Advertise on podcast: The Tax Track

The Finance Bill 2025-26 is set to be the longest Finance Act in almost ten years, impacting on almost all areas of tax and posing significant challenges for taxpayers and agents. In this episode, we look at the implications for individuals and businesses, from the reform of inheritance tax to changes to capital allowances.   Links  ICAEW: https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxguides/2025/taxguide-05-25 ICAEW: https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/dec-2025/government-makes-further-concessions-on-iht-reforms ICAEW: https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/nov-2025/budget-further-changes-made-to-cgt-iht-and-residence-rules ICAEW: https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/nov-2025/budget-taxes-on-property-savings-and-dividends-increased ICAEW: https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxline/articles/2026/budget-changes-to-capital-allowances ICAEW: https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/jan-2026/tax-changes-require-new-approach-to-corporate-reconstructions ICAEW: https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/jan-2026/have-your-say-on-business-rates-reform ICAEW: https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/jan-2026/scottish-budget-makes-changes-to-income-tax-thresholds ICAEW: https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/jan-2026/welsh-businesses-to-get-more-support-for-non-domestic-rates ICAEW: https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast/the-tax-track/budget-25-do-the-tax-changes-meet-the-tenets Postscript ICAEW: https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/jan-2026/additional-business-rates-support-announced-for-pubs ICAEW: https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/jan-2026/extend-inheritance-tax-payment-deadline-to-12-months-says-lords Host Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEW Guests Richard Jones, Senior Technical Manager, Business Tax, ICAEW Katherine Ford, Technical Manager, Personal Tax, ICAEW Producer Ed Adams Episode recorded 26 January 2026 Episode published 3 February 2026

In this episode, we rate the Budget against ICAEW’s ten tenets for a better tax system, focusing on the government’s decision to freeze the personal allowance and tax thresholds for an additional three years, the new tax on electric vehicles and changes to the NIC treatment of salary sacrificed pension contributions.  Budget: Freeze on personal allowance extended - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/nov-2025/budget-freeze-on-personal-allowance-extendedBudget: New levies include charge on electric vehicles - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/nov-2025/budget-new-levies-include-charge-on-electric-vehiclesBudget: NIC saving on salary sacrifice pension contributions capped - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/nov-2025/budget-nic-saving-on-salary-sacrifice-pension-contributions-cappedBudget: Taxes on property, savings and dividends increased - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/nov-2025/budget-taxes-on-property-savings-and-dividends-increasedBudget: Changes made to VAT rules and processes - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/nov-2025/budget-changes-made-to-vat-rules-and-processesBudget: Government will not regulate tax advisers - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/nov-2025/budget-government-will-not-regulate-tax-advisersTax Faculty Budget update 2025 - https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/webinars-and-recordings/tax-webinars/2025/28-11-2025-budget-updateHow to fix VAT - https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/vat/how-to-fix-vatHost Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEW Guests Lindsey Wicks, Senior Technical Manager, Tax Policy, ICAEW Ed Saltmarsh, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEW Producer Ed Adams Episode published 1 December 2025 Episode recorded 28 November 2025

From April 2026, an estimated 864,000 sole traders and landlords will need to comply with Making Tax Digital (MTD) for income tax. In this episode, we look at recent developments, including HMRC’s plans to contact taxpayers, and we draw on the experience of special guest Rebecca Benneyworth to explain what you can do to prepare for the challenges ahead. Making Tax Digital - https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/making-tax-digitalTAXguide 01/25: MTD income tax - https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxguides/2025/taxguide-01-25Digitally excluded can now apply for MTD exemption -  https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/sep-2025/digitally-excluded-can-now-apply-for-mtd-exemptionHow to avoid errors when signing up clients to MTD income tax - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/oct-2025/how-to-avoid-errors-when-signing-up-clients-to-mtd-income-taxHMRC offers agents support with MTD for income tax - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/aug-2025/hmrc-offers-agents-support-with-mtd-for-income-taxUp to 3 million individuals may need to comply with MTD - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/aug-2025/up-to-3-million-individuals-may-need-to-comply-with-mtdHow to keep HMRC agent account details safe - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/sep-2025/how-to-keep-hmrc-agent-account-details-safeHow to complete your tax return - https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/personal-tax/how-to-complete-your-tax-returnHost Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEW Guests Lindsey Wicks, Senior Technical Manager, Tax Policy, ICAEW Rebecca Benneyworth, sole practitioner and a board member of ICAEW’s Tax Faculty Producer Ed Adams Episode published 31 October 2025 Episode recorded 24 October 2025

