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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33 recent
November 10, 2026Episode 3322 min
How to build a better tax system
In this episode, we draw on ICAEW’s latest campaign – How to build a better tax system – to identify what is going wrong with the UK’s tax system, why it matters and how to fix it. Links ICAEW: How to build a better tax system - https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-reform/how-to-build-a-better-tax-system ICAEW: Future of Tax Commission - https://www.icaew.com/policy-and-research/tax-commission Host Stephen Relf, Tax Technical Manager, ICAEW Guests Lindsey Wicks, Tax Senior Technical Manager, ICAEW Ed Saltmarsh, Tax Technical Manager, ICAEW Producer Ed Adams Series lead Mark Rowland Episode recorded: 21 October 2026 Episode published: 10 November 2026
October 13, 202621 min
CGT on cryptoassets and payrolling of benefits
Cuts to the capital gains tax (CGT) annual exempt amount have brought more individuals within scope of CGT. In this episode we explain how to avoid common errors made when applying the rules to disposals of cryptoassets. From April 2027, employers will be required to process some of the more common types of benefit in kind through the payroll. We explain what is changing and what employers can do now to prepare. Links ICAEW: Follow the numbers: capital gains tax - https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxline/articles/2026/follow-the-numbers-cgt ICAEW: Avoiding common errors with tax and cryptoassets - https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxline/articles/2026/avoiding-common-errors-with-tax-and-cryptoassets ICAEW: How to: CGT reporting and the self assessment tax return - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/sep-2026/how-to-cgt-reporting-and-the-self-assessment-tax-return ICAEW: Economy explainers: what is payrolling of benefits? - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/sep-2026/payrolling-of-benefits-explained ICAEW: Globally mobile employees can be excluded from mandatory payrolling - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/sep-2026/globally-mobile-employees-can-be-excluded-from-mandatory-payrolling Host Stephen Relf, Tax Technical Manager, ICAEW Guests Katherine Ford, Tax Technical Manager, ICAEW Adelle Greenwood, Tax Technical Manager, ICAEW Producer Ed Adams Series lead Mark Rowland Episode published: 13 October 2026 Episode recorded: 21 September 2026
August 12, 2026Episode 3129 min
Why tax complexity matters
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.
July 7, 2026Episode 3018 min
New tax requirements for companies and directors
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
June 9, 2026Episode 2922 min
How to prepare for a VAT enquiry
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
May 12, 2026Episode 2827 min
Modernising and mandating agent registration
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
April 7, 2026Episode 2727 min
Making sure a tax return is correct and complete
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
March 3, 2026Episode 2627 min
MTD Live: are you (and HMRC) ready for MTD?
In a special episode of The Tax Track, recorded at ICAEW’s MTD Live event on 23 February 2026, we speak to HMRC and practitioners on how they are preparing for Making Tax Digital (MTD) for income tax, which is due to start from April 2026. Links ICAEW: Making Tax Digital - https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/making-tax-digital ICAEW: TAXguide 01/25: MTD income tax - https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxguides/2025/taxguide-01-25 ICAEW: HMRC to send final batches of MTD mandation letters - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/feb-2026/hmrc-to-send-final-batches-of-mtd-mandation-letters ICAEW: MTD: How to prepare your clients - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/jan-2026/mtd-how-to-prepare-your-clients ICAEW: MTD: how to deal with digital refusers - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/dec-2025/mtd-how-to-deal-with-digital-refusers ICAEW: MTDtalk 2026 webinar series - https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/webinars-and-recordings/tax-webinars/2026/mtdtalk-2026 MTD for Income Tax: your 30-day readiness plan with Sage - https://events.icaew.com/pd/32831 MTD for Income Tax: compliance simplified with Zoho Books - https://events.icaew.com/pd/32838/mtd-for-income-tax-compliance-simplified-with MTD for Income Tax: from onboarding to filing with Xero - https://events.icaew.com/pd/32819/mtd-for-income-tax-from-onboarding-to-filing Get MTD done with FreeAgent - https://events.icaew.com/pd/32837/get-mtd-done-with-freeagent Host Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEW Guests Craig Ogilvie, Director – MTD, HMRC Hannah Miller, Director, Chipperfield Accounting Nikhil Sangani, Chartered Accountant, Sage & Co Rebecca Benneyworth, sole practitioner and a board member of ICAEW’s Tax Faculty Reporter Mark Rowland Producer Ed Adams Episode recorded 23 February 2026 Episode published 3 March 2026
February 3, 2026Episode 2529 min
Finance Bill changes for individuals and businesses
The Finance Bill 2025-26 is set to be the longest Finance Act in almost ten years, impacting on almost all areas of tax and posing significant challenges for taxpayers and agents. In this episode, we look at the implications for individuals and businesses, from the reform of inheritance tax to changes to capital allowances. Links ICAEW: https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxguides/2025/taxguide-05-25 ICAEW: https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/dec-2025/government-makes-further-concessions-on-iht-reforms ICAEW: https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/nov-2025/budget-further-changes-made-to-cgt-iht-and-residence-rules ICAEW: https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/nov-2025/budget-taxes-on-property-savings-and-dividends-increased ICAEW: https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxline/articles/2026/budget-changes-to-capital-allowances ICAEW: https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/jan-2026/tax-changes-require-new-approach-to-corporate-reconstructions ICAEW: https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/jan-2026/have-your-say-on-business-rates-reform ICAEW: https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/jan-2026/scottish-budget-makes-changes-to-income-tax-thresholds ICAEW: https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/jan-2026/welsh-businesses-to-get-more-support-for-non-domestic-rates ICAEW: https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast/the-tax-track/budget-25-do-the-tax-changes-meet-the-tenets Postscript ICAEW: https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/jan-2026/additional-business-rates-support-announced-for-pubs ICAEW: https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/jan-2026/extend-inheritance-tax-payment-deadline-to-12-months-says-lords Host Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEW Guests Richard Jones, Senior Technical Manager, Business Tax, ICAEW Katherine Ford, Technical Manager, Personal Tax, ICAEW Producer Ed Adams Episode recorded 26 January 2026 Episode published 3 February 2026
December 1, 2025Episode 2427 min
Budget 25: Do the tax changes meet the tenets?
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-extended Budget: New levies include charge on electric vehicles - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/nov-2025/budget-new-levies-include-charge-on-electric-vehicles Budget: 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-capped Budget: Taxes on property, savings and dividends increased - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/nov-2025/budget-taxes-on-property-savings-and-dividends-increased Budget: Changes made to VAT rules and processes - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/nov-2025/budget-changes-made-to-vat-rules-and-processes Budget: Government will not regulate tax advisers - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/nov-2025/budget-government-will-not-regulate-tax-advisers Tax Faculty Budget update 2025 - https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/webinars-and-recordings/tax-webinars/2025/28-11-2025-budget-update How to fix VAT - https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/vat/how-to-fix-vat Host Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEW Guests Lindsey Wicks, Senior Technical Manager, Tax Policy, ICAEW Ed Saltmarsh, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEW Producer Ed Adams Episode published 1 December 2025 Episode recorded 28 November 2025
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