The 10th Annual Good Governance Awards took place last night at Chartered Accountants House, marking a decade of celebrating strong governance, transparency and high-quality reporting across Ireland’s charity and non-profit sector. Hosted in partnership with Carmichael, the event brought together trustees, volunteers, charity leaders and supporters to honour organisations that are setting the benchmark for responsible stewardship. In her remarks, the Chief Executive of Chartered Accountants Ireland, Rosemary Keogh, highlighted the central importance of trust, noting that in an increasingly complex and volatile world, good governance is the foundation on which charities earn and maintain public confidence. She emphasised that governance is not simply about compliance, it is a commitment to accountability, purpose and the ethical use of resources for the public good. A key theme of the evening was the steadily increasing standard of governance across Irish charities. With the publication of the new Charity SORP in October, and the Charities Regulator expected to finalise mandatory scoping requirements in 2026, boards, management teams and donors will have more to familiarise themselves with in the year ahead. These developments reinforce the need for ongoing training, clarity and leadership - particularly in areas such as financial reporting, risk oversight, impact measurement and transparency. The many roles played by Chartered Accountants across the non-profit landscape was also recognised at the event. Members serve as trustees, treasurers, employees, auditors, advisers, volunteers and donors, bringing professional judgement, financial stewardship and ethical leadership to charities and non-profits of all sizes. Some have also been beneficiaries of the sector’s work, reinforcing its deep societal value. Their contribution aligns with Chartered Accountants Ireland’s emphasis on trusted business leadership and reflects the profession’s commitment to serving the public interest. A very warm appreciation was also extended to Carmichael and Diarmaid O’Corrbui, Co-founder of the Good Governance Awards, for a decade of championing excellence in governance. Congratulations once again to all this year’s winners, who were: Category 1 (< €100,000): Chronic Pain Ireland Category 2 (€100,000–€250,000): Kilkenny Volunteer Centre Category 3 (€250,000–€750,000): IDEA – Irish Development Education Association Category 4 (€750,000–€2.5m): Belong To Category 5 (€2.5m–€10m): Women’s Aid Category 6 (€10m–€50m): Oxfam Ireland Category 7 (> €50m): Rehab Group All shortlisted organisations received expert feedback from volunteer judges and assessors, a core feature of the Awards that supports continuous improvement throughout the sector. For further information or comment please contact Head of Ethics and Governance, Níall Fitzgerald at ethicsgov@charteredaccountants.ie

We are delighted to announce that this year's charity partner for our Leinster Society Christmas Lunch is the Irish Youth Foundation (IYF). The Irish Youth Foundation (IYF) was set up 40 years ago by Norma Smurfit with the sole mission of ensuring that every young person in Ireland has access to the support and opportunities they need to thrive. In that time, they have invested over €30 million in young people and given 500,000 children and young people the opportunities, mentors, and safe spaces they need to thrive. They fund and support community-based projects that provide safe spaces, trusted mentors, and opportunities for personal growth, helping young people build confidence, resilience, and brighter futures. Their work focuses on addressing the root causes of inequality by investing in youth services that tackle issues such as poverty, mental health, education gaps, and social exclusion. Through strategic partnerships and targeted funding, they enable grassroots organisations to deliver high-impact programmes where they’re needed most. However, the need for the work they support has never been greater. 1 in 5 children in Ireland are living in poverty and 1 in 10 are experiencing consistent deprivation lacking access to basic resources, opportunities, and support systems.  The funds that we can raise at our Christmas Lunch this year  for the IYF is vital to help them meet this growing need and ensure that every child has the chance to thrive, regardless of their circumstances. A Youth Worker's story of guiding a young man to his Junior Cert Mary, a Youth Worker, has been working with a young man in her project since the age of 8. She remembers a day when she had to go to the child’s school to advocate on his behalf. The child was being expelled for bad behaviour, which had culminated in the boy hitting his teacher. The school could no longer tolerate this behaviour. Mary met with the Principal and filled him in on the child’s back story. The kind of story that often remains hidden. Unless there’s a caring and supportive adult in your life. This young boy’s story was harrowing. His father was physically, emotionally and mentally abusive to his wife and two children. The young boy witnessed his father physically attack his mother on numerous occasions and experienced significant abuse himself. The father was involved in gangland activity and eventually ended up in prison. A kind neighbour brought the boy a puppy to help him adjust. When his Dad returned from prison, he saw how much his son loved the puppy and in order to re-instate his authority, on his first day home he broke the dog’s neck, in front of his son, and threw him over the balcony of the flat complex. The following day the boy attacked his teacher in school. On foot of Mary’s advocacy, the boy was allowed to stay in school and Mary has continued to support him. A few years later, this same young boy was the victim of a horrific attack. A rival criminal gang petrol-bombed the boy’s family home. He, his mother and sister suffered horrific injuries. They spent months recovering in ICU. Mary was abroad at the time, with the Irish Youth Foundation, taking part in a fundraising challenge. She flew straight home to support the boy and his family. Last year, Mary spoke at one of our fundraising events and told us this story. The same young boy had just completed his Junior Cert Maths paper and had phoned Mary to tell her it had gone well. He is on track to complete his post primary education and hopefully go on to 3rd level education. All over Ireland, Youth Workers like Mary are advocating on behalf of lost young people every day. Note: Names and minor details have been changed to protect identities.  

