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Tax Update 2026 10 July 2026 23 June was “Tax Update 2026” day, when HMRC published its latest plans for making its tax collection systems more efficient. As with the general trend these days, that involved a number of proposals for passing responsibility from HMRC...

26 June 2026 In 2018, in a case called Perrin v HMRC, the Upper Tribunal set out straightforward steps for tribunals to follow when deciding whether a taxpayer has a “reasonable excuse”. There is a reasonable excuse defence to various penalties and it is commonly...

12 June 2026 Full disclosure: in order to tell this story we are having to make a number of assumptions that have not been definitively proved to be true. The tribunal that adjudicated on the matter specifically stated that allegations made by the taxpayer were no...

                                                                                                                The MTD Marathon - a race to the finish or a step too far? When Tom Bickle, my partner in Accountants Therapy crime, called me and said “I’ve had an idea” I...

VAT and food – not again! 29 May 2026 Credit where credit’s due: this is a story about HMRC trying to do the right thing and being thwarted. Why? Because it’s VAT on food, of course. We all know that VAT on food is extremely complicated at the level of individual...

Mega wealth tax on its way 15 May 2026 The political situation could hardly be more fluid but it’s not controversial to predict that Keir Starmer’s days as Prime Minister are numbered. Alternative candidates are coming forward and they have Labour Party members only...

1 May 2026 We recently reported that a tribunal has come down in favour of public charging being subject to VAT at 5%, not 20% (as maintained by HMRC). We suggested that HMRC would be unwise to appeal against that decision but it has now decided to do so. Here are...

17 April 2026 The OECD thinks the UK tax system is too complicated (no, really?) and that VAT reliefs are complicated and regressive. Has it been reading this blog? Here are three recurring issues that cast doubt on our ability to improve. Windfall tax In May 2022 we...

I’ve been hearing and seeing more and more accountants saying they’re paying £150–£250 A MONTH for “communities”, “mentorship”, or “support”.... and tbh it makes my brain swirl... But, not because support isn’t valuable (it absolutely is) but because so much of what’s...

2 April 2026 Domestic supplies of electricity are reduced-rated for VAT – that is, charged at the 5% rate. Public charging facilities are not only far more expensive per kWh than domestic supplies but HMRC has, for the past 5 years, insisted that they are also to be...

2 April 2026 Domestic supplies of electricity are reduced-rated for VAT – that is, charged at the 5% rate. Public charging facilities are not only far more expensive per kWh than domestic supplies but HMRC has, for the past 5 years, insisted that they are also to be...

What should be done about tax influencers? 20 March 2026 A SLAPP (strategic litigation against public participation) is a legal action undertaken in order to try to silence criticism, or prevent publicity, by legal bullying. The first official ruling that legal action...