This week’s miscellaneous updates – 30 March 2026

In this week’s detailed miscellaneous updates which you can read more about below, HMRC has sent a message on multi-factor authentication for tax advisers.

In other news this week:

• HMRC has published the advisory fuel rates applying from 1 March 2026 for employees using a company car.
• We issue a reminder that from 1 April 2026, companies will be required to use commercial software to file company tax returns because HMRC and Companies House free software will no longer be available,
• The latest HMRC Stakeholder Digest and HMRC Agent Update 141 are available,
• HMRC has responded to the Adjudicator’s 2024/25 annual report,
• HM Treasury has announced a review of approved mileage allowance rates which have been unchanged since 2011, and
• With the price of chocolate skyrocketing whilst the size of Easter eggs are shrinking, HMRC has issued a Press Release on saving Easter childcare egg-spenses with Tax-Free Childcare.

Multi-factor authentication for tax advisers

HMRC has asked us to share the below message on changes to the agent’s sign-in journey.

“HMRC Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) – Change to theagent signin journey 

HMRC are working closely with tax advisors and professional bodies to introduce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to strengthen security on agent accounts. MFA will provide greater protection as agents sign in to HMRC’s services, helping to keep accounts and client data secure.  

From Tuesday 7 April, to raise awareness of the upcoming introduction of MFA, agents will see a new page when signing in to their HMRC account on GOV.UK, linking to further guidance in the Tax Agent’s Handbook. 

A small group of agent volunteers are currently participating in a period of MFA test and learn, with testing then due to expand in April. HMRC will be contacting agents who they recognise would benefit from early adoption of the additional security MFA offers. This may be agents who have previously contacted HMRC due to account suspension or to raise security concerns.  

Members using automated processes or third-party software for their sign-in journey should check whether any software updates are needed and allow time for those adjustments. These changes only apply to web sign in on GOV.UK and will not affect services such as PAYE or Making Tax Digital for VAT. We urge agents to prepare and depending on their circumstances, identify the best approach for them to manage MFA’s introduction. 

To give agents time to prepare, HMRC will confirm the MFA go-live date for the wider agent community as early as possible, currently scheduled for delivery by the end of June 2026, but subject to successful testing.”