The Tax Track

By ICAEW

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

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FAQs about The Tax Track:

How many episodes does The Tax Track have?

The podcast currently has 23 episodes available.

The Tax Track episodes:

October 30, 2025The 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-digital
TAXguide 01/25: MTD income tax - https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxguides/2025/taxguide-01-25
Digitally excluded can now apply for MTD exemption - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/sep-2025/digitally-excluded-can-now-apply-for-mtd-exemption
How 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-tax
HMRC 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-tax
Up 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-mtd
How to keep HMRC agent account details safe - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/sep-2025/how-to-keep-hmrc-agent-account-details-safe
How to complete your tax return - https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/personal-tax/how-to-complete-your-tax-return
Host
Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEW
Guests
Lindsey Wicks, Senior Technical Manager, Tax Policy, ICAEW
Rebecca Benneyworth, sole practitioner and a board member of ICAEW’s Tax Faculty
Producer
Ed Adams
Episode published 31 October 2025
Episode recorded 24 October 2025
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31min
October 01, 2025Tax 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-legislation
Government’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-system
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
In-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-errors
HMRC targets personal expenditure - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/aug-2025/hmrc-targets-personal-expenditure
Get ahead with 2024/25 tax returns - https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxline/articles/2025/get-ahead-with-2024-25-tax-returns
Host
Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEW
Guests
Lindsey Wicks, Senior Technical Manager, Tax Policy, ICAEW
Katherine Ford, Tax Manager, ICAEW
Producer
Ed Adams
Episode recorded: 23 September 2025
Episode published: 1 October 2025
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30min
September 03, 2025The 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 | ICAEW
https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/jul-2025/hmrc-promises-new-digital-solutions-for-taxpayers-and-agents
Up to 3 million individuals may need to comply with MTD | ICAEW
https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/aug-2025/up-to-3-million-individuals-may-need-to-comply-with-mtd
Have your say on draft Finance Bill legislation | ICAEW
https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/jul-2025/have-your-say-on-draft-finance-bill-legislation
HMRC is taking longer to respond to post | ICAEW
https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/aug-2025/hmrc-is-taking-longer-to-respond-to-post
Host
Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEW
Guest
Jonathan Athow, Director General, Customer Strategy and Tax Design, HMRC
Producer
Natalie Chisholm
Episode recorded 21 August 2025
Episode published 3 September 2025
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39min
August 01, 2025Challenging 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.
Links
HMRC continues to miss performance targets https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/jul-2025/hmrc-continues-to-miss-performance-targets
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
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-legislation
ICAEW reiterates concerns about MTD threshold reduction
https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/jul-2025/icaew-reiterates-concerns-about-mtd-threshold-reduction
Panellists
Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEW
Frank Haskew, Head of Taxation Strategy, ICAEW
Lindsey Wicks, Senior Technical Manager, Tax Policy, ICAEW
Producer: Ed Adams
Episode recorded 24 July 2025
Episode published 1 August 2025
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29min
July 02, 2025Paying tax outside self assessment
Simple assessment and real-time reporting for capital gains tax (CGT) are two ways for HMRC and taxpayers to sidestep self assessment for income and gains.
HMRC sent out a record number of simple assessments for 2023/24. We explain what they are and explore some of the problem areas. We also explain how the often overlooked real-time reporting for CGT works and look at current issues with CGT reporting more generally.
Links
TAXguide 09/18: simple assessment - https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxguides/2018/taxguide-0918-simple-assessment
Simple Assessment guide for pensioners - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pensioners-and-tax-communications-materials/simple-assessment-guide-for-pensioners
Agent Update: issue 131 - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/agent-update-issue-131/issue-131-of-agent-update#simple
Consider using the real-time CGT service to report gains - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2024/apr-2024/consider-using-the-real-time-cgt-service-to-report-gains
TAXguide 15/20: Capital gains tax UK property disposal reporting - https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxguides/2020/taxguide-1520-capital-gains-tax-uk-property-disposal-reporting
Panellists
Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEW
Caroline Miskin, Senior Technical Manager, Digital Tax, ICAEW
Katherine Ford, Technical Manager, Personal Taxes, ICAEW
Producer
Ed Adams
Episode first published: 2 July 2025
Podcast recorded: 24 June 2025
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21min
May 30, 2025Goodbye non-doms, hello FIG
On 6 April 2025, the longstanding rules for UK-resident, non-UK domiciled individuals – non-doms – were abolished and replaced with a new regime for foreign income and gains (FIG) that is based on residence.
The abolition of domicile as a concept is one of the biggest changes in taxation for many years. In this episode of The Tax Track, we’ll get behind the headlines and consider the pros and cons of the new rules.
Links
Economy explainers: what is the non-dom regime? (valid up to 5/4/25) https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2024/sep-2024/non-dom-regime-explained
Residence and FIG Regime Manual https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/residence-and-fig-regime-manual
Panellists
Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEW
Katherine Ford, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEW
Adelle Greenwood, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEW
Producer
Ed Adams
Episode first published: 30 May 2025
Podcast recorded: 19 May 2025
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22min
April 30, 2025VAT gets its day in court – again
What do marshmallows and hair transplants have in common? Yes, they’ve both been subject to recent court cases regarding VAT treatment. And yes, this episode of The Tax Track is all about VAT.
As well as examining issues with VAT borderlines, we talk about the prospects for reform, look forward to the Institute’s forthcoming VAT conference and discuss the pros and cons of e-invoicing.
Links
How to fix VAT
https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/vat/how-to-fix-vat
Progressive VAT: is now the time?
https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2024/oct-2024/progressive-vat-is-now-the-time
E-invoicing to be mandatory for EU VAT by 2030
https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2024/nov-2024/e-invoicing-to-be-mandatory-for-eu-vat-by-2030
How to fix VAT Conference
ttps://www.icaew.com/learning-and-development/events/vat-conference
Panellists
Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEW
Ed Saltmarsh, Technical Manager, VAT and Customs, ICAEW
Stephen Dale, Chair, ICAEW VAT and Duties Committee
Producer
Ed Adams
Episode first published: 30 April 2025
Podcast recorded: 22 April 2025
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25min
April 01, 2025Taxing times: cryptoassets in the spotlight
Ownership of cryptoassets may be on the rise, but many myths persist when it comes to how they taxed. This episode looks at how accountants can help clients to meet their tax obligations.
We look at the tax treatment of cryptoassets and discuss what HMRC is doing to improve compliance and raise awareness, from adding a new box in the tax return to implementing the cryptoasset reporting framework.
Links
The basics of taxing cryptoassets
https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxline/articles/2024/the-basics-of-taxing-cryptoassets
VAT on cryptoassets
https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxline/articles/2024/vat-on-cryptoassets
Cryptoassets: international tax issues
https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxline/articles/2024/cryptoassets-international-tax-issues
What’s CARF got to do with it?
https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxline/articles/2025/whats-carf-got-to-do-with-it
TAXguide 01/2024: Taxation of cryptoassets for individuals
https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxguides/2024/taxguide-01-24
TAXguide 01/2024: Taxation of cryptoassets for businesses
https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxguides/2024/taxguide-02-24

