Tax e-News January 2026
This Tax E-News highlights major shifts for self-assessment and employment expenses. Making Tax Digital (MTD) for income tax is set to be mandated for a large group of taxpayers starting April 6, 2026 , although late filing penalties for quarterly updates will be waived for the 2026/27 tax year. Certain groups, such as those with trust income or farmers using averaging adjustments, have had their entry deferred until 2027. Additionally, employees should prepare for the abolition of tax deductions for working from home expenses starting April 2026 , as the government tightens rules to allow tax-free reimbursement only when home-working is a contractual necessity.
The newsletter also covers long-term digital transitions and important VAT clarifications. Looking ahead to April 2027, most Benefits in Kind (BiKs) must be processed through payroll in real-time , while mandatory e-invoicing for VAT is projected for 2029. A notable recent tribunal ruling also confirmed that rotisserie chickens are subject to 20% VAT because they are kept hot in specialized packaging. Finally, taxpayers are reminded of new advisory fuel rates effective from December 2025 and the critical January 31 deadline for filing 2024/25 self-assessment returns and making outstanding payments.
