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

Two significant changes will take place from April 2026: Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD IT) and mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind. 

While April 2026 is over a year away, these changes will require a lot of planning including how workflows and information flows will need to change. MTD IT will require many individuals to keep digital records and send quarterly updates to HMRC, while mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind will see the end of the form P11D process for many employers. In this episode we look at what taxpayers and their agents can do in the coming months to prepare.

Links

• Government and developers commit to MTD ITSA from 2026
  https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2024/nov-2024/government-and-developers-commit-to-mtd-itsa-from-2026
• MTD: what you should do now
  https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast/the-tax-track/mtd-what-you-should-do-now 
• Making Tax Digital
  https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/making-tax-digital
• Pros and cons of payrolling benefits
  https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast/the-tax-track/pros-and-cons-of-payrolling-benefits 
• How to prepare for mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind
  https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxline/articles/2024/how-to-prepare-for-mandatory-payrolling-of-benefits-in-kind
• Payrolling Benefits and Expenses webinar
  https://events.icaew.com/pd/29313/payrolling-benefits-and-expenses
• What is Making Tax Digital for income tax?
  https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/jan-2025/what-is-making-tax-digital-for-income-tax

Panellists

• Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEW
• Caroline Miskin, Senior Technical Manager, Digital Taxation, ICAEW
• Adelle Greenwood, Technical Manager, Employment Taxes and National Insurance Contributions, ICAEW

Producer 

Ed Adams

Episode first published: 7 January 2025
Podcast recorded: 17 December 2024

Bookended by a Conservative Budget in the spring and a Labour Budget in the autumn, 2024 was a busy year in politics and in tax. In this episode of The Tax Track, we reflect on key measures from the recent Budget and consider areas that kept us busy during 2024 and will do again in 2025, including regulation of tax agents and HMRC service levels.

Links

• Autumn Budget 2024
  https://www.icaew.com/technical/economy/autumn-budget-2024
• Tax regulation: change must be in the public interest
  https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2024/may-2024/tax-regulation-change-must-be-in-the-public-interest 
• MTD income tax self assessment
  https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/making-tax-digital/mtd-guidance/mtd-and-income-tax
• HMRC on hold
  https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast/the-tax-track/hmrc-on-hold

Panellists

• Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEW
• Lindsey Wicks, Senior Technical Manager for Tax Policy, ICAEW
• Frank Haskew, Head of Taxation Strategy, ICAEW

Producer 

Ed Adams

Episode first published: 2 December 2024
Podcast recorded: 19 November 2024

In this episode we’ll be talking about the problems with VAT and why ICAEW is launching a new campaign, How to Fix VAT.

Introduced in the UK some 50 years ago, VAT is now the UK’s third largest source of tax revenue, behind income tax and national insurance contributions. But, it can be costly and complicated to comply with, and that’s despite previous efforts at simplification.

Links

• The complicated and costly world of VAT
  https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2024/oct-2024/the-complicated-and-costly-world-of-vat 
• The ups and downs of the VAT registration threshold
  https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2024/sep-2024/the-ups-and-downs-of-the-vat-registration-threshold 
• Progressive VAT: is now the time?
  https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2024/oct-2024/progressive-vat-is-now-the-time

Panellists

• Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEW
• Ed Saltmarsh, Technical Manager, VAT and customs, ICAEW
• Ruth Corkin, Principal, VAT and Indirect Tax Advisory, Hillier Hopkins

Producer

Ed Adams

Episode first published: 29 October 2024
Podcast recorded: 22 October 2024

The abolition of the furnished holiday lettings (FHL) rules from April 2025 was announced in the Spring Budget. Following the general election, the Labour government confirmed that it would proceed with the measure, and provided more details in the form of draft legislation, an explanatory note and a policy paper. While some of the detail may change as the legislation is finalised, there will be tax implications for those affected – we discuss the potential issues.

Links

• Why furnished holiday let owners are facing higher tax bills
  https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxline/articles/2024/why-furnished-holiday-let-owners-are-facing-higher-tax-bills
• ICAEW calls again for FHL brightline test
  https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2024/sep-2024/icaew-calls-again-for-fhl-brightline-test
• HMRC rejects ‘brightline’ test for furnished holiday lets (FHLs)
  https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2024/may-2024/hmrc-rejects-brightline-test-for-furnished-holiday-lets-fhls

Panellists

• Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEW
• Lindsey Wicks, Senior Technical Manager, Tax Policy, ICAEW
• Katherine Ford, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEW

Producer

Ed Adams

Episode first published: 2 October 2024
Podcast recorded: 24 September 2024

Making Tax Digital income tax self assessment (MTD ITSA) will start in April 2026 for the self-employed and those with income from property with gross income of more than £50,000. It has been described as the biggest change to affect tax agents and their clients since 1996/97 when self assessment was introduced. This episode of The Tax Track looks at what agents need to do now to ensure that their practice and their clients are ready.

Discussing the issues involved are Lindsey Wicks, Senior Technical Manager, Tax Policy, ICAEW; Caroline Miskin, Senior Technical Manager, Digital Taxation, ICAEW; and Rebecca Benneyworth MBE FCA, sole practitioner and tax speaker.

Links

• Making Tax Digital
  www.icaew.com/mtd 

Panellists

• Lindsey Wicks, Senior Technical Manager, Tax Policy, ICAEW
• Caroline Miskin, Senior Technical Manager, Digital Taxation, ICAEW
• Rebecca Benneyworth MBE FCA, founder, Rebecca Benneyworth & Co, tax speaker, writer and consultant, and deputy chair of the Tax Faculty’s Technical and Oversight Committee

Producer 

Ed Adams

Episode first published: 29 August 2024
Podcast recorded: 20 August 2024

Basis period reform is an important issue at the moment, with 2023/24 a transitional year. We look at the impact of this for businesses filling in their tax returns.