In this episode of The Tax Track, we look ahead to the 2024/25 tax return season, highlighting areas to watch out for, and explain our concerns with draft legislation for Finance Bill 2025/26 that promises to make significant changes to the tax system, particularly for agents.   Links  ICAEW has major concerns about draft Finance Bill legislation - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/sep-2025/icaew-has-major-concerns-about-draft-finance-bill-legislationGovernment’s plans for agents may harm the tax system - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/sep-2025/governments-plans-for-agents-may-harm-the-tax-systemTaxpayers encouraged to ensure returns are correct and complete -  https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/sep-2025/taxpayers-encouraged-to-ensure-returns-are-correct-and-completeIn-year CGT rate changes cause tax return errors - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/aug-2025/in-year-cgt-rate-changes-cause-tax-return-errorsHMRC targets personal expenditure - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/aug-2025/hmrc-targets-personal-expenditureGet ahead with 2024/25 tax returns - https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxline/articles/2025/get-ahead-with-2024-25-tax-returnsHost Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEW Guests Lindsey Wicks, Senior Technical Manager, Tax Policy, ICAEW Katherine Ford, Tax Manager, ICAEW Producer Ed Adams Episode recorded: 23 September 2025 Episode published: 1 October 2025

Whether it’s performance or policy, there’s rarely an episode of The Tax Track that doesn’t mention HMRC. In this special episode we talk to one of the senior leaders at HMRC, Jonathan Athow, Director General for Customer Strategy and Tax Design. The government’s stated priorities for HMRC are to modernise and reform the tax system, improve customer service and close the tax gap; Athow explains how HMRC intends to deliver on those priorities, and crucially, what this means for ICAEW members. Links  Tax software article (Sept Taxline) HMRC promises new digital solutions for taxpayers and agents | ICAEW https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/jul-2025/hmrc-promises-new-digital-solutions-for-taxpayers-and-agentsUp to 3 million individuals may need to comply with MTD | ICAEW https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/aug-2025/up-to-3-million-individuals-may-need-to-comply-with-mtdHave your say on draft Finance Bill legislation | ICAEW https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/jul-2025/have-your-say-on-draft-finance-bill-legislationHMRC is taking longer to respond to post | ICAEW https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/aug-2025/hmrc-is-taking-longer-to-respond-to-postHost Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEW Guest Jonathan Athow, Director General, Customer Strategy and Tax Design, HMRC Producer Natalie Chisholm Episode recorded 21 August 2025 Episode published 3 September 2025 

July was a busy month for HMRC as it published its annual accounts and report for 2024/25, along with its transformation roadmap and draft legislation for Finance Bill 2025/26.  In this episode of The Tax Track we look at the challenges HMRC faces, from improving its services to taxpayers and agents to closing the tax gap; its plans for new and improved digital services; and the possible implications of the proposed changes for agents in particular as MTD and agent registration begin to take effect. Links HMRC continues to miss performance targets https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/jul-2025/hmrc-continues-to-miss-performance-targetsTax gap falls slightly as a percentage of tax liabilities https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/jun-2025/tax-gap-falls-slightly-as-a-percentage-of-tax-liabilities HMRC promises new digital solutions for taxpayers and agents https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/jul-2025/hmrc-promises-new-digital-solutions-for-taxpayers-and-agents  Have your say on draft Finance Bill legislation https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/jul-2025/have-your-say-on-draft-finance-bill-legislationICAEW reiterates concerns about MTD threshold reduction https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/jul-2025/icaew-reiterates-concerns-about-mtd-threshold-reductionPanellists Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEWFrank Haskew, Head of Taxation Strategy, ICAEWLindsey Wicks, Senior Technical Manager, Tax Policy, ICAEWProducer: Ed Adams Episode recorded 24 July 2025 Episode published 1 August 2025

Simple assessment and real-time reporting for capital gains tax (CGT) are two ways for HMRC and taxpayers to sidestep self assessment for income and gains. HMRC sent out a record number of simple assessments for 2023/24. We explain what they are and explore some of the problem areas. We also explain how the often overlooked real-time reporting for CGT works and look at current issues with CGT reporting more generally. Links TAXguide 09/18: simple assessment - https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxguides/2018/taxguide-0918-simple-assessment Simple Assessment guide for pensioners - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pensioners-and-tax-communications-materials/simple-assessment-guide-for-pensioners Agent Update: issue 131 - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/agent-update-issue-131/issue-131-of-agent-update#simple Consider using the real-time CGT service to report gains - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2024/apr-2024/consider-using-the-real-time-cgt-service-to-report-gains TAXguide 15/20: Capital gains tax UK property disposal reporting - https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxguides/2020/taxguide-1520-capital-gains-tax-uk-property-disposal-reporting Panellists Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEWCaroline Miskin, Senior Technical Manager, Digital Tax, ICAEW Katherine Ford, Technical Manager, Personal Taxes, ICAEWProducer Ed Adams Episode first published: 2 July 2025 Podcast recorded: 24 June 2025