In Irish news, the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council has published a paper on the impact of US tariffs and policy changes, and the Department of Finance published the Finance (Tax Appeals and Fiscal Responsibility) Bill 2024. In UK news today, the first batch of Making Tax Digital mandation letters have been issued and HMRC has asked us to share news about a change to their GOV.UK sign in screen page. In International news this week, EU finance ministers agree to abolish the €150 customs duty threshold on goods entering the EU. Ireland 1. The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council published an analytical note last week examining the potential impact of US tariffs and other policy changes on Irish corporation tax receipts. 2. The Department of Finance published the Finance (Tax Appeals and Fiscal Responsibility) Bill 2024 which includes a proposal to reconsider tax appeals being held in camera. UK 3. HMRC has issued the first batch of letters to relevant taxpayers outlining the mandatory Making Tax Digital (MTD) for income tax obligations. 4. Read about a change to HMRC’s sign in page which introduces an additional option: GOV.UK One login. International 5. Read about the decision of EU finance ministers to abolish the €150 customs duty threshold on goods entering the EU. Keep up to date with all the latest Irish, UK, and international tax developments through Chartered Accountants Ireland’s Tax Newsletter. Subscribe to the Tax News by updating your preferences in MyAccount. You can also read this week’s Cross-border developments and trading corner here.

