Hello,
This week brings a mixture of practical updates, policy developments and cautionary tales for advisers and businesses navigating an increasingly complex tax landscape.
HMRC have published Agent Update 140, offering a wide sweep of reminders and technical clarifications for practitioners as we move into a busy period of legislative change.
Alongside this, the release of the latest Advisory Fuel Rates from 1 March 2026 will be essential reading for employers operating company car schemes or reimbursing business mileage.
A recurring theme in recent months has been uncertainty around HMRC's guidance on mandatory registration for tax advisers, and our featured article explores why the current wording continues to cause confusion for both advisers and taxpayers.
This week, we also highlight a First Tier Tribunal (FTT) decision where a taxpayer's reliance on their agent was deemed careless behaviour, underscoring the importance of clear communication, accurate record keeping and active client engagement.
In property tax, a noteworthy Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) ruling confirms that residential rates applied to a let paddock, providing useful precedent for cases involving mixed-use or atypical land.
We also bring you our new Electric Vehicles Update for 2026, summarising the key tax considerations for businesses and employees. These range from Benefit In Kind (BIK) implications to the welcome extension of 100% First Year Allowances (FYAs) to March/April 2027.
Finally, with Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax rapidly approaching, we have featured our MTD: Toolkit for Accountants, designed to help practitioners prepare clients, understand exclusions, plan timelines and manage the transition with confidence.
More news, cases and updates below.
The rossmartin.co.uk tax team
Online PRACTICAL tax resources for accountants and tax advisers BY accountants and tax advisers.
Quick News
Agent Update 140: February 2026
HMRC have published their Agent Update for February 2026. We have summarised the key content, including Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED) reporting, changes to the process of reporting Trusts Capital Gains Tax (CGT), Benefit In Kind (BIK) reporting and an update on the new tax adviser registration rules.
Advisory fuel rates from 1 March 2026
HMRC have published new advisory fuel rates for company car drivers that apply from 1 March 2026.
HMRC mandatory registration causing uncertainty
HMRC recently published new guidance on mandatory registration for tax advisers, coming into force in May 2026, but there is still uncertainty surrounding the new regime, with some professional bodies asking for further clarification from HMRC.
Tax Cases
Reliance on agent considered careless behaviour in FTT case
In Francis Uzoh v HMRC [2026] TC09775, the First Tier Tribunal (FTT) found that claims for business travel and subsistence expenses were invalid as the expenses were 'ordinary commuting'.
SDLT residential rates apply to let paddock
In Andrew Charles Ferguson & Gemma Mary Ferguson v HMRC [2026] TC09782, the First Tier Tribunal (FTT) found that residential rates applied on a property purchase where a let paddock formed part of the grounds of the property.
Editor's Choice
Electric Vehicles: Update 2026
With the increased focus on achieving Net Zero, the government is planning to ban new petrol and diesel car sales by 2030. We review some tax issues that businesses and their employees may consider when acquiring or providing an electric vehicle.
MTD: Toolkit for accountants
What is the current timetable for Making Tax Digital (MTD)? When will MTD for Income Tax become mandatory? How will it work? Which clients will be excluded? What planning needs to be undertaken?
Mandatory tax adviser registration with HMRC
UPDATE: From May 2026, all tax advisers who interact with HMRC on behalf of clients will be required to register with them. Who will be required to register? What conditions must be met? What are the consequences of non-compliance with 'mandatory tax adviser registration'?
Guides & Updates
Self-employed
Wholly and exclusively...toolkit
When is an expense allowed for tax purposes? What does 'wholly and exclusively' mean? How do you determine if a cost is wholly and exclusively incurred for the purpose of a trade? What cases are there?
Directors & Companies
Travel rules for owner-managers
When are travel costs allowable? What are the temporary workplace rules and what is a permanent workplace? What other expenses can be claimed?
Employers
Subsistence (summary for employees)
Can employees claim tax relief for subsistence? How do you make a claim?
