HMRC has published guidance detailing its Strengthened Reward Scheme for individuals reporting serious tax avoidance or evasion. The scheme offers financial rewards ranging from 15% to 30% of the tax collected—excluding penalties and interest—for cases where the information provided leads to the recovery of at least £1.5m in tax. The guidance clarifies that such large-scale avoidance or evasion typically involves major companies, wealthy individuals, or offshore schemes. Rewards are granted at HMRC's discretion and do not apply to certain categories, including civil servants who obtained the information during employment, taxpayers implicated in the evasion, or submissions made anonymously. The guidance outlines reporting procedures that require detailed information, such as descriptions of the activity, the reporter's relationship to the individual or business involved, the duration of the activity, and an estimate of the value involved. Investigations based on these reports may take several years to complete.

HMRC has published guidance for insolvency practitioners following the High Court’s decision in Noal SCSp & Ors v Novalpina Capital LLP & Ors [2025] EWHC 1392 (Ch). HMRC explained that the judgment confirms the statutory 12-month period for completing a members’ voluntary liquidation is a strict deadline and that all debts, including contingent and disputed liabilities and any interest, must be settled within that period. HMRC also stated that waiting for HMRC to submit a claim does not provide a reasonable excuse for exceeding the 12-month limit. Pending the outcome of any appeal, HMRC clarified its approach to members’ voluntary liquidation cases to help insolvency practitioners manage the implications of the judgment and complete distributions efficiently. HMRC also directed practitioners to section 2.3.5 of the Insolvency Practitioner’s Handbook for further guidance on its approach and on completing members’ voluntary liquidations within the statutory timeframe.

HMRC has published guidance on how to apportion the £2.5m allowance for 100% Agricultural Relief and Business Relief for Inheritance Tax for deaths occurring on or after 6 April 2026, and has made an online tool available to assist personal representatives and advisers. The guidance explains that qualifying agricultural and business property may receive 100% relief up to a combined maximum of £2.5m, including qualifying assets in the estate, certain lifetime gifts made on or after 30 October 2024 where death occurs within seven years, and any unused allowance transferred from a predeceased spouse or civil partner, which may increase the allowance to £5m. It confirms that once the allowance is fully used, any further qualifying property receives relief at 50%, and that some assets, such as shares traded on markets not regarded as listed for HMRC purposes, do not use the allowance and can only qualify for 50% relief. The guidance sets out which types of agricultural and business property may qualify, when the tool should be used, what information is required before using it, and its limitations, including that it does not calculate Inheritance Tax or determine eligibility for reliefs. It also explains that the allowance is first applied to qualifying lifetime gifts in chronological order and then apportioned proportionately across qualifying estate assets, with Agricultural Relief applied in preference to Business Relief where both could apply.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has published an updated list of businesses which have not been complying with the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017, SI 2017/692, during the first quarter of 2023 (Q1 2023). Additionally, the status for one business has changed from appeal received to appeal withdrawn.

HMRC has formed a time-limited joint subgroup comprising members of its Wealthy External Forum and Capital Taxes Liaison Group focusing on changes to the taxation of non-UK domiciled individuals. The subgroup, aims to facilitate collaboration between HMRC and representative bodies to support the development of guidance and tools following the Autumn Budget 2024 announcements. The group will meet approximately every four weeks to discuss implementation strategies, provide feedback on draft guidance, and enhance working relationships between HMRC, customers, and their representatives. Minutes of the meeting held on 18 November 2024 have been published.

Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has published its obligations to publishing information about businesses that breach the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds Regulations 2017. The publication requirements cover civil breaches of both 2017 and 2007 regulations, with penalties potentially spanning both regulatory frameworks. HMRC notes that published business addresses may not reflect current operations or ownership.

HMRC has published a new form to report relevant benefit crystallisation events or transferring relieved relevant non-UK scheme assets after 6 April 2024. HMRC also updated the form to report relevant benefit crystallisation events or transferring relieved relevant non-UK scheme assets before 6 April 2024. The forms are for use by scheme managers of qualifying overseas pension schemes.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has published a newsletter on the public service pension adjustment service, the service for those who have been affected by the McCloud remedy to correct their tax positions. The service has been down since 11 April 2024 due to a technical issue, however the newsletter contains a number of improvements which have been made to the service as well as the current process for making a submission while the service is down.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has published the outcome of its technical consultation on the draft primary legislation for the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM). The consultation, which ran from 24 March to 3 July 2025, sought views on whether the draft legislation correctly and effectively gives effect to the CBAM policy rather than revisiting the underlying policy design. CBAM will place a carbon price on specified emissions-intensive goods imported into the UK from sectors at risk of carbon leakage, including aluminium, cement, fertilisers, hydrogen, and iron and steel. The outcome document summarises stakeholder feedback, sets out key changes to the primary legislation and confirms the government’s decision to delay the inclusion of indirect emissions from the scope of CBAM at its implementation on 1 January 2027. The draft primary legislation is accompanied by draft Explanatory Notes, a draft Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) and a CBAM policy update to provide clarity for affected businesses.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has published a policy paper and draft legislation introducing a new authorised member surplus payment from registered DB occupational pension schemes and is seeking feedback on the draft legislation until 7 September 2026. Subject to the legislation being enacted, the changes will apply to payments made on or after 6 April 2027.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has published a policy paper on amendments to section 207(4) of the Finance Act 2004 which relates to the authorised surplus payments charge and forms part of a package of pension reforms announced in the Autumn Statement 2023 which aims to provide better outcomes for savers, drive a more consolidated pensions market and enable pension funds to invest in a diverse portfolio. The measure, set out in the Authorised Surplus Payments Charge (Variation of Rate) Order 2024, SI 2024/335, will reduce the amount of tax due on the authorised surplus payment from 35% to 25%, with effect from 6 April 2024.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has published details of research and analysis examining the implementation and impact of post-Brexit trade and customs processes. The research includes findings from multiple surveys and interviews with businesses, customs intermediaries and traders, covering topics such as business readiness, trade with Northern Ireland, import of services, customs declaration systems, administrative burden and changes in trader behaviour.