Closure of company accounts and tax return service
HMRC has announced that it will close its online service for filing a company’s accounts and tax return (commonly referred to as CATO) on 31 March 2026. HMRC says that the service, which is intended “to support small, unrepresented businesses with simple tax affairs with their online filing”, “does not meet modern digital standards, or recent changes to UK company law”.
From 1 April 2026, companies will need to use commercial software. HMRC says that this “can offer much more than the current service, such as improved validation [and] tax support and reminders”.
HMRC’s guidance explains how to plan for the closure of the service and what to do after the service closes. The service has never been available to agents.
MTD for income tax
IRIS accountancy suite has been added to HMRC’s list of software products currently available for taxpayers who have volunteered to test Making Tax Digital (MTD) for income tax. This brings the total number of software products to 18.
ICAEW’s video explaining MTD income tax is now available on YouTube. This should make it easier for members to share the video with their clients.
To find out more about MTD for income tax, visit ICAEW’s hub.
Official rate of interest for BIK calculations
Regulations have been made that set the official rate of interest at 3.75% from 6 April 2025. It is currently 2.25%. The rate is used in calculating the value of the benefit in kind (BIK) for an employment-related loan.
HMRC guidance for pension scheme administrators
The latest issue of HMRC’s pension schemes newsletter includes guidance on:
- the managing pensions schemes service, including how to prepare for the 2024/25 pension scheme return;
- qualifying recognised overseas pension schemes;
- lifetime allowance abolition and lump sum reporting; and
- relief at source. This includes updates on the use of scanned forms and the expected delivery date for the digital relief at source service.
International tax round-up
CFE Tax Advisers Europe has published its latest collection of tax top 5 developments. This includes updates on:
- a meeting of the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors at which the G20 emphasised the importance of ongoing discussions on international tax reforms; and
- the European Commission’s proposals under the Omnibus I and II packages aimed at simplifying European Union (EU) regulations, reducing administrative burdens and enhancing the competitiveness of EU businesses. CFE reports that the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) has been “significantly simplified under the new proposals”.
Tax Faculty
This guidance is created by the Tax Faculty, recognised internationally as a leading authority and source of expertise on taxation. The Faculty is the voice of tax for ICAEW, responsible for all submissions to the tax authorities. Join the Faculty for expert guidance and support enabling you to provide the best advice on tax to your clients or business.