On 6 April 2025, the longstanding rules for UK-resident, non-UK domiciled individuals – non-doms – were abolished and replaced with a new regime for foreign income and gains (FIG) that is based on residence.  The abolition of domicile as a concept is one of the biggest changes in taxation for many years. In this episode of The Tax Track, we’ll get behind the headlines and consider the pros and cons of the new rules. Links Economy explainers: what is the non-dom regime? (valid up to 5/4/25) https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2024/sep-2024/non-dom-regime-explainedResidence and FIG Regime Manual https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/residence-and-fig-regime-manual Panellists Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEWKatherine Ford, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEWAdelle Greenwood, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEWProducer  Ed Adams Episode first published: 30 May 2025 Podcast recorded: 19 May 2025

What do marshmallows and hair transplants have in common? Yes, they’ve both been subject to recent court cases regarding VAT treatment. And yes, this episode of The Tax Track is all about VAT. As well as examining issues with VAT borderlines, we talk about the prospects for reform, look forward to the Institute’s forthcoming VAT conference and discuss the pros and cons of e-invoicing. Links How to fix VAT https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/vat/how-to-fix-vat Progressive VAT: is now the time?  https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2024/oct-2024/progressive-vat-is-now-the-timeE-invoicing to be mandatory for EU VAT by 2030 https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2024/nov-2024/e-invoicing-to-be-mandatory-for-eu-vat-by-2030How to fix VAT Conference ttps://www.icaew.com/learning-and-development/events/vat-conferencePanellists Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEWEd Saltmarsh, Technical Manager, VAT and Customs, ICAEWStephen Dale, Chair, ICAEW VAT and Duties CommitteeProducer  Ed Adams Episode first published: 30 April 2025 Podcast recorded: 22 April 2025

Ownership of cryptoassets may be on the rise, but many myths persist when it comes to how they taxed. This episode looks at how accountants can help clients to meet their tax obligations. We look at the tax treatment of cryptoassets and discuss what HMRC is doing to improve compliance and raise awareness, from adding a new box in the tax return to implementing the cryptoasset reporting framework. Links The basics of taxing cryptoassets https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxline/articles/2024/the-basics-of-taxing-cryptoassets VAT on cryptoassets https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxline/articles/2024/vat-on-cryptoassetsCryptoassets: international tax issues https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxline/articles/2024/cryptoassets-international-tax-issuesWhat’s CARF got to do with it? https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxline/articles/2025/whats-carf-got-to-do-with-it TAXguide 01/2024: Taxation of cryptoassets for individuals https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxguides/2024/taxguide-01-24   TAXguide 01/2024: Taxation of cryptoassets for businesses https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxguides/2024/taxguide-02-24  Panellists Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEWRichard Jones, Senior Technical Manager, Business Taxation, ICAEWDion Seymour, Crypto and Digital Asset Technical Director, Andersen Producer  Ed Adams Episode first published: 1 April 2025 Podcast recorded: 24 March 2025

Maintaining high professional standards is essential, both for individual accountants and for the profession as a whole. This episode of The Tax Track looks at the importance of protecting your professional reputation and, importantly, what members can do to ensure they get things right in the first place. Tax is complicated – and constantly changing – so CPD is important, as well as being an integral part of your ICAEW membership. Meanwhile, Professional Conduct in Relation to Taxation (PCRT), prepared jointly by seven professional bodies and associations (including ICAEW) and endorsed by HMRC, sets out the fundamental principles and standards for tax planning that all members, affiliates and students who practise in tax must follow. Links What is Professional Conduct in Relation to Taxation? https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/feb-2025/what-is-professional-conduct-in-relation-to-taxationProfessional Conduct in Relation to Taxation: a tax perspective on ethics https://www.icaew.com/regulation/regulatory-news/regulatory-news-nov-2024/professional-conduct-in-relation-to-taxationICAEW Regulatory and Conduct Annual Report https://www.icaew.com/regulation/icaew-regulatory-and-conduct-annual-reportPanelists Lindsey Wicks, Senior Technical Manager, Tax Policy, ICAEWSophie Wales, Director of Regulatory Policy, ICAEWKatherine Ford, Technical Manager, Business Taxation, ICAEWProducer Ed Adams Episode first published: 11 February 2025 Podcast recorded: 25 February 2025

