Dunhams Accountants & Financial Planning

16/10/2026

HMRC text or scam? Check before you act
Read the full article:- https://dunhamsaccountants.co.uk/2026/hmrc-text-or-scam-check-before-you-act/

HMRC is contacting some taxpayers by text this week about overdue Self Assessment liabilities and is also sending updates about VAT registration applications. At the same time, it has expanded its guidance on spotting fake HMRC messages on social media. How can you tell whether a message is genuine?

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HMRC is contacting some taxpayers by text this week about overdue Self Assessment liabilities and is also sending updates about VAT registration applications. At the same time, it has expanded its guidance on spotting fake HMRC messages on social media. How can you tell whether a message is genuine?
Manchester Accountants - HMRC text or scam? Check before you act

HMRC’s guidance on genuine text messages confirms that, between 5 and 9 October 2026, some taxpayers may receive a text telling them that their Self Assessment tax is overdue.

A genuine message will tell you to check your online account and go to GOV.UK. It will not ask for personal or financial information and will not contain a link to a website.

Businesses waiting for a VAT registration application may also receive a text from HMRC from 5 October onwards. This might confirm that a query is being processed, provide an update on the application or ask the business to respond to an earlier email or letter. Again, the text will not ask for personal or financial details or contain a direct website link.

If you would like any assistance with any of these points.

Please Call Us on 0161 872 8671

09/10/2026

Already paid CGT? Don't pay it twice through Self Assessment
Read the full article:- https://dunhamsaccountants.co.uk/2026/already-paid-cgt-dont-pay-it-twice-through-self-assessment/

Taxpayers completing their 2025/26 Self Assessment return may need to include capital gains that have already been reported separately to HMRC, together with any capital gains tax (CGT) already paid. How could this lead to a double payment?

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Anyone who made a UK property disposal return or used HMRC’s real-time CGT service during the 2025/26 year should check the details before completing the CGT pages of their Self Assessment return.

A UK-resident individual who disposes of UK residential property and has CGT to pay will normally already have reported the disposal and paid an estimate of the tax within 60 days of completion. However, that does not remove the need to include the disposal again in the annual Self Assessment return where one is required.
Manchester Accountants - Already paid CGT? Don't pay it twice through Self Assessment

The return should show both the gain and the CGT previously charged. For UK property disposals, the total gain or loss is entered on the CGT summary pages together with the tax already charged and the reference number for the earlier property return. Similar boxes apply where a disposal was reported using HMRC’s real-time CGT service.

This matters because the amount paid through the earlier reporting service is effectively a payment on account of the final CGT liability. If the earlier payment is omitted from the Self Assessment return, HMRC’s calculation may not give credit for it correctly and the taxpayer could appear to owe more tax than is actually due.

If you would like any assistance with any of these points.

Please Call Us on 0161 872 8671

02/10/2026

Updated guidance on mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind
Read the full article:- https://dunhamsaccountants.co.uk/2026/updated-guidance-on-mandatory-payrolling-of-benefits-in-kind/

Much like the rollout of mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind, HMRC guidance on the matter is coming in dribs and drabs. What’s the latest?

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HMRC’s latest update includes two points on mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind. Mandatory payrolling is being phased in from 6 April 2027 and 6 April 2028, but employers can payroll benefits voluntarily if they wish. Currently, employers who voluntarily payroll benefits for income tax can continue to report and pay the employers’ Class 1A NI liability after the end of the tax year. That will no longer be the case from 6 April 2027. Even where non-mandated benefits are payrolled voluntarily, the associated Class 1A NI contributions need to be made in real time through payroll.
Manchester Accountants - Updated guidance on mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind

It is tempting to payroll all benefits from 6 April 2027 for simplicity but doing so doubles your NI costs for 2027/28. This is because you must pay Class 1A NI for 2026/27 benefits by 6 July 2027, and on 2027/28 benefits through the payroll each month.

If you would like any assistance with any of these points.