Panellists
Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEW
Richard Jones, Senior Technical Manager, Business Taxation, ICAEW
Dion Seymour, Crypto and Digital Asset Technical Director, Andersen
Producer
Ed Adams
Episode first published: 1 April 2025
Podcast recorded: 24 March 2025
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22min
February 25, 2025Why professional conduct matters
Maintaining high professional standards is essential, both for individual accountants and for the profession as a whole. This episode of The Tax Track looks at the importance of protecting your professional reputation and, importantly, what members can do to ensure they get things right in the first place.
Tax is complicated – and constantly changing – so CPD is important, as well as being an integral part of your ICAEW membership. Meanwhile, Professional Conduct in Relation to Taxation (PCRT), prepared jointly by seven professional bodies and associations (including ICAEW) and endorsed by HMRC, sets out the fundamental principles and standards for tax planning that all members, affiliates and students who practise in tax must follow.
Links
What is Professional Conduct in Relation to Taxation? https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/feb-2025/what-is-professional-conduct-in-relation-to-taxation
Professional Conduct in Relation to Taxation: a tax perspective on ethics https://www.icaew.com/regulation/regulatory-news/regulatory-news-nov-2024/professional-conduct-in-relation-to-taxation
ICAEW Regulatory and Conduct Annual Report https://www.icaew.com/regulation/icaew-regulatory-and-conduct-annual-report
Panelists
Lindsey Wicks, Senior Technical Manager, Tax Policy, ICAEW
Sophie Wales, Director of Regulatory Policy, ICAEW
Katherine Ford, Technical Manager, Business Taxation, ICAEW
Producer
Ed Adams
Episode first published: 11 February 2025
Podcast recorded: 25 February 2025
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20min
February 05, 2025R&D tax relief: where are we now?
In recent years we’ve seen changes to the rules, to processes and to HMRC’s approach to policing claims for research and development (R&D) tax relief. In this episode we map out the current landscape to help you navigate your way through it.
In an attempt to clamp down on fraud, more R&D claims are being checked, but is this deterring genuine claims? We also look at a new HMRC facility to disclose errors made in claims – who can disclose, how to disclose and the points to consider in determining whether or not a claim is correct.
Links
Follow the numbers: R&D tax relief
https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxline/articles/2025/follow-the-numbers-r-and-d-tax-relief
What is R&D for tax purposes?
https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxline/articles/2024/what-is-r-and-d-for-tax-purposes
Disclosing errors in claims for research and development tax relief
https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/jan-2025/disclosing-errors-in-claims-for-research-and-development-tax-relief
R&D: what changes apply and from when?
https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxline/articles/2024/r-and-d-what-changes-apply-and-from-when
MPs briefed on HMRC’s R&D compliance approach
https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2024/sep-2024/mps-briefed-on-hmrcs-r-and-d-compliance-approach
Software project qualified for R&D tax relief
https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxline/articles/2024/software-project-qualified-for-r-and-d-tax-relief
Panelists
Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEW
Richard Jones, Senior Technical Manager, Business Taxation, ICAEW
Angela Clegg, Technical Manager, Business Taxation, ICAEW
Producer
Ed Adams
Episode first published: 5 February 2025
Podcast recorded: 28 January 2025
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26min

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How many episodes does The Tax Track have?

The podcast currently has 23 episodes available.

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