (MTD) for what feels like a long time. The change is now very real, and the first wave of taxpayers will be brought into the regime from 6 April 2026.

In other words, MTD for Income Tax is no longer something “for the future” – it is just around the corner.

Who does this affect?

From 6 April 2026, MTD for Income Tax will become mandatory for a significant number of Self Assessment taxpayers.

You are likely to be within scope if, in the 2024/25 tax year, your combined turnover from your sole trade and/or property business was more than £50,000.

If you fall into this category, you will need to keep digital records and submit income and expense information to HMRC using compatible software, rather than relying solely on your traditional annual tax return.

Further groups of taxpayers will then be brought into MTD in 2027 and 2028, so this is a change that will eventually affect many more people.

What does this mean in practice?

For those within scope, MTD will mean:

• keeping digital records for your business or property income

• using MTD-compatible software

• sending regular updates to HMRC throughout the year, rather than just once at year end

For some business owners and landlords, this will feel like a big shift in how their tax affairs are managed.

You don’t have to do this alone

Over the past year, A&C Chartered Accountants has already been helping many clients prepare for MTD, testing systems, and getting processes in place so the transition is as smooth as possible.

Many employees have relied on tax relief for the costs of working from home since the pandemic. However, the rules are changing, and it is worth understanding what this means for you before the next tax year begins.

What is changing?

From 6 April 2026, employees will no longer be able to claim tax relief against their employment income for the costs of working from home.

The government is making this change because a large number of claims have been made incorrectly in recent years. As a result, the long-standing relief is being withdrawn for most employees from 2026/27 onwards.

What applies for 2025/26?

The good news is that the relief is still available for the current tax year.

For 2025/26, you can still claim:

• £6 per week without needing to provide evidence of actual costs, or

• a higher amount if you can demonstrate your actual additional homeworking expenses.

However, this is only available if you are contractually required to work from home. If you choose to work from home but your employer does not require it, the relief will not be available.

What will this cost employees?

From 2026/27, the removal of this relief will typically increase Income Tax by:

• £62 per year for basic rate taxpayers, and

• £124 per year for higher rate taxpayers.

While these amounts may not seem large, they are still worth factoring into your personal tax position.

What about employer reimbursements?

There is an important exception.

From 2026/27, if your employer reimburses you for the costs of working from home, those payments can be made free of Income Tax and National Insurance, provided you are contractually required to work from home.

This means employers may need to review their policies if they want to continue supporting homeworking employees without creating a tax charge.

What should you do now?

If you currently claim working from home relief, it is sensible to check whether you are contractually required to work from home and to consider how this change will affect you from April 2026.

If you are an employer, you may want to review your employment contracts and reimbursement arrangements to ensure they remain tax-efficient.

With the tax and financial year end fast approaching on 5 April 2026, now is the moment to make sure you are not leaving money on the table. A little planning now can make a real difference to your tax position, your cash flow, and your longer-term financial security.

At A&C Chartered Accountants, we help start-ups, owner-managers and small businesses make smart, timely decisions so you keep more of what you earn. Below are the key areas to consider before the year end.

Savings – making your money work harder

If you have spare cash, one of the simplest and most effective moves is to use your ISA allowance.

For 2025/26, you can invest up to £20,000 per person in ISAs, sheltering that money from income tax and capital gains tax.

If you are aged between 18 and 39, a Lifetime ISA could also be worth considering. You can contribute up to £4,000 per year, and the government adds a 25% bonus, up to £1,000 annually. This can be used towards your first home or for retirement. It is important to note that the Lifetime ISA limit sits within your overall £20,000 ISA allowance.

We can help you decide which option makes most sense for your goals.

Pension planning – one of the most powerful tax tools available

If you can, increasing your pension contributions before 5 April 2026 is often a very tax-efficient move.

At a basic level, for every £4,000 you contribute to a personal pension, the government tops this up to £5,000 through basic rate tax relief.

If you pay higher rate tax, you can claim an additional £1,000 in your tax return, reducing the real cost of that £5,000 contribution to £3,000.

Pensions become even more valuable if your income sits between £100,000 and £125,140. In this band, your personal allowance is gradually withdrawn, which can result in an effective 60% marginal tax rate. Making pension contributions can reduce your taxable income and help you avoid or reduce this charge.

There are annual limits on how much you can contribute tax efficiently, and timing matters. A&C Chartered Accountants can review your position and help you get this right.

Dividends and company loans – act before rates rise

From 6 April 2026, dividend tax rates are increasing by two percentage points.

This means:

• Basic rate dividends will rise from 8.75% to 10.75%

• Higher rate dividends will rise from 33.75% to 35.75%

• The additional rate will remain at 39.35%

The higher rate increase will also apply to the ‘penalty tax’ charged on certain company loans to shareholders made on or after 6 April 2026.

If you are a company director or shareholder, it is worth reviewing the timing of dividends and any planned company loans before the year end to benefit from the lower 2025/26 rates where appropriate.

We can model the numbers for you and recommend the most tax-efficient approach.

