United Kingdom tax news
AskColm has 504 articles tagged United Kingdom, drawn from over 130 tax sources. The most recent is dated 8 October 2026.
Showing the latest 50.
Bolt Refused Chance To Appeal £190M VAT Ruling
The UK Supreme Court has refused Bolt's appeal over its claim to use a VAT margin scheme that would have reduced its estimated VAT liability of £190 million. The ruling is a significant blow to the ride-hailing company, which said…
Badenoch’s inheritance tax cut could cost £11bn – almost twice the advertised price
The UK Conservative Party proposes exempting family homes from inheritance tax and raising the tax-free allowance to £500,000 per person, claiming a £6bn annual cost. Analysis from the Tax Policy Associates suggests the true cost is £7.7bn to £10.9bn, as…
Change your Vaping Duty Stamps approval as a customs Warehousekeeper or UK representative
HMRC guidance on how customs warehousekeepers or UK representatives of overseas manufacturers can notify changes to their existing Vaping Duty Stamps approval.
Find out about the loan charge settlement scheme
HMRC has a settlement scheme for taxpayers with outstanding disguised remuneration loan charge liabilities, allowing them to resolve their position. The loan charge targets arrangements where employers paid workers via loans through third parties to avoid income tax and National…
Pay tax as a pension scheme administrator
Guidance for pension scheme administrators on how to pay tax charges arising from payments out of registered pension schemes, including payment methods and processing times for payments reaching HMRC.
Simplified rates for bringing personal goods into the UK
HMRC guidance on simplified customs and excise duty rates applied when travellers declare personal goods brought into the UK online, covering the rates used in lieu of standard duty calculations.
Inheritance tax is now a three-way political fight. What do advisers tell clients?
UK inheritance tax has become a three-way political contest, with advisers navigating how to guide clients amid policy uncertainty. The article explores the advice practitioners are giving clients in this environment.
Corporate tax update – October 2026
Saffery's October 2026 corporate tax update covers key developments for businesses in the UK, including HMRC activity, policy changes, and recent case law, with practical guidance on where businesses may need to take action.
HMRC large business compliance 2026: what the government’s response means for businesses
The UK government has accepted all seven recommendations from the Public Accounts Committee following its review of HMRC's large business tax compliance approach. The government's response endorses HMRC's compliance strategy while calling for further reform, with implications for how large…
Check if you're impacted by Vaping Products Duty and the Vaping Duty Stamps Scheme
HMRC has published guidance on Vaping Products Duty and the Vaping Duty Stamps Scheme, explaining what they are and how they may affect individuals and businesses.
Brief Overview of Special Tax Regimes in Europe – UK, Ireland, Gilbraltar, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Greece, Cyprus, Malta
This presentation gives a high-level overview of special tax regimes in selected European and other jurisdictions, including the UK, Ireland, Gibraltar, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Greece, Cyprus and Malta. It is aimed at internationally mobile high-net-worth individuals.
UK Healthcare VAT Exemption and Its Impact on Medical Practices
The UK's VAT exemption for healthcare services has broad implications for medical practices, affecting input VAT recovery, cost structures, and pricing decisions. Exempt status means practices cannot reclaim VAT on purchases, embedding those costs into operations. The article explores how…
Why are the Tories talking about inheritance tax?
The UK Conservative Party has renewed focus on inheritance tax, likely as a political positioning strategy ahead of future elections. The discussion centres on whether inheritance tax rates, thresholds, or exemptions should be reformed, reflecting broader debates about wealth transfer,…
Capital gains tax reform was right. Now it’s dead.
The UK has missed an opportunity to reform capital gains tax. Pre-budget speculation about potential changes undermined the revenue that reform could have raised, and the moment for action has now passed.
Why are the Tories obsessed with inheritance tax?
