The ICAEW Guide to Successful Job Search

ICAEW’s Tax Faculty considers the announcements made during the new Prime Minister's first week in office, including reductions in VAT on domestic energy bills and in business rates bills for pubs, social clubs and live music venues.

Late payments and regulatory reform are the headline changes as the government issues an update on its Small Business Plan.

Business confidence is down across the UK and ICAEW’s latest research reveals that while many have common concerns there are slivers of optimism across certain regions. Find out how your area compares.

Copilot can be used to create agents that help solve accounting issues, but accountants should always check their output.

While recognising that HMRC’s large business directorate is working well, Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has identified a number of areas for improvement, including how HMRC approaches the special measures regime.

HMRC now accepts that supplies of locum doctors may be exempt from VAT where the doctors are registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) and perform medical services in that professional capacity.

A recent ICAEW poll reveals that individual logins for staff members may be the preferred option for managing access to agent accounts. However, some will continue using shared credentials and many are still undecided.

A poll of ICAEW members has revealed that Andy Burnham’s regional investment plans are seen positively by many, but that reducing taxes on business should be his top priority.

Once you’ve done the initial set up and training of AI agents, it’s important to ensure that guardrails are in place to avoid any rogue behaviour. We outline six ways to prevent problems.

From 29 July 2026, the capital goods scheme (CGS) will no longer apply to computers and computer equipment, and the threshold for land, buildings and civil engineering work will be increased from £250,000 to £600,000.

The government has published draft legislation confirming several policy announcements made at tax update 2026 and earlier, as well as new consultations on a range of areas, including the taxation of predevelopment costs.

HMRC answered calls and responded to post more quickly in 2025/26 than in previous years. However, a survey of agents and taxpayers suggests that the quality of HMRC’s services continues to fall short of expected standards.

HMRC is writing to taxpayers who made a provisional claim for business asset rollover relief in their self assessment tax return for 2022/23 and are yet to replace it with a final claim.

ICAEW’s Tax Faculty highlights recent social security developments, including the new UK-India double contribution convention (DCC), which comes into force from 15 July 2026, and a revision to the rules applying in the European Union (EU).

ICAEW’s Tax Faculty reminds agents of the 31 July deadline for opting to have multi-factor authentication (MFA) added to their HMRC accounts on a set date, and explains the steps agents can take to prepare for the full roll-out of MFA.

Regulations made on 13 July 2026 confirm the timetable for mandatory agent registration with HMRC and explain the position for advisers that have an agent services account (ASA).

Before an organisation thinks about using AI agents, due diligence, preparatory work, system piloting and judgement are required. We outline four steps to get set up right.

The question of whether an ‘AI bubble’ is going to burst doesn’t seem to be going away. There’s a compelling case to be made on both sides of the argument, with the growing demand for AI tools, and the huge amount of money and resources needed to deliver on that demand.

When accounting and advisory firm Gerald Edelman needed a new CEO, long-term succession planning ensured a smooth transition.

The Financial Reporting Council’s (FRC’s) new Audit Tech and AI Sandbox offers firms of all sizes the space and support to feel more confident in their approach to technology and AI. The deadline for applying is 17 July 2026.

HMRC’s update to its July 2025 transformation roadmap suggests that digital services for agents may continue to lag behind those for taxpayers for some time to come.

The government is consulting on proposals to extend HMRC’s existing direct recovery of debts (DRD) powers to help it “to recover lower value tax debts from customers who have persistently not engaged with HMRC”.

Individuals who have received a letter from HMRC telling them that they may have overpaid national insurance contributions (NIC) can use a new digital process to apply for a refund.

Close companies and their directors are in HMRC’s sights as it attempts to close the small business tax gap. In this episode, we look at the challenges posed by new information requirements for directors completing their self assessment tax return for tax year 2025/26 and at the government’s proposals to impose additional reporting requirements on close companies.

The revisions to ISAs (UK) 700, 701 and 720 aim to declutter and simplify the audit report and provide more relevant information for investors. How successful have they been?