The second six-monthly SME Business Sentiment Survey from Chartered Accountants Ireland and GRID Finance has found that 60% of businesses have been impacted by global trade tensions and tariffs. The survey measures and tracks the experience, confidence and sentiment of SMEs, including small accounting practices, doing business in Ireland. The inaugural survey took place in April 2025.  Businesses more prepared for trade tensions and tariffs  Despite uncertainty in global trade and tariffs, the proportion of businesses unprepared for related disruptions has fallen from 36% to 23% in the past six months - suggesting growing resilience. Business members in particular feel better equipped to manage these issues, rising to 25% now compared to just 15% in April. The effects of Brexit continue to be felt with 41% of respondents reporting that it had a negative impact on their business.  Cróna Clohisey, Director of Members and Advocacy, Chartered Accountants Ireland said: “The findings highlight both the resilience and the pressures facing SMEs. While more businesses are now prepared for global trade disruptions, the environment remains volatile and demands continued vigilance. Our members are uniquely positioned to help businesses plan, adapt, and thrive amid these challenges, offering the trusted guidance and expertise needed to build long-term resilience. “Encouragingly, nearly a third of members (32%) report business profitability has increased in the last 6 months, an improvement on April’s findings. One in three also believe that their business will be better off in the next 12 months, up 5% from the previous survey.”  Cost pressures continue to bite The survey found that business costs are continuing to increase for the vast majority (79%) of SMEs. Small businesses remain under pressure from rising labour costs, which nearly two-fifths identify as their greatest financial challenge. This is followed by rising operational costs (30%) and regulatory compliance costs (12%). Not only are costs a financial challenge to businesses, they are viewed as the biggest competitiveness challenge faced by SMEs at 45%. This is followed by salary demands and talent pipeline/shortages. Countdown to auto-enrolment Almost two-thirds (64%) of businesses indicate that they are prepared for the pension auto-enrolment start date of 1 January. The findings reveal that business size is a significant factor in how companies prepare for this new scheme. Those with 50+ employees are more likely to budget for increased costs and expand their existing occupational pension schemes at 53% and 49% respectively compared to 32% and 33% for organisations with fewer than 50 employees.  Clohisey continued “Businesses are taking steps to ready themselves with almost 60% having attended an information session, but only 39% have budgeted for increased costs related to the scheme. Smaller firms will need additional support to manage the costs and administrative burden this reform will bring. Continued government support will be vital to ensure no business is left behind." Eoin Christian, CEO, GRID Finance said: “The November survey findings highlight the views of small businesses across a range of critical issues and clearly illustrate the challenges they continue to face. Chief among these are rising costs related to staffing, day-to-day operations and regulatory compliance. When combined with an uncertain global trading environment, these pressures make it more important than ever for small organisations to closely assess their operations and future cash-flow requirements. “With almost one-fifth of respondents reporting increased demand for borrowing, and nearly one-third applying for government supports, it is evident that businesses are actively seeking financial assistance — both from the State and from specialist finance providers such as GRID Finance.” Read the survey in full here: https://www.charteredaccountants.ie/docs/default-source/comms/sme-business-sentiment-survey/sme-business-sentiment-survey-report-november-2025.pdf  About the SME Business Sentiment Survey The SME Business Sentiment Survey is conducted by Chartered Accountants Ireland and GRID Finance, the Institute’s Official Independent Lender Partner. This survey was conducted by Coyne Research between 2 and 19 October 2025 and will be repeated every six months. Approximately 300 members were surveyed from organisations employing fewer than 250 people.   About GRID Finance GRID Finance is dedicated to providing accessible and sustainable financing solutions to small and medium-sized businesses. With a deep understanding of the needs of Irish SMEs, GRID Finance offers a range of financial products and services designed to support growth, resilience, and long-term success. Social Impact and B-Corp Accreditation As a Certified B Corporation, GRID Finance meets the highest standards of social and environmental impact. With an overall B Impact Score of 127.9, significantly higher than the median score of 50.9 for ordinary businesses, GRID Finance is committed to continuous improvement and leading the transformation of the global economic system.      

Each year, November is a significance moment for men’s health and wellbeing. Movember, known best for encouraging men to grow moustaches to raise money and awareness for health issues, has become a cultural phenomenon. And International Men’s Day on November 19th provides another vital opportunity to highlight the challenges faced by men across the globe. In Ireland, where conversations around mental health have advanced significantly in the last decade, November offers a powerful moment to reflect, advocate, and take action for men’s wellbeing. The Mental Health Landscape Ireland has taken major strides in addressing mental health openly, yet men still face unique obstacles. Research consistently shows that men are statistically less likely than women to seek mental health support, despite facing high levels of mental health risks. Suicide rates among Irish men remain significantly higher than those among women, with young men particularly vulnerable. In many rural communities, challenges are intensified. Isolation, economic uncertainty, and limited access to services can all contribute to mental distress. For others, financial pressure, housing insecurity, and workplace stress often play major roles. Across all demographics, stigma is still a hurdle. Many men grow up internalising the message that expressing emotional vulnerability is a weakness. Movember and International Men’s Day challenge that narrative with a louder and more hopeful message- asking for help is a sign of strength, and mental health deserves just as much care as physical wellbeing. Proactive Steps Ireland has changed dramatically in its openness to mental health, but change must continue. One of the greatest barriers men face is silence. Many Irish men still feel they must cope alone, whether because they fear burdening others, don’t want to appear weak, or don’t recognise their own struggles as legitimate.  Asking a friend, colleague, or brother how he is doing can be the difference between coping and crisis. Encouraging emotional expression in boys is just as important. Schools across Ireland have begun teaching emotional resilience, empathy, and communication skills. Supporting boys to express their feelings without judgement sets a foundation for mentally healthier men in the future. This November, each of us can play a part in creating a healthier future for both ourselves and the men of Ireland: Check in with the men in your life. Encourage emotional honesty in conversations with boys and young men. Know the signs - Learn to recognise symptoms of stress, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Stay active - Exercise and outdoor time boost mental wellbeing. Limit alcohol – Alcohol is a depressant and can disrupts the balance of chemicals in your brain, such as serotonin and dopamine. Visit your GP - Schedule a medical, arrange a blood test and engage in screening services and programmes Reach out for support - whether it’s a GP, counsellor or trusted friend or family Challenge harmful stereotypes that suggest men must “tough it out”. Importance of Initiatives While Movember may be best known for sprouting a moustaches, the movement’s impact extends far beyond the hairy exterior. Movember has grown into one of the world’s largest men’s health campaigns, supporting programmes in mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer. International Men’s Day also helps widening the conversation. It focuses not only on health but also on men’s social roles, identity, and emotional lives. The theme often emphasises creating positive role models, improving gender relations, celebrating contributions men make to families and communities, and addressing the challenges they face. It encourages reflection on how society raises, supports, and understands men. This culture shift is crucial. When everyday conversations include mental wellbeing as openly as sport, weather, or work, men who are struggling become more likely to speak up and seek help. If you are struggling with your mental or emotional wellbeing, Thrive can help you on your journey to better health. For wellbeing advice, contact the team by email at: thrive@charteredaccountants.ie or by phone: (+353) 86 0243294. Movember Webinar: From Self-Care to Peak Performance: A Conversation That Matters In support of Movember, join the ACA professional for an inspiring conversation on mental health and its impact on careers, relationships, and success. This webinar explores practical strategies for maintaining wellbeing and achieving peak performance, featuring insights from world-class performers, leaders, and athletes.