The article examines the UK Conservative Party's persistent focus on inheritance tax, exploring the political and ideological motivations behind their repeated calls for reform or abolition of the tax. It considers whether inheritance tax policy reflects genuine public concern or…
Before you scale your team: what promises can you afford to keep? | Grant Thornton
Article advises founders and growing businesses on how equity incentives and EMI schemes can be used when hiring senior talent, with a focus on avoiding costly tax mistakes during team scaling. EMI (Enterprise Management Incentive) schemes are a UK tax-advantaged…
HMRC Announces VAT Assist Service for Accurate VAT Returns
HMRC has announced a new VAT Assist service designed to help businesses file more accurate VAT returns. The service appears to provide guidance and support to reduce errors in VAT submissions, reflecting HMRC's ongoing effort to improve compliance and reduce…
Farm diversification tax: APR and BPR considerations
Farmers looking to diversify their income should be aware of the potential tax consequences. Diversification can affect eligibility for Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief, as well as broader succession planning.
Italian tax court refers post-Brexit fiscal rules on property to CJEU
An Italian tax court has referred post-Brexit fiscal rules on property to the Court of Justice of the European Union. The referral concerns whether effective tax cooperation can justify applying cadastral valuation rules to countries outside the EU and European…
Sole traders and landlords earning more than £30,000 urged to act now
Sole traders and landlords earning more than £30,000 are being urged by HMRC to prepare for Making Tax Digital.
Indirect tax updates | Grant Thornton
Grant Thornton publishes monthly indirect tax updates covering the latest developments for practitioners. The page serves as a recurring resource for VAT, GST, and related indirect tax changes.
UK Upper Tribunal allows Remote Gaming Duty appeal on further promotional free spins
The UK Upper Tribunal has ruled in favour of a taxpayer in a Remote Gaming Duty (RGD) dispute concerning the tax treatment of promotional free spins awarded to players. The case centred on whether further free spins granted as part…
Energy bill tax cut starts today to give families breathing space
The government has cut tax on household electricity bills to help protect households from rising global energy costs this winter.
Did Manchester City cheat HMRC out of £12m?
UK Tax Policy Associates examines evidence surrounding Manchester City's alleged use of a sham consultancy arrangement and questions whether it resulted in around £12 million in unpaid UK tax. The piece also considers whether the matter warrants a criminal investigation.
Correspondence: Edition 7: Making Tax Digital for Income Tax — software developer newsletter
HMRC has published the seventh edition of its newsletter for software developers working on Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.
UK Mansion Tax Could Spark Fights Over Valuations Near £2M
Experts warn that a proposed mansion tax surcharge on properties valued at more than two million pounds in England could lead to a rise in valuation disputes, as property owners seek to keep their homes below the threshold and avoid…
Policy paper: HMRC small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) action plan: 2025 to 2028
HMRC has published an action plan for small and medium-sized enterprises covering 2025 to 2028, aimed at making it easier for small businesses to access public sector supply chains and reducing unnecessary burdens and costs.
Corporate report: Tackling alcohol smuggling: outputs
HMRC has published a report on the results of its alcohol strategy, covering alcohol seizures, criminal enforcement activity and the operation of the Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme.
Transparency data: Trade Specialised Committee on Administrative Co-operation in VAT and Recovery of Taxes and Duties
The UK Treasury publishes meeting agendas and summaries for the Trade Specialised Committee on Administrative Co-operation in VAT and Recovery of Taxes and Duties, a joint UK-EU forum established to combat VAT fraud and handle the recovery of taxes and…
EU Proposes Extending Northern Ireland Company-Car Fuel VAT Scheme to 2029
The European Union has proposed extending the existing VAT derogation scheme covering company-car fuel costs in Northern Ireland through to 2029. This measure, which addresses the unique VAT position of Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework, allows businesses to continue…
Business Property Relief (BPR): inheritance tax rules and eligibility
This guide from Saffery explains Business Property Relief, covering how it can reduce inheritance tax liability, who is eligible, the key rules that apply, and the impact of reforms coming into effect in 2026.
British Airways Beats £5.8M Tax Bill For Worker Hotel Stays
A UK court has ruled that money British Airways spent on London hotel rooms for cabin crew working back-to-back shifts was not employee income and therefore not subject to nearly £5.8 million in taxes. The court found the expenditure qualified…
Autumn Budget 2026: expected UK tax changes and what businesses and individuals should do now
Saffery has published guidance on the Autumn Budget 2026, setting out what businesses, entrepreneurs and families need to know about possible tax changes and government commitments, and what steps they should consider taking now.