At this year’s Hardman Lecture, Bill Dodwell, former Tax Director at the Office of Tax Simplification, examined the complexity of the UK tax system and explained how accountants can help to tackle it.

ICAEW’s latest Business Confidence Monitor highlights three major stress points for UK businesses: energy costs, labour costs and persistent late payments.

Since 19 June, all UK-based organisations are legally required to handle data protection complaints and have procedure in place to do so. Find out what you need to know.

While debates about the auditor shortage continue, there is more nuance in the audit market than the discussion might suggest at first glances. Hear from industry experts.

ICAEW’s Tax Faculty provides a summary of some of the key developments in tax in June 2026 and explains where you can find further information.

Taxpayers and agents who recklessly make a statement or declaration to HMRC in relation to a direct tax matter face a custodial sentence and/or a fine under the government’s proposals.

We’ll have a new PM soon, while the war in the Middle East rages on. Does this mean more uncertainty for businesses in the second half of 2026? ICAEW’s Chief Economist tries to predict what might happen next.

ICAEW’s Tax Faculty explains the government’s proposals for individuals to pay tax due under income tax self assessment (IT-SA) in regular instalments during the tax year from April 2029.

The government is seeking feedback from businesses and other stakeholders on its plans to require VAT and pay as you earn (PAYE) payments to be made by direct debit.

ICAEW’s Chief Economist Suren Thiru discusses what the US-Iran agreement could mean for the UK economy, including for energy costs, supply chains and interest rates.

As thermometers hit new highs for June in the UK, the temperature has been rising in the ongoing battle between artificial intelligence and cyber security. Our monthly roundup explores the latest developments, incidents and more.

Agents are being encouraged to check that the criteria for excepted estates are met and to consider submitting an IHT 400 where there is doubt as to the valuation of assets and liabilities or the application of allowances.

AI agents don’t always stick to the script. These examples demonstrate the risks of not setting proper, tailored guardrails.

The government launched a raft of consultations on 23 June 2026, including proposals to allow HMRC to recover low value tax debts by deducting instalment payments directly from the taxpayer’s bank account.

For those running businesses, redundancies can be inescapable and it is essential to follow a fair and structured process. Experts outline some of the key risks facing employers and the impacts of the Employment Rights Act.

HMRC has reminded agents of the correct approach when reporting the income received and gains realised during the administration period of a deceased’s estate.

Ahead of the revised auditor reporting standards, ICAEW’s Auditor Reporting Lab is helping stakeholders make sense of the audit report, how it's evolved and where it's going. Here's why it matters.

The next Prime Minister needs to set out a clear route for business growth, says ICAEW’s Chief Executive, Alan Vallance.

The Memorandum of Understanding between the US and Iran may bring the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to an end, but recovery for supply chains will be slow. Here’s what it means for accountants.

Mandation letters will be sent to taxpayers who filed their 2024/25 self assessment tax return after the 31 January 2026 deadline or amended their return, taking their qualifying income above £50,000.

As businesses struggle to get to grips with the temporary reduced rate of VAT applying over the summer holidays, ICAEW’s Tax Faculty highlights three areas which could cause confusion for restaurants, venues and families.

The government is seeking views on proposed changes aimed at reducing the high effective tax rate suffered by UK-resident members of reverse hybrid entities, including the United States (US) limited liability company (LLC).

Following the abolition of special tax treatment for furnished holiday lets (FHL) with effect from 5 April 2025, ICAEW’s Tax Faculty explains what you need to keep in mind when preparing the self assessment tax return for tax year 2025/26.

Only company car, van, fuel and medical benefits in kind (BIK) will be subject to mandatory payrolling from April 2027, with most other benefits not coming within scope until April 2028.

Last year CEO pay rose 20 times faster than workers’ pay, according to new research from Oxfam and the International Trade Union Confederation. At the most extreme end of that pay scale, investors approved an executive package for Elon Musk worth a potential $1tn.