SME Tax News

HMRC have launched a consultation, 'Better use of new and improved third-party data', seeking views on how to improve the quality of data acquired under HMRC's bulk data gathering powers for tax administration.

HM Treasury has launched a consultation, 'Advance tax certainty for major projects', which explores a possible new process to give major projects increased certainty in advance about the tax that applies.

HMRC have launched a consultation on 'Enhancing HMRC's ability to tackle tax advisers facilitating non-compliance'. Views are sought on whether HMRC’s current powers are effective in dealing with non-compliance facilitated by tax advisers.

In John Strange v HMRC [2025] TC09448, the First Tier Tribunal (FTT) upheld a Personal Liability Notice (PLN) issued to a company’s sole director. The company’s failure to pay National Insurance (NI) over a 22-month period was attributable to neglect on the director's part.

The Government has published a new consultation, 'Reform of behavioural penalties', seeking views on options to improve the current penalty regime in respect of taxpayers who have submitted inaccurate returns or failed to notify chargeability. 

Changes to Making Tax Digital (MTD) were announced in the Spring Statement on 26 March 2025, including bringing forward the introduction of MTD for Income Tax for sole traders and landlords with income over £20,000.

HMRC has launched a new consultation 'Research and Development tax relief advance clearances' which invites views on widening the use of clearances to avoid error and fraud.

HMRC have launched a consultation on ‘Closing in on promoters of tax avoidance’. Proposals include giving HMRC additional powers and stronger sanctions to tackle closing the tax gap attributable to marketed tax avoidance.

Finance Bill 2024-25 received Royal Assent on 20 March 2025 to become Finance Act 2025. It contains a number of key measures, including the abolition of the Furnished Holiday Letting and non-domicile tax regimes.