Institute CEO Rosemary Keogh has responded to today's announcement that Paschal Donohoe is to step down as Minister for Finance to take up a role as senior managing director and chief knowledge officer at the World Bank. Commenting on the announcement, Rosemary Keogh said: "Chartered Accountants Ireland commends Paschal Donohoe for his exceptional service as Minister for Finance, and President of the Eurogroup. His steady leadership at national and European level through Brexit, the pandemic, and global economic challenges has been instrumental in safeguarding Ireland’s fiscal stability and reputation internationally.    Paschal’s collaborative approach and commitment to prudent financial management have strengthened Ireland’s position at the heart of global economic policy. We wish him every success in his new role at The World Bank, where his expertise will continue to make a global impact. We congratulate Minister Simon Harris on his appointment as Minister for Finance and we look forward to continuing our close and positive engagement with him and his officials." 

Catherine Rogers is an Associate Director at Crowe, where she acts as Head of Governance within the Consulting Department. She specialises in advising the public and not-for-profit sectors on a wide range of governance matters and is also part of Crowe’s Special Investigations Unit, which has undertaken numerous high-profile inquiries. Catherine qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2010, following a BSc in Management from DIT. What made you choose Chartered Accountancy and if you weren’t a Chartered Accountant, what other career path would you have followed? In school, I always enjoyed the accountancy side of business studies. I found the process of putting a set of accounts together logical and satisfying. If I hadn’t become an accountant, I’m not sure what path I would have taken. At one point, I considered teaching or even studying law, but my interest always came back to accounting. Can you tell us about your career path and how you got to where you are now? I began my career training in a small firm, gaining hands-on experience managing jobs and clients from an early stage. Qualifying in 2010 during a challenging job market, I spent a year working in the finance department of a catering company before moving to Edinburgh. There, I joined Lloyds Banking Group, preparing accounts for companies that owned large leased assets such as ships and trains. I later moved to RBS, working in group reporting on financial statements and budgets. In 2012, an opportunity arose to join the civil service, where I was appointed to the Department of Finance. For nearly three years, I managed the State’s shareholding in AIB – a unique experience after previously working for two banks bailed out by the UK taxpayer. While at the Department, I contributed to the Banking Inquiry, sparking my interest in understanding crises and what can be learned from them. This ultimately led me to transition into consulting with Crowe. What do you value most about your membership of the profession, and how do you think these benefits can be used to support the economy and society? For me, the greatest value lies in professional support – there’s always someone to advise or provide a listening ear. Having the opportunity to discuss economic developments helps the profession proactively address issues. The recent bill to protect the term “Accountant” will only strengthen our role in the future. Every charitable organisation also needs to have some level of input from an accountant, so we do give back a lot on a voluntary basis. What Institute services have you availed of, and to what extent have you been involved with the Institute? I have actively pursued professional development, completing diplomas in corporate finance and forensic accounting and investigations. I am also a member of the Charity and Not-for-Profit group, which provides a platform to share insights and address sector challenges. What career advice would you give to other members based on your own experience? Don’t be afraid to try something different. When I qualified, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but the qualification opened so many doors. People often underestimate the curiosity and inquisitiveness we develop as accountants. In my current role, that perspective allows me to approach issues through a unique lens. What achievement are you proudest of in your life to date? My involvement in the Scoping Inquiry into CervicalCheck is something I’m incredibly proud of. Working with Dr Gabriel Scally was eye-opening and rewarding, and knowing I played a small role in changing how women’s health is viewed is hard to beat. Meeting the women and families affected was both heartbreaking and inspiring.