Please Call Us on 0161 872 8671

Much like the rollout of mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind, HMRC guidance on the matter is coming in dribs and drabs. What's the latest?

28/09/2026

Updated guidance on mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind
Read the full article:- https://dunhamsaccountants.co.uk/2026/updated-guidance-on-mandatory-payrolling-of-benefits-in-kind/

Much like the rollout of mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind, HMRC guidance on the matter is coming in dribs and drabs. What’s the latest?

Check here for more help with your Payroll

HMRC’s latest update includes two points on mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind. Mandatory payrolling is being phased in from 6 April 2027 and 6 April 2028, but employers can payroll benefits voluntarily if they wish. Currently, employers who voluntarily payroll benefits for income tax can continue to report and pay the employers’ Class 1A NI liability after the end of the tax year. That will no longer be the case from 6 April 2027. Even where non-mandated benefits are payrolled voluntarily, the associated Class 1A NI contributions need to be made in real time through payroll.
Manchester Accountants - Updated guidance on mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind

It is tempting to payroll all benefits from 6 April 2027 for simplicity but doing so doubles your NI costs for 2027/28. This is because you must pay Class 1A NI for 2026/27 benefits by 6 July 2027, and on 2027/28 benefits through the payroll each month.

If you would like any assistance with any of these points.

Please Call Us on 0161 872 8671

25/09/2026

MONTHLY FOCUS: STARTING TO THINK ABOUT VAT
Read the full article:- https://dunhamsaccountants.co.uk/2026/monthly-focus-starting-to-think-about-vat/

The VAT registration threshold has barely changed over the last decade. As a result, more businesses are having to register. In this Focus, we look at the key considerations for a business that needs to register, or one that may be considering doing so on a voluntary basis.

Page Contents:

Vat registration process
Making Tax Digital: Record Keeping
Output Tax: What should you charge?
Input Tax: What can you reclaim?

REGISTRATION

In this section we give an overview of the VAT registration process, including when your business must register, as well as situations where you don’t have to register, but may wish to anyway.

MAKING TAX DIGITAL: RECORD KEEPING

In this section, we look at the requirements your business will face following registration in respect of its record keeping and VAT reporting. We also give a brief introduction to the requirements of Making Tax Digital – compulsory for VAT reporting for all registered businesses since 1 April 2022.

OUTPUT TAX: WHAT SHOULD YOU CHARGE?

In this section we look at what you need to charge your customers and when. There are different rules depending on whether you are supplying them with goods or services, so it is important to be fully aware of what it is you are providing them with.

INPUT TAX: WHAT CAN YOU RECLAIM?

Perhaps the most attractive feature of VAT registration is the ability to claim input tax on your purchases. However, it is not as simple as just reporting the VAT you have paid on your VAT return. In this section we look at the rules regarding input tax in more detail.

If you would like any assistance with any of these points.

Please Call Us on 0161 872 8671

16/09/2026

Loan Charge settlement offers begin to land
Read the full article:- https://dunhamsaccountants.co.uk/2026/loan-charge-settlement-offers-begin-to-land/

HMRC has begun sending formal settlement offers to individuals and employers with outstanding Loan Charge liabilities, alongside detailed new guidance explaining how offers will be calculated and how long recipients have to respond. What’s the full story?

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HMRC’s new Loan Charge settlement guidance confirms that eligible taxpayers are now being contacted. Everyone will have at least 90 days to accept an offer, although many people with open enquiries or unresolved appeals will have longer.

The settlement terms can substantially reduce what is payable. Subject to an overall maximum reduction of £70,000, HMRC recalculates the liability by reference to the years in which the disguised remuneration income was originally received, gives a reduction for promoter fees and then deducts a further £5,000. Late-payment interest, relevant IHT liabilities and most penalties attached to the original Loan Charge liability are generally excluded from the settlement amount.

If you would like any assistance with any of these points.

Please Call Us on 0161 872 8671