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-vatHostStephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEWGuestsLindsey Wicks, Senior Technical Manager, Tax Policy, ICAEWEd Saltmarsh, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEWProducerEd AdamsEpisode published 1 December 2025Episode recorded 28 November 2025
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27:45
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27:45
The latest on MTD income tax
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-returnHostStephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEWGuestsLindsey Wicks, Senior Technical Manager, Tax Policy, ICAEWRebecca Benneyworth, sole practitioner and a board member of ICAEW’s Tax FacultyProducerEd AdamsEpisode published 31 October 2025Episode recorded 24 October 2025
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30:58
Tax returns and Finance Bill concerns
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-returnsHostStephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEWGuestsLindsey Wicks, Senior Technical Manager, Tax Policy, ICAEWKatherine Ford, Tax Manager, ICAEWProducerEd AdamsEpisode recorded: 23 September 2025Episode published: 1 October 2025
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29:08
The inside track from HMRC
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 | ICAEWhttps://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 | ICAEWhttps://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 | ICAEWhttps://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/jul-2025/have-your-say-on-draft-finance-bill-legislationHMRC is taking longer to respond to post | ICAEWhttps://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/aug-2025/hmrc-is-taking-longer-to-respond-to-postHostStephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEWGuestJonathan Athow, Director General, Customer Strategy and Tax Design, HMRCProducerNatalie ChisholmEpisode recorded 21 August 2025Episode published 3 September 2025Â
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Challenging times for HMRC and agents
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.LinksHMRC 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 reductionhttps://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/jul-2025/icaew-reiterates-concerns-about-mtd-threshold-reductionPanellistsStephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEWFrank Haskew, Head of Taxation Strategy, ICAEWLindsey Wicks, Senior Technical Manager, Tax Policy, ICAEWProducer: Ed AdamsEpisode recorded 24 July 2025Episode published 1 August 2025
In this podcast series from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, experts from the Tax Faculty discuss the biggest tax stories of the month, with advice for professionals in the sector to keep their knowledge and skills sharp.
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