Capital allowances – timing your business investment

If your business has a year end of 31 March or 5 April, the tax year end is especially important for capital allowances.

To qualify for allowances in your current period, assets must be purchased and brought into use before your accounting year end.

Key points to know:

• The Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) lets both companies and sole traders write off 100% of the first £1 million spent on qualifying plant and machinery in a 12-month period. This excludes cars, although new zero-emission cars can qualify for 100% relief.

• Limited companies can also benefit from “full expensing” on most new (not second-hand) equipment, with no overall spending cap.

• From 1 January 2026, a new 40% first-year allowance is available on certain qualifying assets, which may be particularly useful for unincorporated businesses that have already used their full £1 million AIA.

If you are buying equipment on hire purchase, you can still claim allowances on the full cost of the asset, provided it is in use by your year end.

Getting the timing right can make a big difference to your tax bill, and we can help you plan this properly.

Capital Gains Tax – use your allowance while you can

Everyone has a £3,000 Capital Gains Tax annual exemption for 2025/26. If you have not used it, you may want to consider realising gains before 6 April 2026.

There are also further increases coming to the rates for Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR) and Investors’ Relief. These rose from 10% to 14% in April 2025 and will increase again to 18% from 6 April 2026.

If you are planning a qualifying disposal, bringing this forward could save you tax.

Voluntary National Insurance – protecting your state pension

To receive the full new State Pension, you generally need 35 qualifying years of National Insurance Contributions.

If you have gaps in your record, you can usually fill these by paying Class 3 voluntary NICs at £17.75 per week (£18.40 in 2026/27).

You can normally only make payments for the previous six tax years, which means gaps for 2019/20 must usually be filled by 5 April 2026.

If you are unsure about your record, we can help you check whether topping up makes financial sense for you.

Year-end tax planning is not about rushing into decisions – it is about making informed, well-timed choices that suit your circumstances.

From 6 April 2026, employees will no longer be able to claim a tax deduction for expenses incurred while working from home.

Currently, some employees are able to claim either a flat-rate deduction of £6 per week or the actual additional costs of working from home, where these are higher. This relief will be withdrawn in full from April 2026.

Why the relief is being removed

The government has confirmed that the home-working expenses deduction is being abolished because it is frequently claimed by individuals who are not entitled to it under the existing rules.

HMRC has taken the view that the relief is no longer operating as intended.

Employer reimbursement will still be possible

Although employee tax relief will be removed, employers will still be able to reimburse home-working expenses without triggering PAYE tax or National Insurance contributions, provided strict conditions are met.

The expenses must be wholly, exclusively and necessarily incurred as a result of the employee’s duties. In practice, this generally means that the employee’s contract requires them to work from home.

Employees who choose to work from home, rather than being required to do so, will not qualify for tax-free reimbursement of home-working expenses.

Further guidance is expected closer to April 2026.

From April 2027, employers will be required to payroll most benefits in kind (BiKs) provided to employees. This means that tax on BiKs will be collected through payroll in real time, rather than being reported after the end of the tax year.

All benefits in kind will need to be payrolled except for employer-provided living accommodation and interest-free or low-interest (beneficial) loans. These two benefits may still be payrolled on a voluntary basis.

Employers should plan ahead for this change. Payroll systems and internal processes will need to be capable of handling the real-time reporting of benefits, and the time required to implement these changes should not be underestimated.

Employees will also need to be made aware of how the taxation of their benefits will change from April 2027. In particular, it will be important to explain that:

• employees who currently pay tax on benefits in arrears will instead be taxed in the year the benefit is received

• any deductions currently included in tax codes to collect tax on estimated benefits will no longer apply

• tax on benefits in kind will be collected in real time through payroll

For some employees, this change may appear to result in paying tax twice on a benefit in the first year. This will usually reflect a transition period, where tax is being paid in real time on current benefits while tax relating to benefits from earlier years is still being settled.

Further guidance is expected from HMRC ahead of April 2027. Employers affected by this change should review their payroll arrangements and employee communications in good time.

As we move into the new year, it is a good time to review the key tax dates and obligations coming up over the next couple of months. January and February remain busy periods for many individuals and businesses, particularly for self assessment and payroll reporting. The diary below highlights the main tax events to be aware of at the start of 2026 to help with forward planning and timely compliance.

January 2026

1 January
Corporation Tax due for the year ended 31 March 2025, unless quarterly instalment payments apply.

19 January
PAYE and National Insurance deductions, and CIS return and tax, for the month ended 5 January 2026.
Payment is due by 22 January if paying electronically.

31 January
Deadline for filing the 2024/25 self assessment tax return online.
Payment due for any outstanding tax for 2024/25 and the first payment on account for 2025/26.

February 2026

1 February
Corporation Tax due for the year ended 30 April 2025, unless quarterly instalment payments apply.

19 February
PAYE and National Insurance deductions, and CIS return and tax, for the month ended 5 February 2026.
Payment is due by 22 February if paying electronically.

