HMRC have now opened the second window for mandatory tax adviser registration. Advisers who have a Self Assessment or Corporation Tax account but do not have an Agent Services Account (ASA) are now eligible for registration.
SME Tax News
In Tanglewood Care Services Ltd v HMRC [2026] TC09978, the First Tier Tribunal (FTT) found that work done by a care home in managing Covid-19 was not qualifying Research & Development (R&D) and the company's relief claim was not allowed.
Hello,
This week brings a run of interesting decisions from the tribunals, with an overdrawn director’s loan account, corporate residence, and the Disclosure of Tax Avoidance Scheme (DOTAS) rules being examined in our case summaries.
HMRC have issued a press release confirming that 436,000 taxpayers have filed their first quarterly tax update under Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax, reminding those who have not yet submitted their returns to do so now.
HMRC have introduced a new online service which allows taxpayers and their appointed agents to upload documents to HMRC electronically as part of a compliance check.
In Property 118 Ltd & Anor v HMRC [2026] TC09971, the First Tier Tribunal (FTT) cancelled Disclosure of Tax Avoidance Scheme (DOTAS) reference numbers issued by HMRC for two property incorporation schemes. They were not notifiable arrangements as their main purpose was not to obtain a tax advantage.
In HMRC v Gary Quillan [2026] UKUT00300, the Upper Tribunal (UT) confirmed that for the purposes of s.415 ITTOIA 2005, an overdrawn director's loan account can be treated as 'written off' during the liquidation process without the need for a formal release or express write-off. 
HMRC have released Employment-Related Securities (ERS) Bulletin 68, which focuses on changes to ERS net settlement reporting requirements, Save As You Earn (SAYE) guidance and Enterprise Management Incentives (EMI).
An independent report has been published by the University of London, 'Tax complexity: impact on UK competitiveness and growth'. It revisits the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) 2014 review of the competitiveness of the UK’s tax administration, seeking to assess progress made since that date.
In Cogefin (Bermuda) Limited & Anor v HMRC [2026] TC09969, the First Tier Tribunal (FTT) found that a Bermudian incorporated company owned by a trust was UK tax resident. Central management and control was exercised by a UK resident beneficiary despite the company directors all being resident in Bermuda.
