{"id":35940,"date":"2026-02-06T07:47:12","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T06:47:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/figsflow.com\/uk\/?p=35940"},"modified":"2026-02-06T07:47:31","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T06:47:31","slug":"weekly-news-updates-6-feb-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/figsflow.com\/uk\/weekly-news-updates-6-feb-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Weekly News &amp; Updates for UK Accountants (2-6 February 2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"35940\" class=\"elementor elementor-35940\" data-elementor-settings=\"{&quot;element_pack_global_tooltip_width&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;element_pack_global_tooltip_width_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;element_pack_global_tooltip_width_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;element_pack_global_tooltip_padding&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;top&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;right&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;bottom&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;left&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;isLinked&quot;:true},&quot;element_pack_global_tooltip_padding_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;top&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;right&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;bottom&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;left&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;isLinked&quot;:true},&quot;element_pack_global_tooltip_padding_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;top&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;right&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;bottom&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;left&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;isLinked&quot;:true},&quot;element_pack_global_tooltip_border_radius&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;top&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;right&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;bottom&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;left&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;isLinked&quot;:true},&quot;element_pack_global_tooltip_border_radius_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;top&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;right&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;bottom&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;left&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;isLinked&quot;:true},&quot;element_pack_global_tooltip_border_radius_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;top&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;right&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;bottom&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;left&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;isLinked&quot;:true}}\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-75624a0 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"75624a0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-db81454 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"db81454\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>UK accountants received four critical updates this week, with HMRC confirming a major system failure affecting MTD trial users just two months before mandatory rollout, while fraudulent emails targeting agents&#8217; AML registrations showed a significant increase.<\/p><p>Here are the details.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-850e260 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"850e260\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7b3aacd elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7b3aacd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h6 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Weekly News &amp; Updates in 30 Seconds <\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cb08293 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cb08293\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><strong>MTD System Failure:<\/strong> 4,500 trial users face payment on account problems due to split HMRC systems, raising concerns ahead of April rollout<\/li><li><strong>AML Scam Alert:<\/strong> Fraudulent emails targeting agents&#8217; registration details increase; only trust emails ending in gov.uk<\/li><li><strong>Mandation Letters:<\/strong> Final MTD letters arriving late March\/early April; agents not copied, taxpayers responsible for signing up<\/li><li><strong>April Deadline:<\/strong> 864,000 sole traders and landlords must use digital reporting from 6 April; no penalties first year<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0922591 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-absolute elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"0922591\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c0407a3 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"c0407a3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-78761af elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"78761af\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">MTD Trial Users Hit by Payment on Account System Failure <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bafa17f e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"bafa17f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a7b5644 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a7b5644\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>HMRC confirmed that 4,500 taxpayers enrolled in the Making Tax Digital for Income Tax trial face problems settling their payment on account for 2025-26 due to financial information being split between two separate HMRC systems.<\/p><p>The issue affects both the 2024-25 balancing payment and some credits. Taxpayers&#8217; statements are showing payments on account marked as &#8220;transferred to digital&#8221; or &#8220;nil&#8221;, requiring users to access both their MTD Income Tax account and self assessment account simultaneously through their personal or business tax account to view complete payment information.<\/p><p>HMRC wrote to affected taxpayers before the 31 January deadline explaining the problem and providing instructions. The tax authority confirmed it will not charge late payment penalties to trial users, but interest will still accrue on late payments on account.<\/p><p>Around 4,500 trial participants received letters informing them where to find their payment on account information and advising them to contact the specialist MTD trial support team (0300 322 9619, Monday to Friday 8am-6pm) if they need help.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b8aa568 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b8aa568\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">HMRC Warns Agents of AML Registration Scam <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-58280d8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"58280d8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>HMRC reported an increase in fraudulent emails asking agents to update their anti-money laundering supervision registration details.<\/p><p>The tax authority is advising agents to access HMRC online services by going directly to GOV.UK rather than clicking links in emails. Genuine HMRC emails are sent from addresses ending in gov.uk, specifically:<\/p><ul><li>@hmrc.gov.uk,<\/li><li>@tax.service.gov.uk,<\/li><li>@advice.hmrc.gov.uk, and<\/li><li>@updates.hmrc.gov.uk.<\/li><\/ul><p>Agents should report any suspicious contact to HMRC immediately.<\/p><p>These scam emails are separate from genuine letters HMRC sends periodically asking agents to confirm who supervises them for AML regulation purposes. Agents must respond to genuine AML correspondence from HMRC as failure to do so could result in losing access to HMRC services.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9199bb5 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"9199bb5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6e4217d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6e4217d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Final Batches of MTD Mandation Letters Being Sent <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-69b4971 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"69b4971\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>HMRC will send the final batches of mandation letters informing taxpayers they must comply with MTD for Income Tax from April 2026 based on information in their 2024-25 self assessment tax return.<\/p><p><strong>Letters will be sent in two waves:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><strong>This week:<\/strong> taxpayers who submitted returns between 1 September and 30 November 2025<\/li><li><strong>From mid-March 2026:<\/strong> taxpayers who submitted returns from 1 December 2025 onwards<\/li><\/ul><p>Each mailing takes two weeks to complete, meaning some taxpayers may not receive letters until late March or early April. Agents will not receive copies of the letters.<\/p><p>Total income from sole trades and property businesses exceeding \u00a350,000 in 2024-25 triggers MTD requirements from April 2026, subject to available exemptions. Each taxpayer must confirm their eligibility status and complete the sign-up process themselves.<\/p><p>The letter has been updated since the first mailing in November 2025 to reflect the Autumn Budget 2025 announcement that no penalties will be charged where any of the first four quarterly updates are submitted late.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8da6252 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"8da6252\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9dbbdb1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9dbbdb1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">MTD Launch: Key Details <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9f4ce0d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9f4ce0d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>From 6 April 2026, 864,000 sole traders and landlords earning over \u00a350,000 from self-employment and property must use recognised software for digital records and quarterly updates.<\/p><p>Customers joining MTD in April 2026 will not receive penalty points for late quarterly updates during the first 12 months. After this period, penalty points are given for each late submission, with a \u00a3200 penalty applied once four points are reached.<\/p><p>Free software options are available that generate simple summaries to send to HMRC once income and expenses are recorded. Use the FigsFlow <a href=\"https:\/\/figsflow.com\/calculators\/making-tax-digital-calculator\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Making Tax Digital Calculator<\/a> to check if your clients fall within scope from April 2026.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-92fface elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"92fface\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Plan Ahead <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4094712 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4094712\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><strong>6 April 2026:<\/strong> MTD for Income Tax mandatory start date for qualifying income over \u00a350,000<\/li><li><strong>7 August 2026:<\/strong> Q1 quarterly update deadline for those joining MTD in April 2026<\/li><li><strong>7 November 2026<\/strong>: Q2 quarterly update deadline<\/li><\/ul><p><em><strong>Information compiled from ICAEW tax news and HMRC press releases published during the week ending 5 February 2026.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>UK accountants received four critical updates this week, with HMRC confirming a major system failure affecting MTD trial users just two months [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_tocer_settings":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[67,78],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35940","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-accountants","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/figsflow.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35940","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/figsflow.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/figsflow.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/figsflow.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/36"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/figsflow.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35940"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/figsflow.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35940\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35952,"href":"https:\/\/figsflow.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35940\/revisions\/35952"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/figsflow.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35940"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/figsflow.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35940"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/figsflow.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35940"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}