In this week’s cross-border trading corner, we bring you the latest guidance updates and publications. The most recent Trader Support Service bulletin is also available as is the latest Brexit and Beyond newsletter from the Northern Ireland Assembly EU Affairs team. HMRC has also sent a further email about using ICS2 and the House of Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee has published its first report. Email from HMRC on ICS2 HMRC has asked us to share the below email on ICS2. The following documents have also been shared with us: ICS2 Arrival and Presentation of Goods Notifications, and FAQs - ICS2 road movements. “Email from HMRC You can use Import Control System 2 (ICS2) now to submit entry summary (ENS) declarations if you’re ready to do so. If you need more time, you must work with your supply chain to make sure you’re ready to start using ICS2 as soon as possible. This must be no later than 31 December 2025 when ICS2 becomes mandatory for all movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. Preparing to submit Arrival and Presentation notifications for GB-NI movements using the Trader Integration Micro Service (TIMS) We’re continuing to work towards the release of the free-to-use Trader Integration Micro Service (TIMS) and will confirm the release date soon. TIMS will facilitate the submission of ICS2 Arrival and Presentation of Goods notifications on your behalf for Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) movements from GB-NI only. If you already use the Trader Support Service (TSS) to auto-generate your Goods Movement Reference (GMR), you do not need to take any further action. If you don’t use the TSS to auto generate your GMR and wish to benefit from using TIMS, you should start to prepare now by ensuring you enter the ENS movement reference numbers (MRNs), when prompted, in the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS). No registration is required for TIMS and there is no cost to use it – once it is released, as long as your ENS MRNs are included in the relevant GMRs, TIMS will automatically submit your ICS2 Arrival and Presentation of Goods notifications for you for movements from GB-NI only. TIMS is not the only method for submitting your arrival and presentation notifications for your GB-NI movements. However, if you have included your ENS MRNs in your GMR, then TIMS will automatically submit these notifications. You won’t need to submit separate ICS2 Arrival and Presentation of Goods notifications for these MRNs.  Choosing not to include ENS MRNs in your GMRs? If you choose not to include ENS MRNs in your GMRs for GB-NI movements, you’ll need to purchase or develop your own software to submit Arrival and Presentation of Goods notifications, which are a mandatory part of the ICS2 requirements. Read the attached guidance to find out more about this. While we do not expect you to be submitting Arrival and Presentation of Goods notifications until TIMS has launched, if you’re planning to use another method we recommend preparing now. In the meantime, continue to use the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) or another customs process to fulfil Arrival and Presentation notifications requirements for your RoRo movements. Visit GOV.UK for more information on: using ICS2: Make an entry summary declaration using the Import Control System 2, and using the TSS: Sign up for the Trader Support Service.” Northern Ireland after Brexit: Strengthening Northern Ireland’s voice in the context of the Windsor Framework The House of Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee has published its first report ‘Northern Ireland after Brexit: Strengthening Northern Ireland’s voice in the context of the Windsor Framework’. The Committee is warning that the current arrangements under the Windsor Framework are overwhelmingly complex and impossible for stakeholders to navigate. The report concludes that based on the evidence it received, efforts to address the democratic deficit in Northern Ireland following Brexit are insufficient. The Committee is calling for urgent action to strengthen Northern Ireland’s role in the UK-EU relationship reset. Miscellaneous guidance updates and publications This week’s miscellaneous guidance updates and publications are as follows: Appendix 1 Inventory Exports: DE 1/10: Requested and Previous Procedure Codes, Additional Information (AI) Statement Codes for Data Element 2/2 of the Customs Declaration Service (CDS), CDS Declaration Completion Instructions for Imports, Appendix 2: DE 1/11: Additional Procedure Codes of the Customs Declaration Service (CDS), Poly(ethylene terephthalate) glycol-modified (PETG) (Tariff notice 19), Non-electrical lamps and lighting fittings (Candle holders) (Tariff notice 20), Tariff notices, Specific wines (Tariff notice 21), Customs Special Procedures Manual, Data Element 2/3: Document and Other Reference Codes: Licence Types — Imports and Exports of the Customs Declaration Service (CDS), and Refunds and waivers on customs debt by HMRC.

