Month: July 2026

HMRC has issued formal notices that carry statutory force under the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018, which grants the agency authority to make binding determinations on cross-border trading matters. These notices establish mandatory requirements that apply to traders and businesses engaged in imports and exports across borders. The notices represent HMRC’s enforcement of regulations governing how cross-border transactions are assessed and taxed under UK law.

Source: HMRC (GOV.UK) – Read the original

HMRC has released a General Anti-Abuse Rule Advisory Panel opinion dated 30 January 2026 examining whether arrangements involving the purchase of company shares and their subsequent gifting to an employee trust constitute abusive tax avoidance under GAAR. The guidance is designed to help businesses and advisers identify characteristics of potentially abusive arrangements in the context of Inheritance Tax planning, particularly where the primary purpose appears to be artificial estate reduction or circumventing Inheritance Tax on lifetime transfers rather than achieving genuine commercial objectives.

Source: HMRC (GOV.UK) – Read the original

HMRC has published guidance on its interim approach to receiving and exchanging GloBE Information Returns under the Pillar 2 global minimum tax rules. The guidance clarifies how the tax authority will handle the initial phase of GloBE return submissions and the subsequent international exchange of this information with other jurisdictions. This transitional framework applies to multinational enterprises required to file these returns as part of OECD Pillar 2 compliance.

Source: HMRC (GOV.UK) – Read the original

The Employment Status Manual is an official HMRC guidance document designed to help users understand and determine the employment status of individuals. The manual addresses the distinction between different worker categories and the factors that determine how individuals should be classified for tax and employment law purposes. This resource assists employers, workers, and advisors in navigating employment status considerations.

Source: HMRC (GOV.UK) – Read the original

HMRC VAT Notice 700/2 provides guidance on group and divisional VAT registration arrangements, explaining how businesses can register multiple entities under a single VAT number and the application procedures involved. The notice clarifies eligibility criteria for group registration, where a parent company can register subsidiary companies as a single entity for VAT purposes, and divisional registration for large businesses operating separate divisions. It sets out the specific forms traders must complete when applying for group or divisional registration status with HMRC.

Source: HMRC (GOV.UK) – Read the original

HMRC has published the technical specifications for the Alcohol and Tobacco Warehouse Declaration system, providing software developers with the requirements needed to build compatible applications. The specifications outline the data formats, system interfaces, and technical standards that developers must follow when creating tools to submit warehouse declarations for alcohol and tobacco products. This guidance enables third-party developers to integrate their systems with HMRC’s declaration requirements, ensuring compliance with UK customs regulations for alcohol and tobacco warehousing operations.

Source: HMRC (GOV.UK) – Read the original

HMRC has released helpsheet HS325 to assist self-employed individuals and business owners in identifying and calculating various forms of taxable income that fall outside standard employment or trading profits. The guidance covers how to properly report miscellaneous income sources within Self Assessment tax returns. This resource helps taxpayers ensure they capture all relevant income streams when completing their annual tax submissions.

Source: HMRC (GOV.UK) – Read the original

The GAAR Advisory Panel has issued an opinion from 30 January 2026 addressing arrangements where companies gift shares to employee trusts to reduce estate values for Inheritance Tax purposes and avoid Inheritance Tax on lifetime transfers. The guidance helps businesses and advisors identify whether such arrangements may constitute abusive tax arrangements under the General Anti-Abuse Rule. This opinion provides clarity on how GAAR principles apply to this specific category of estate planning strategies involving trust structures.

Source: HMRC (GOV.UK) – Read the original

HMRC has published its latest accredited official statistics on Capital Gains Tax, featuring data collected through Self Assessment and UK Property returns. The 2024 update introduces cryptoasset gains reporting for the first time, providing traders and tax professionals with comprehensive insights into how cryptocurrency transactions are being declared across the UK tax system.

Source: HMRC (GOV.UK) – Read the original

HMRC has published guidance explaining how the Human Rights Act applies to penalties imposed for inaccurate declarations involving legally privileged material. The factsheet sets out the framework for compliance checks and the circumstances under which human rights protections may apply when declarations relating to privileged information are found to be incorrect. This guidance helps traders and their advisors understand their rights and obligations when handling sensitive legal documents during customs procedures.

Source: HMRC (GOV.UK) – Read the original