The government has launched a new campaign to assist people with their everyday tax affairs. It is designed to build knowledge in areas such as tax basics, working life, small businesses and retirement. This comes in the same week as the first 'Tax Awareness Week', which is led by the Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT) and the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT).
The Welsh government has published 'Future options for Income Tax devolution in Wales'. The independent report, commissioned by the government, compares keeping the current partially devolved system with moving to full devolution. The authors conclude that while full devolution would provide greater control, it would also carry greater financial risk.
In Alan Wood & Anor v HMRC [2026] TC09791, the First Tier Tribunal (FTT) found that the lower mixed-use rates of Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) applied to the purchase of a riverside property with a public towpath running alongside it. The towpath did not form part of the grounds of the house, meaning the acquisition did not consist entirely of residential property.
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In Tuesday’s Spring Forecast, the Chancellor kept her promise of making no major tax or spending policy announcements, in line with the government’s commitment to hold only one significant fiscal event a year, at the Budget.
In Anthony Outram & Ross Outram v HMRC [2026] TC09784, the First Tier Tribunal (FTT) found that two taxpayers who had participated in an ineffective tax avoidance scheme had not deliberately brought about a loss of tax as they believed their tax returns were correct. This meant that the extended period for HMRC to raise a discovery assessment did not apply.
HMRC have launched a consultation on ‘Modernising the agency work regulatory framework’. Proposals include simplifying, modernising, and clarifying the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations 2003 and examining aspects of the Agency Workers Regulations 2010.
In Ian Oscroft & Ors v HMRC [2026] TC09787, the First Tier Tribunal (FTT) agreed with HMRC's decision to tax capital receipts as income under the anti-avoidance 'Transaction in Securities' regime, but upheld the taxpayers' appeal due to HMRC's assessments being invalid.
The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, presented the Spring Forecast on 3 March 2026. In a statement to the House of Commons, she responded to the Office for Budget Responsibility's (OBR's) interim update on the economy and public finances.
HMRC have released Employment-Related Securities (ERS) Bulletin 64, which contains details of changes to the Enterprise Management Incentives (EMI) scheme thresholds, end-of-year reporting requirements and the mandatory tax adviser registration.
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This week brings a mixture of practical updates, policy developments and cautionary tales for advisers and businesses navigating an increasingly complex tax landscape.