Where an individual’s accounting date deviates from the tax year, there are additional boxes to complete on the tax return for 2023/24, and quite likely additional tax to pay too.

The team also gazes into the Tax Faculty crystal ball to predict what might be in the first Budget of the new Labour government, now scheduled to take place on 30 October.

This month’s experts are Lindsey Wicks, Senior Technical Manager for Tax Policy at ICAEW; Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax; and Richard Jones, Senior Technical Manager, Tax Policy.

Links

• TAXguide 02/22: Basis Period Reform
  https://www.icaew.com/-/media/corporate/files/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxguides/2022/taxguide-0222-basis-period-reform.ashx 
• Basis period reform begins to bite
  https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxline/articles/2024/basis-period-reform-begins-to-bite 
• Tax gap closes as a percentage of tax liabilities
  https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2024/jun-2024/tax-gap-closes-as-a-percentage-of-tax-liabilities 
• What might we see in the next budget?
  https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2024/jul-2024/what-might-we-see-in-the-next-budget 
• Budget to be delivered on 30 October
  https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2024/jul-2024/budget-to-be-delivered-on-30-october 

Webinar

• https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/webinars-and-recordings/tax-webinars/2024/basis-period-reform-update 

Podcast

• HMRC on hold
  https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast/the-tax-track/hmrc-on-hold 

Panellists

• Lindsey Wicks, Senior Technical Manager, Tax Policy, ICAEW
• Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEW
• Richard Jones, Senior Technical Manager, Tax Policy, ICAEW

Producer 

Ed Adams

Episode first published: 31 July 2024
Podcast recorded: 24 July 2024

A damning report from the National Audit Office in May this year concluded what many have long suspected, that customer service from HMRC is falling ‘far below’ expected levels. In this episode of The Tax Track, we look at the problem, its impact and potential solutions.

The figures are damning, with call waiting times soaring by over 350% over the past five years and just 67% of calls being answered. While HMRC is striving to resolve issues, circumstances beyond its control are holding back progress.

Unpicking this thorny issue are Lindsey Wicks, Senior Technical Manager for Tax Policy at ICAEW; Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax; and Caroline Miskin, Senior Technical Manager, Digital Taxation.

Links

• The Tax Track podcast: A taxing year ahead
  https://www.icaew.com/insights/podcast/the-tax-track/a-taxing-year-ahead 
• HMRC halts decision to restrict helplines
  https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2024/mar-2024/hmrc-halts-decision-to-restrict-helplines
• Issue 114, agent update
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/agent-update-issue-114/issue-114-of-agent-update#tipspost
• ICAEW gives five reasons to use the HMRC app
  https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2024/mar-2024/icaew-gives-five-reasons-to-use-the-hmrc-app 
• NAO report – HMRC Customer service
  https://www.nao.org.uk/reports/hmrc-customer-service/

Panellists

• Lindsey Wicks, Senior Technical Manager, Tax Policy, ICAEW
• Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEW
• Caroline Miskin, Senior Technical Manager, Digital Taxation, ICAEW

Producer 

Ed Adams

Episode first published: 2 July 2024
Podcast recorded: 25 June 2024

In this episode of The Tax Track, we discuss HMRC’s plans to mandate the payrolling of benefits in kind, and look at the implications of a recent tax case.

With the payrolling of all benefits in kind set to be mandatory from 2025/26, we examine whether this really is the simplification it’s meant to be, and what employers and agents can do now to smooth the way. Plus, a recent tax tribunal case highlighted the importance of documentation and how it can severely impact the amount of tax due.

Lindsey Wicks, Senior Technical Manager for Tax Policy at ICAEW, discusses the issues with Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, and Peter Bickley, Technical Manager, Tax.

Links

• Is it time for employers to start payrolling benefits and expenses? https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxline/articles/2023/is-it-time-for-employers-to-start-payrolling-benefits-and-expenses 
• Payrolling Benefits and Expenses webinar, 16 October 2024 https://events.icaew.com/pd/29313/payrolling-benefits-and-expenses
• Working out the date of disposal isn’t always child’s play
  https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxline/articles/2024/working-out-the-date-of-disposal-isnt-always-childs-play 

Panel

• Lindsey Wicks, Senior Technical Manager, Tax Policy, ICAEW
• Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEW
• Peter Bickley, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEW

Producer
Ed Adams

Episode first published: 30 May 2024
Recording date: 20 May 2024

What is an associated company and how can this affect business taxation? This episode of The Tax Track looks at how to spot an associated company and apply the rules, particularly in relation to corporation tax.

‘Associated’ has a broad definition in tax terms, which can give rise to surprising results when it comes to family relationships and other businesses. As well as talking about how this affects the rate of corporation tax, and when corporation tax is payable, we also look at the impacts for other areas of business tax, including national insurance contributions, annual investment allowance and VAT disaggregation.

Lindsey Wicks, Senior Technical Manager for Tax Policy at ICAEW, discusses the issues with Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, and Angela Clegg, Technical Manager, Business Tax.

Links

• Don’t forget associated companies, warns ICAEW Tax Faculty
  https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxline/articles/2024/dont-forget-associated-companies-warns-icaew-tax-faculty
• TAXguide 02/23: Associated companies
  https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxguides/2023/taxguide-02-23 
• Corporation Tax: small profits relief
  https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/company-taxation-manual/ctm03785 

Panel

• Lindsey Wicks, Senior Technical Manager, Tax Policy, ICAEW
• Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEW
• Angela Clegg, Technical Manager, Business Tax, ICAEW

Producer

Ed Adams

Episode first published: 29 April 2024
Recording date: 22 April 2024