This week’s miscellaneous updates – 26 January 2026

In this week’s detailed miscellaneous updates which you can read more about below, the Scottish and Welsh Budgets have been published and HMRC has published draft regulations for technical consultation on the construction industry scheme (CIS). In other news this week:

• As the latest Finance Bill makes its way through Parliament, HMRC has published a collection page of supporting documents related to the Bill and its passage, 
• Agent Update 139 is available,
• The latest schedule of HMRC Talking Points live and recorded webinars for tax agents are available for booking. Spaces are limited, so take a look now and save your place, and finally,
• Check HMRC’s online services availability page for details of planned downtime and the online services affected.

Scottish and Welsh Budgets

The Scottish and Welsh Budgets took place earlier this month.

The Scottish Parliament has published a tax infographic for the Scottish Budget 2026/27 and the Scottish Fiscal Commission’s Report, Scotland’s Economic and Fiscal Forecasts – January 2026 is available along with a one-page graphic of key figures and a summary document. More detailed information on the Welsh Budget is set out in the detailed spending plans.

Changes to the CIS

HMRC has published draft regulations for technical consultation that are intended to simplify administration of the CIS. The proposed changes include:

• an exemption for payments made to local authorities or public bodies from the scope of the CIS. and
• a requirement for construction contractors to file a nil return when they have not paid any subcontractors in a month, unless they have notified HMRC in advance that they will not make any such payments that month.

The proposed changes will take effect from 6 April 2026. The technical consultation closes on 3 February 2026.