Employment – Pacific Chartered Accountants

Tax e-News February 2026

This Tax E-News focuses on critical year-end planning opportunities that individuals and businesses should address before the April 5 deadline. Key recommendations include maximizing the £20,000 ISA allowance and considering the 25% government bonus available through Lifetime ISAs. Pension contributions remain a powerful strategy, particularly for those earning between £100,000 and £125,140 who can benefit from an effective 60% tax saving. Businesses are also encouraged to review equipment spending to utilize the £1 million Annual Investment Allowance or the new 40% first-year allowance introduced in January 2026.

Significant legislative shifts are approaching in April 2026, including a two percentage point increase in dividend tax rates and a rise in Capital Gains Tax for certain reliefs to 18%. A notable government “U-turn” will increase the Inheritance Tax relief cap for qualifying agricultural and business assets to £2.5 million, potentially allowing couples to pass on £5 million tax-free. Furthermore, the newsletter outlines the upcoming Making Tax Digital (MTD) mandate for self-assessment taxpayers , the removal of employee tax relief for working from home , and the future requirement for mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind starting in 2027.

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.