The commencement of Making Tax Digital (MTD) for income tax is now live! This is the new 2026/27 tax year regime for self-employed individuals and landlords if they have business and/or property income (i.e. total takings, not net profits) of more than £50,000 per annum. MTD requires digital record-keeping and quarterly updates to HMRC, with the first such update due by 7 August 2026.

The final MTD Regulations were laid before Parliament on 24 March 2026.

If you are one of the 860,000 individuals moving into the new regime, HMRC are also keen to stress that a normal annual tax return will still be required for the 2025/26 tax year. This means that in addition to providing HMRC with quarterly updates during the year to 5 April 2027, your annual 2025/26 tax return will still need to be filed by 31 January 2027.

We have been assisting our clients with the move to MTD. Please do reach out if we are not already planning your transition into this new digital regime.

WHAT ELSE IS CHANGING IN THE 2026/27 TAX YEAR?

It can be hard to keep track of tax changes, with the start of a new tax year often bringing new rates, allowances and other legislative changes. To make things easier, here is a list of the key tax changes that will take effect from April 2026.

INCOME TAX

In 2026/27 income tax rates, thresholds and bands generally remain at their 2025/26 levels. One key change from 6 April 2026 is the rate of income tax that applies to dividend income. For dividends falling within a taxpayer’s £37,700 basic rate band, the rate increases to 10.75% (from 8.75%). For dividends in the higher rate band (£37,701 – £125,140), the rate increases to 35.75% (from 33.75%). The rate of income tax on dividends above the additional rate threshold (£125,140) remains unchanged at 39.35%.

CORPORATION TAX

The rate of tax (known as the ‘s455’ tax charge) on loans to ‘participators’ (broadly shareholders) in ‘close companies’ (broadly companies controlled by 5 or fewer participators), is set according to the dividend upper rate. This means that the tax charge on loans that remain unpaid 9 months and 1 day after the accounting period end will increase to 35.75% for loans and advances made on or after 6 April 2026.

Another key corporation tax change is the new penalty amounts applicable to late-filed corporation tax returns. For returns with a due date that is on or after 1 April 2026, the penalties are:

CAPITAL GAINS TAX

The CGT rates applicable to gains qualifying for both Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR) and Investors’ Relief (IR) are set to increase again to 18% on 6 April 2026. The rates previously increased to 14% (from 10%) on 6 April 2025.

VAT

From 1 April 2026, a new relief will exclude most donations of business goods to charities from the deemed-supply VAT rules.

These articles are for guidance only and professional advice should be obtained before acting on any information contained in them. No responsibility can be accepted for loss occasioned howsoever to any person as a result of action taken or refrained from as a result of reading.