Keeping up with tax changes can feel overwhelming, especially when thresholds are frozen and small tweaks quietly increase the tax you pay. At A&C Chartered Accountants, our role is to help you see what’s coming, understand the impact, and make confident decisions before HMRC comes knocking.

Here’s what’s changing – and what you should be thinking about now.

Personal allowance: still frozen

Your tax-free personal allowance remains at £12,570 for 2026/27.

Once your income goes over £100,000, the allowance starts to reduce, disappearing entirely at £125,140. This remains one of the most punishing parts of the tax system, effectively creating a 60% tax rate in that band.

Planning here is critical – and pensions often play a big role.

Income tax bands: thresholds frozen, dividends more expensive

The income tax thresholds are staying exactly where they are until 2030/31. With wages rising, more people are being pulled into higher tax bands without technically getting richer.

For most income types, rates stay the same. However, from 6 April 2026, dividend tax rates increase:

• Basic rate dividends: 10.75% (up from 8.75%)

• Higher rate dividends: 35.75% (up from 33.75%)

• Additional rate dividends: 39.35% (unchanged)

Your dividend allowance remains £500, which is now doing very little heavy lifting.

Big change ahead: property and savings income from April 2027

From 6 April 2027, the government plans to introduce separate income tax rates for property income and increase tax on savings income:

• Basic rate: 22%

• Higher rate: 42%

• Additional rate: 47%

These new property rates will apply in England and Northern Ireland, with Scotland and Wales setting their own versions.

If you’re a landlord or rely on interest income, this is a clear signal to review your structure and long-term plans sooner rather than later.

Savings and dividends: allowances unchanged

You’ll still benefit from:

• Personal savings allowance

  • £1,000 (basic rate taxpayers)

  • £500 (higher rate taxpayers)

  • £0 (additional rate taxpayers)

• Dividend allowance: £500

With inflation and interest rates where they are, many people are now exceeding these limits without realising it.

Self-employed National Insurance: no relief from the freeze

Class 4 NICs remain at:

• 6% on profits between £12,570 and £50,270

• 2% above that

Like income tax, these thresholds are frozen until 2030/31, quietly increasing the overall tax burden on sole traders and partners.

Voluntary National Insurance: more expensive and more restrictive

From April 2026:

• Class 2 NICs increase to £3.65 per week

• Class 3 NICs increase to £18.40 per week

If you live abroad, the rules tighten significantly:

• Voluntary Class 2 NICs will no longer be available

• The minimum UK connection increases from 3 years to 10 years

If you’re relying on voluntary contributions to protect your state pension, this needs checking carefully.

ISAs: still valuable, but changing

For 2026/27, the overall ISA allowance stays at £20,000.

From April 2027:

• The cash ISA limit drops to £12,000

• Over-65s can still put the full £20,000 into cash ISAs

ISAs remain one of the simplest and most effective tax-free planning tools available.

Pensions: still one of the most powerful planning tools

Full income tax relief continues for qualifying pension contributions. With frozen allowances and rising tax rates elsewhere, pensions remain central to sensible long-term tax planning.

This is especially important for anyone earning over £60,000 or approaching £100,000.

Child Benefit: unchanged, but still catches people out

The High-Income Child Benefit Charge continues to apply where income exceeds £60,000, with full clawback at £80,000.

It’s calculated at 1% for every £200 over the threshold – and applies even if the child isn’t yours, as long as they live with you.

This is one of the most commonly missed tax charges we see at A&C Chartered Accountants.

Foster carers and Shared Lives carers

Qualifying Care Relief increases by 3.8% from April 2026, in line with inflation.

Self assessment penalties: tougher on late payment

From April 2027, HMRC will roll out a new penalty regime:

• Late filing penalties become more lenient

• Late payment penalties become significantly harsher

This makes cashflow planning and timely submissions more important than ever.

Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs): relief reduced

From April 2026, VCT income tax relief drops from 30% to 20%. They may still have a place in some portfolios, but the numbers need revisiting.

What should you do now?

These changes aren’t dramatic headlines – but they add up. Frozen thresholds, higher dividend tax, and new property income rates mean many people will pay more tax without changing their behaviour.

HMRC is moving towards a system that is more digital, automated and less forgiving of delays or errors. Good intentions matter less than robust systems.

Penalties are increasing

From April 2026, late filing penalties for corporation tax returns will double. Repeat late filings can lead to penalties of up to £2,000 per return.

Further reforms are expected, with tougher treatment for deliberate non-compliance.

Digital communication becomes standard

From spring 2026, HMRC will issue digital letters by default for users of its online services. Paper correspondence will still be available but only if you opt out.

Cryptoasset reporting expands

From 2026, UK-based cryptoasset service providers will report tax-relevant information about users to HMRC, aligning crypto reporting with traditional financial accounts.

PAYE, VAT and debt recovery

HMRC is exploring wider use of Direct Debit for PAYE and VAT, increasing debt recovery activity and expanding enforcement teams.

The overall direction is clear: faster reporting, quicker enforcement and less tolerance for late payment.

Reducing risk through preparation

The safest position for businesses and individuals is accurate record keeping, timely submissions and clean reconciliations.