The real cost of unprepared MTD clients – Accountex Manchester 2026
Survey data presented at Accountex Manchester by Bright shows that only 54% of mandated taxpayers filed under Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment in the first quarter, with 70% yet to move onto cloud software.
A £2.6bn lobbyist fairytale: economic consultancy Cebr sold VAT-free shopping as a tax cut that pays for itself
Economic consultancy Cebr has claimed that restoring VAT-free shopping for tourists would generate £2.6bn for the UK economy. Tax Policy Associates rebuilt Cebr's model and identified four errors in its methodology. Once those errors are corrected, the projected gain turns…
Anonymous online advisers mainstreaming tax secrecy strategies for ordinary taxpayers
Anonymous online advisers are making offshore tax avoidance and evasion strategies accessible to ordinary taxpayers. Tactics once associated with wealthy individuals using Swiss bank accounts and Caribbean law firms are increasingly being promoted through anonymous online channels.
Online Gambling Co. Wins £13M Tax Appeal Over Free Spins
A London court has ruled that an online gambling company is not liable for approximately £13.2 million in remote gaming duties. The court found that free spins awarded as prizes to new users qualified for an exclusion from those duties.
Vaping Products Duty and Vaping Duty Stamps guidance
HMRC has published internal manual guidance covering the Vaping Products Duty (VPD), a new UK excise duty on vaping liquids introduced in the October 2024 Budget and effective from October 2026. The guidance details duty rates, registration requirements for producers…
VAT Payments on Account Regime
HMRC provides guidance on the VAT payments on account scheme, which came into force on 2 September 1993.
If billionaires want to use tax as a weapon, let them go
This opinion piece argues that wealthy individuals threatening to leave a country in response to tax policy should be allowed to do so, contending that their departure would not significantly harm public finances or society. The author challenges the narrative…
Construction Co. Administrators Recover £3.4M From HMRC
Administrators for collapsed construction firm Ardmore Construction have recovered £3.4 million in overpayments from HMRC, according to a public filing.
The UK low-value import reform and the broader customs modernisation agenda
The European Union has agreed on a major overhaul of its customs framework, described as the most ambitious since the customs union was established in 1968, as part of a broader customs modernisation agenda.
Are MPs right about the tax at stake if this billionaire moves?
Tax Watch UK has examined a billionaire's hedge fund to assess whether his annual UK tax bill is £330 million, as stated in Parliament, and whether that liability would cease if he left the country.
VAT on fund management services: what does GfC20 mean for businesses?
This article examines the implications of GfC20, a HMRC guidance update concerning VAT treatment of fund management services in the UK. Fund management has long been a complex area for VAT, with exemptions applying to certain services while others remain…
HMRC Disputes £400M Inheritance Tax Underpayment Claim
HMRC has disputed a law firm's claim that wealthy individuals may have underpaid inheritance tax by up to £392 million in fiscal year 2025-26. The tax authority said the figure reflects tax under consideration rather than an estimate of tax…
Mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind and expenses – interim guidance and legislation
HMRC has published draft interim guidance and legislation to help employers prepare for mandatory real-time reporting of benefits in kind and expenses through payroll software, ahead of changes coming into effect in April 2027.
Annex 3 – additional benefits in kind fields likely to be required on Full Payment Submission returns
HMRC has published information about additional benefits in kind fields that will be required on Full Payment Submission returns.
English Mayors Need £3.8B Tax Shift, Report Says
A think tank report has called on the Labour government to grant English mayors a 5% share of income tax revenue, which would shift an additional £3.8 billion a year away from central government.
Tax banks more, now!
An opinion piece arguing that banks should face higher taxation, likely in response to perceived excess profits or systemic advantages enjoyed by the financial sector. The article advocates for increased tax burdens on banking institutions, touching on corporate tax policy…
HMRC’s £10bn AI payoff and the 2030 digital self-service push – Accountex Manchester 2026
At Accountex Manchester 2026, HMRC disclosed that artificial intelligence has generated a yield and that the department is targeting 90% digital self-service by 2030, with these developments reshaping UK tax administration.