The Tax Track

In this episode, we consider the pain points for businesses in meeting their tax reporting obligations and we explore the causes and implications of tax complexity, including what the UK stands to gain from addressing it.  
 Links 
 ICAEW
How to fix VAT | ICAEW - https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/vat/how-to-fix-vat
How to build a better tax system | ICAEW - https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-reform/how-to-build-a-better-tax-system
Business tax compliance costs £15bn a year | ICAEW - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/feb-2025/business-tax-compliance-costs-15bn-a-year
External
Office of Tax Simplification - GOV.UK - https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-of-tax-simplification
Competitiveness review: final report https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7d8aafe5274a676d532aca/competitiveness_review_final_report.pdf
Brunel University Research Archive: Tax complexity: impact on UK competitiveness and growth - https://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/33569
 Host
Stephen Relf, Tax Technical Manager, ICAEW
 Guests
Professor Peter Jelfs, Brunel University of London
Andy Richens, formerly of the Office of Tax Simplification
 Producer
Ed Adams
Series lead
Mark Rowland
Episode recorded: 29 July 2026
Episode published: 12 August 2026
All views expressed on this podcast are those of the contributors and don’t necessarily reflect those of ICAEW or its members.

Close companies and their directors are in HMRC’s sights as it attempts to close the small business tax gap. In this episode, we look at the challenges posed by new information requirements for directors completing their self assessment tax return for tax year 2025/26 and at the government’s proposals to impose additional reporting requirements on close companies.

Links 
ICAEW: New tax return requirements for directors cause uncertainty - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/may-2026/new-tax-return-requirements-for-directors-cause-uncertainty
ICAEW: ICAEW warns against new requirements for close companies - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/jun-2026/icaew-warns-against-new-requirements-for-close-companies
ICAEW: Tax gap widens to 6.4% of total tax liabilities - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/jun-2026/tax-gap-widens-to-6-point-4-percent-of-total-tax-liabilities#:~:text=Percentage%20tax%20gap,6.4%25%20for%202024%2F25.
HMRC's company taxation manual - close companies - https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/company-taxation-manual/ctm60050

Host
Stephen Relf, Tax Technical Manager, ICAEW

Guests
Angela Clegg, Tax Technical Manager – Business Taxes, ICAEW
Katherine Ford, Tax Technical Manager – Personal Taxes, ICAEW

Producer
Ed Adams

Episode recorded: 24 June 2026
Episode published: 8 July 2026

HMRC is stepping up its compliance activities when it comes to VAT. In this episode, we explain what businesses can do to prepare for a VAT enquiry and we explore how HMRC and the government could better support businesses in meeting their VAT obligations.

Links 
ICAEW: VAT compliance controls: new guidance from HMRC - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/feb-2025/vat-compliance-controls-new-guidance-from-hmrc
ICAEW: Making sure a tax return is correct and complete - https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast/the-tax-track/making-sure-a-tax-return-is-correct-and-complete
ICAEW: Budget: Changes made to VAT rules and processes (e-invoicing) - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/nov-2025/budget-changes-made-to-vat-rules-and-processes#4
ICAEW: How to fix VAT - https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/vat/how-to-fix-vat

Host
Stephen Relf, Tax Technical Manager, ICAEW

Guests
Rob Janering, VAT partner, Crowe UK LLP
Simon Atkins, Partner, RSM UK
Producer
Ed Adams

Episode recorded: 21 May 2026
Episode published: 10 June 2026

Finance Act 2026 introduces a package of measures designed to drive up standards in the tax advice market, including mandatory agent registration with HMRC. In this episode, we explain how the process will work and discuss the consequences for advisers of having their registration suspended.

Links 
ICAEW: HMRC’s agent registration guidance lacks key details -  https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/feb-2026/hmrcs-agent-registration-guidance-lacks-key-details
ICAEW: Government reassures agents on registration and sanctions - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/feb-2026/government-reassures-agents-on-registration-and-sanctions
ICAEW: TAXguide 05/25: Finance Act 2026 - https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxguides/2025/taxguide-05-25
The HMRC standard for agents - GOV.UK - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmrc-the-standard-for-agents/the-hmrc-standard-for-agents

Host
Stephen Relf, Tax Technical Manager, ICAEW

Guests
Lindsey Wicks, Senior Tax Technical Manager, ICAEW
Frank Haskew, Tax Director, ICAEW

Producer
Ed Adams

Episode recorded: 23 April 2026
Episode published: 13 May 2026

In recent months, the government has published guidance and announced policy changes that could significantly affect how tax returns are prepared and how HMRC enquiries are conducted. In this episode, we’ll explore the implications for taxpayers and agents, focusing on new HMRC guidelines for ensuring that a tax return is correct and complete and changes to the requirement to notify HMRC of an uncertain tax treatment. 
Links
ICAEW:
Taxpayers 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-complete
Individuals and trusts face new obligation under uncertain tax treatment proposals - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/mar-2026/individuals-and-trusts-face-new-obligation-under-uncertain-tax-treatment-proposals
Inaccuracy and failure to notify penalties must be simplified - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/jun-2025/inaccuracy-and-failure-to-notify-penalties-must-be-simplified
Suspension of penalties for a one-off tax error - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/feb-2026/suspension-of-penalties-for-a-one-off-tax-error
Tax 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
External: 
GOV.UK: Help ensuring documents filed with HMRC are correct and complete — GfC13 -  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/help-ensuring-documents-filed-with-hmrc-are-correct-and-complete-gfc13
GOV.UK: Opportunities to Extend Uncertain Tax Treatment - https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-extend-notification-of-uncertain-tax-treatment-utt-regime/opportunities-to-extend-uncertain-tax-treatment
Host: Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEW
 Guests: 
Richard Jones, Senior Technical Manager, Business Tax, ICAEW
Annis Lampard, Partner, Deloitte
Producer: Ed Adams
Episode recorded: 25 March 2026
Episode published: 7 April 2026