Travel (summary for employees)
What expenses can your employer reimburse? How might travel expenses affect Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions? What journeys are allowable for tax relief?
Capital Allowances
Full expensing & First Year Allowances
What is full expensing? When does it apply and what is the rate of allowance? How are disposals of full expensing assets dealt with? What assets qualify for the 50% First Year Allowance (FYA)? How do I deal with disposals of 50% FYA assets? How do I make a claim?
Private Client & Estate Planning
Do I have to file a tax return?
When does an individual need to file a tax return? In what circumstances do HMRC need to be notified that a tax return is required?
Land & Property
SDLT: Residential property higher rates
A guide to the Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) higher rate charge on residential property, when it applies and what reliefs are available to exempt buyers from the charge.
SDLT: Residential property & dwellings
What is residential property for Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)? What tax rate applies? What garden and grounds are subject to higher rates of SDLT?
Overseas & Residence
Transfer of Assets Abroad (ToAA)
What are the ToAA rules? When do they apply? How is the tax charge calculated? Is there any defence against the rules?
Penalties & Compliance
Failure to notify chargeability to tax
What is the failure to notify chargeability to tax? What happens if you fail to notify HMRC about your taxes? What penalties apply for failing to notify HMRC that you have a tax liability?
VAT
Fuel scale charges (VAT)
What is the VAT fuel scale charge? What alternatives are there to the VAT fuel scale charge? Does the VAT fuel scale charge apply to vans?
More Tax Guides
Childcare: Free and Tax-free Childcare
What childcare support is available? Can my child get 15 or 30 free hours of childcare? Am I eligible for the 25% government contribution towards childcare costs through the Tax-Free Childcare scheme?
Spring Forecast Analysis, Client Newsletter & Webinar
The Spring Forecast will be presented by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 3 March 2026.
Our team of qualified accountants and tax advisers will work through the night to provide you with the tools you need to communicate with your clients and advise them immediately.
- Spring Forecast PDF: a branded Spring Forecast Analysis for your firm to send to clients. Delivered in PDF format by 7am on 4 March.
- Order now at £290+VAT with additional discounts available for rossmartin.co.uk subscribers and 20:20 Innovation Platinum and Premier Plus members.
- Spring Forecast Tax Update webinar: update on recent and proposed changes in taxation, including any relevant announcements from the Spring Forecast. Live at 10 am on 6 March and on demand thereafter.
- Order now at £99+VAT per person.
- Combination deal (save £99+): Spring Forecast PDF + firm-wide access to the Spring Forecast Tax Update webinar (book as many of your team as you wish).
- Order now at £290+VAT with additional discounts available for rossmartin.co.uk subscribers and 20:20 Innovation Platinum and Premier Plus members.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Recent and upcoming webinars include:
- Monthly Tax Update - March 2026 (Spring Forecast)
- Practice Insight - February 2026 (free)
- Monthly Tax Update - February 2026
- Inheritance Tax Planning for 2026/27 and Beyond
- Budget Update
- Practice Insight - December 2025 (free)
- Ethics and PCRT for Tax Advisors
- Making Tax Digital for Income Tax - Roadmap to April 2026
Need Tax Support?
Virtual Tax Partner© Support
Have a tax query? Need a second option? Open a ticket and ask a question. A team of tax experts with a wide range of expertise: covering direct and indirect tax, as well as accounting, reorganisations and much more.
Missed the Last Tax Update?
Ross Martin Tax: SME Tax News 19 February 2026
- Employer Bulletin: February 2026
- So-called 'Pool Cars' subject to NICs
- Employment tax: Reporting, dates & deadlines 2025-26
- Mandatory tax adviser registration with HMRC NEW
- Salary 2026-27 (interaction with NICs) NEW
- Do I pay a salary or dividend? 2026-27 NEW
- Extracting profits (self-employed)
- Tax-efficient extraction of profits: toolkit (2025/26)
- Client guide: Reasonable care and tax penalties ...More
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