HMRC visits: how to check an officer's identity under the rules updated on 7 October
On 7 October 2026 HMRC rewrote the process for confirming the identity of its staff during an in-person visit. You now note the name and serial number from the officer's card and call 03000 565 656, a 24-hour line used only for these checks. Debt collectors have a separate number, 0300 200 3862, and their own hours: 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.
Marriage Allowance: how couples can get up to £1,260 of tax back — who qualifies and how to apply
If one spouse earns under £12,570 a year and the other pays basic-rate tax, HMRC will cut the couple’s tax by £252 a year. Applying online takes minutes, and you can backdate the claim to 6 April 2022. Who qualifies, how to apply for free and when you must cancel.
Making Tax Digital: the next quarterly update is due by 7 November
Digital reporting has been compulsory since April for sole traders and landlords earning over £50,000. Year one carries no penalty points — but the annual return has not gone away.