In recent years we’ve seen changes to the rules, to processes and to HMRC’s approach to policing claims for research and development (R&D) tax relief. In this episode we map out the current landscape to help you navigate your way through it. In an attempt to clamp down on fraud, more R&D claims are being checked, but is this deterring genuine claims? We also look at a new HMRC facility to disclose errors made in claims – who can disclose, how to disclose and the points to consider in determining whether or not a claim is correct. Links Follow the numbers: R&D tax relief https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxline/articles/2025/follow-the-numbers-r-and-d-tax-reliefWhat is R&D for tax purposes? https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxline/articles/2024/what-is-r-and-d-for-tax-purposesDisclosing errors in claims for research and development tax relief https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/jan-2025/disclosing-errors-in-claims-for-research-and-development-tax-relief R&D: what changes apply and from when? https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxline/articles/2024/r-and-d-what-changes-apply-and-from-when MPs briefed on HMRC’s R&D compliance approach https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2024/sep-2024/mps-briefed-on-hmrcs-r-and-d-compliance-approachSoftware project qualified for R&D tax relief https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxline/articles/2024/software-project-qualified-for-r-and-d-tax-relief Panelists Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEWRichard Jones, Senior Technical Manager, Business Taxation, ICAEWAngela Clegg, Technical Manager, Business Taxation, ICAEWProducer Ed Adams Episode first published: 5 February 2025 Podcast recorded: 28 January 2025

Two significant changes will take place from April 2026: Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD IT) and mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind.  While April 2026 is over a year away, these changes will require a lot of planning including how workflows and information flows will need to change. MTD IT will require many individuals to keep digital records and send quarterly updates to HMRC, while mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind will see the end of the form P11D process for many employers. In this episode we look at what taxpayers and their agents can do in the coming months to prepare. Links Government and developers commit to MTD ITSA from 2026 https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2024/nov-2024/government-and-developers-commit-to-mtd-itsa-from-2026MTD: what you should do now https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast/the-tax-track/mtd-what-you-should-do-now Making Tax Digital https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/making-tax-digitalPros and cons of payrolling benefits https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast/the-tax-track/pros-and-cons-of-payrolling-benefits How to prepare for mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxline/articles/2024/how-to-prepare-for-mandatory-payrolling-of-benefits-in-kindPayrolling Benefits and Expenses webinar https://events.icaew.com/pd/29313/payrolling-benefits-and-expensesWhat is Making Tax Digital for income tax? https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/jan-2025/what-is-making-tax-digital-for-income-tax Panellists Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEWCaroline Miskin, Senior Technical Manager, Digital Taxation, ICAEWAdelle Greenwood, Technical Manager, Employment Taxes and National Insurance Contributions, ICAEW Producer  Ed Adams Episode first published: 7 January 2025 Podcast recorded: 17 December 2024

Bookended by a Conservative Budget in the spring and a Labour Budget in the autumn, 2024 was a busy year in politics and in tax. In this episode of The Tax Track, we reflect on key measures from the recent Budget and consider areas that kept us busy during 2024 and will do again in 2025, including regulation of tax agents and HMRC service levels. Links Autumn Budget 2024 https://www.icaew.com/technical/economy/autumn-budget-2024Tax regulation: change must be in the public interest https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2024/may-2024/tax-regulation-change-must-be-in-the-public-interest MTD income tax self assessment https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/making-tax-digital/mtd-guidance/mtd-and-income-taxHMRC on hold https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast/the-tax-track/hmrc-on-hold Panellists Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEWLindsey Wicks, Senior Technical Manager for Tax Policy, ICAEWFrank Haskew, Head of Taxation Strategy, ICAEW Producer  Ed Adams Episode first published: 2 December 2024 Podcast recorded: 19 November 2024

In this episode we’ll be talking about the problems with VAT and why ICAEW is launching a new campaign, How to Fix VAT. Introduced in the UK some 50 years ago, VAT is now the UK’s third largest source of tax revenue, behind income tax and national insurance contributions. But, it can be costly and complicated to comply with, and that’s despite previous efforts at simplification. Links The complicated and costly world of VAT https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2024/oct-2024/the-complicated-and-costly-world-of-vat The ups and downs of the VAT registration threshold https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2024/sep-2024/the-ups-and-downs-of-the-vat-registration-threshold Progressive VAT: is now the time? https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2024/oct-2024/progressive-vat-is-now-the-time Panellists Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEWEd Saltmarsh, Technical Manager, VAT and customs, ICAEWRuth Corkin, Principal, VAT and Indirect Tax Advisory, Hillier Hopkins Producer Ed Adams Episode first published: 29 October 2024 Podcast recorded: 22 October 2024