News and information from HMRC

From new parents to people getting ready for retirement, it can be hard to talk about money with friends, family, or financial professionals. Downloading the app is a great starting point for having those conversations. The app can help people to:

New GOV.UK page to help customers make informed choices when seeking tax representation

We’ve published a new page about HMRC’s approach to intermediary harm on GOV.UK. It aims to help people understand the role of intermediaries in the tax system and identify potentially harmful practices.

We recognise that most intermediaries provide valuable services to taxpayers and support tax administration. The new GOV.UK page consolidates existing resources to help taxpayers:

This publication supports our commitment to maintaining high standards in tax representation and preventing and addressing potentially harmful practices.

Following feedback, we’ve now launched a new and improved version featuring a variety of improvements. The new version of the Interactive Compliance Guidance tool brings guidance and educational materials into a single place to help customers understand:

Businesses and individuals can access the interactive compliance tool and can get help if HMRC contacts them about a compliance check on GOV.UK.

Live Webinar - Transfer of Assets Abroad, HMRC’s approach to The Motive Defence

The transfer of assets abroad legislation is an anti-avoidance measure. It is aimed at preventing individuals who are UK residents from avoiding a liability to income tax by means of a transfer of assets which results in income becoming payable to a person abroad.

The webinar will provide an overview of the Transfer of Assets Abroad (ToAA) exemptions, commonly referred to collectively as the ‘Motive Defence’.

We will cover:

Register for the live Webinar on the ToAA exemptions on 2 December 2025 11:45 here.

It has been an incredibly busy month for events and meetings. We kick-started the month by attending the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP) Annual Conference and Exhibition 2025 at the Celtic Manor resort in Newport.

The event included a keynote speech and question and answer sessions with our Second Permanent Secretary Angela MacDonald. Angela was able to trail the formal announcement that a member of CIPP’s policy team would be joining HMRC on an 18-month secondment, working in partnership with us on changes to payrolling benefits in kind.

Members of our External Affairs team were on hand, along with National Minimum Wage experts who had an exhibition stand across both event days. The closing plenary included a session with one of our payroll policy leads Jack Warrior.

Throughout the month, we have continued our Making Tax Digital engagement work with both stakeholders and software providers through a series of in-person and virtual events hosted by Making Tax Digital Director, Craig Ogilvie.

Alongside our regular forums and wider engagement meetings, senior leaders have also joined a number of roundtables including the Chartered Institute of Taxation’s (CIOT) small business round table looking at how small businesses can be supported with tax compliance.

November dates or your diary: 

Institute for Government (IfG) Leadership change in the civil service panel discussion – 3 November

Our First Permanent Secretary JP Marks will be joining a panel discussion entitled: Leadership change in the civil service: how can new permanent secretaries deliver for government? hosted by the IfG on Monday 3 November.

Virtual Accountex – 11-12 November

This two-day virtual event looks to provide a wide audience with insight on hot topics in finance, tax, and wider accountancy.

On Tuesday 11 November, our Making Tax Digital Director Craig Ogilvie will be delivering a webinar session on getting ready for Making Tax Digital. The session, which starts at 09:00, will cover a number of the points raised in his in-person panel session at Accountex Manchester in September.

On the second day, Director General for Customer Strategy and Tax Design Jonathan Athow takes the 09:00 slot to talk about HMRC’s digital future, Making Tax Digital and beyond, as well as discussing the department’s ambitions as outlined in the Transformation Roadmap.

ICB Bookkeepers Summit – 17 November

Craig Ogilvie will be providing a keynote speech at the ICB Bookkeepers Summit, looking at the role of the bookkeeper in Making Tax Digital.

Budget – 26 November 

The Chancellor of the Exchequer will deliver her Autumn Budget on Wednesday 26 November. This fiscal event will outline updated spending and taxation plans to support the government’s Plan for Change.