News

HMRC has published guidance outlining the principles of legal and professional privilege as they apply to customs and trade matters. The guidance explains how privilege protections allow certain communications between clients and their legal advisors or professional representatives to remain confidential and protected from disclosure to authorities. This applies to communications seeking or providing legal advice and those made in connection with legal proceedings, provided they meet specific conditions. Understanding these principles is essential for businesses and their representatives to protect sensitive communications during customs investigations and compliance matters.

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

HMRC has released guidance outlining how it handles personal data when businesses and individuals use Open Banking to make payments to the tax authority. The privacy notice explains HMRC’s data protection practices and what information is collected during Open Banking transactions. This guidance applies to anyone using Open Banking as a payment method for HMRC.

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

HMRC has issued guidance setting out how legal professional privilege operates when the tax authority investigates and pursues tax avoidance cases. The guidance covers the application of privilege across disputes, information disclosure obligations, enabler penalties, scheme declarations and HMRC’s powers to publish details about avoidance arrangements. This clarification helps advisers and taxpayers understand which communications with legal representatives remain protected during avoidance-related inquiries and enforcement actions.

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

Taxpayers filing Self Assessment returns for the 2025 to 2026 tax year now have 100 days left to submit their returns and settle any outstanding tax liabilities with HMRC. This deadline applies to all individuals required to complete a Self Assessment tax return during this fiscal period. Failure to meet this deadline may result in penalties and interest charges on late submissions and unpaid tax amounts.

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

This guidance outlines the legal responsibilities and obligations that apply when a bankrupt individual or entity continues trading operations following a bankruptcy declaration. It covers the requirements businesses must meet to lawfully continue trading while in bankrupt status, including compliance with creditor notifications and regulatory reporting. The guidance clarifies the administrative and legal framework governing ongoing business operations during bankruptcy proceedings.

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

The Employer’s Liability (Compulsory Insurance) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 modify the existing 1999 Regulations to adjust which employers are exempt from mandatory employer liability insurance requirements in Northern Ireland. The regulations specify exemptions for certain public bodies and employers already covered by compulsory motor insurance schemes when employees are being transported. These changes add to the exemptions already established under the 1972 Employer’s Liability Order, affecting which organisations must maintain insurance against employee personal injury claims arising from work activities.

Source: legislation.gov.uk – Read the original

The UK is revoking the EU’s Capital Requirements Regulation and replacing it with a new domestic prudential framework through the Overseas Prudential Requirements Regime (Credit Institutions and Investment Firms) Regulations 2026. The revocation of specific articles from the Capital Requirements Regulation comes into force on 1 January 2027. This change grants the UK Treasury direct authority to assess whether third countries’ prudential and supervisory requirements for credit institutions and investment firms are equivalent to UK standards, rather than relying on EU-determined equivalence decisions.

Source: legislation.gov.uk – Read the original

The Over the Counter Derivatives (Intragroup Transactions) Regulations 2026 will establish a permanent UK framework for exemptions related to intragroup OTC derivatives transactions, replacing temporary provisions that were introduced following EU Exit. The regulations build on existing requirements under the EMIR Regulation, which mandates clearing of OTC derivatives through central counterparties and sets risk management standards for uncleared contracts. This change affects financial institutions and corporate entities that enter into derivative contracts with affiliated group members.

Source: legislation.gov.uk – Read the original

The Intimate Image Reports (Trusted Flagger) Regulations 2026 formally recognise South West Grid for Learning Trust as an authorised body to report intimate image content to internet service and access providers. The Trust will operate this function through its Revenge Porn Helpline, collecting reports from the public and forwarding them to providers to help assess whether content meets the legal definition of intimate image content under the Online Safety Act 2023.

Source: legislation.gov.uk – Read the original

The Office for National Statistics has published international trade in goods data for 2025 that allows users to analyse merchandise trade flows at a more granular level than previously available. The dataset provides commodity and country-level information disaggregated across UK areas smaller than ITL1 regions, enabling businesses and analysts to understand trade patterns at sub-regional level. This release supports compliance professionals and logistics operators in tracking regional trade movements and assessing local supply chain impacts.

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