In this week’s detailed miscellaneous updates which you can read more about below, the latest Agent Update is available and HMRC has recently published a range of newsletters and research reports. More information is also available on the new advisory electric rates for fully electric cars for home and public charging which took effect from 1 September 2025.   In other news this week: The latest HMRC news and information bulletin is available, The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has launched a new mini-series on how to fix the UK’s tax system with the first podcast focusing on income tax and the IFS has also published the 2025 edition of its Green Budget Report, The House of Commons Treasury Committee has published the transcript of various evidence sessions on its inquiry into the 2025 Budget which takes place next week on Wednesday 26 November,  HMRC has published detailed guidance for long-term UK residents and qualifying new UK residents and their employers on the changes to the UK’s territoriality rules for income tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax which commenced from 6 April 2025, The National Audit Office (NAO) has published a report to help MPs in their examination of HMRC. According to the report it “provides a factual overview for readers interested in understanding more about how HMRC collects and spends taxpayers’ money”. The report also draws on the NAO’s previous findings and publicly available sources of information, 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 Check HMRC’s online services availability page for details of planned downtime and the online services affected. October Agent Update Agent Update: Issue 136 is available. Get the latest guidance and information on topics such as: Capital gains tax: working out adjustments for the rates changes in 2024/25, Bank and building society interest, Self-Assessment re-activation using option 2 of the Agent Dedicated Line, and The expansion of the Research and Development Professional Bodies mailbox which is now open to all agents. HMRC newsletters The following HMRC newsletters were recently published: Tax free savings newsletter 18, Pension Schemes newsletter 174, and Employment related securities bulletin 61.  HMRC research HMRC has published the following research reports: Digital Channel Shift Campaign Evaluation 2024 to 2025, Self-Assessment Campaign Tracking 2024 to 2025 report, Research into agents’ preparedness for Making Tax Digital for income tax – headline findings, HMRC Stakeholder Research 2025, Understanding evasion in small businesses, and Understanding social media content creators. Company electric cars advisory rates HMRC has now updated its associated guidance to explain how to apportion mileage for journeys where a company car is charged at both public and residential locations. According to HMRC, the employer may “apportion the mileage based on how much charging happens at each place” and “the apportionment calculation should be fair and reasonable”. 

From 10 November 2025 HMRC changed its sign-in page to add an additional option, GOV.UK One login, which now sits alongside the existing Government Gateway. This is part of HMRC’s preparations for moving to the GOV.UK One login, a secure, modern sign-in system that will eventually replace the Government Gateway. HMRC has not given a precise date for when this is expected to happen although a limited public launch is expected in early 2026. It should be noted that despite HMRC’s sign-in page displaying this, taxpayers are unable to create a GOV.UK One Login at this point nor can they sign in to HMRC using an existing GOV.UK One login created for a different government service. This option has only been added to allow HMRC to prepare for the move by testing the new screen and observing behaviour. Taxpayers should continue to sign-in to HMRC’s services with their Government Gateway sign-in details like they normally do. If they attempt to sign in with a GOV.UK One login, they will be redirected to the Government Gateway sign-in page. More information on GOV.UK One login and the sign-in options is available here: Accessing HMRC online services using GOV.UK One Login.

Revenue has updated two other guidance notes this week dealing with scrip dividends and certificates of residence for credit unions. The details are as follows: The guidance on the option to acquire shares in lieu of dividends (scrip dividends) has been updated to provide additional guidance and examples and to remove obsolete information. The manual on certification of tax residence has been updated to include information for credit unions regarding applications for residency certificates

This month HMRC is continuing with preparations for Making Tax Digital (MTD) for income tax by issuing the first batch of mandation letters based on 2024/25 self-assessment (SA) returns which have already been filed. The template of the letter is available here. Disappointingly, agents will not receive a copy of the letter sent to their client hence it is important that agents take steps to identify anyone who will be receiving a letter this month and make contact with them as soon as possible (the letter does prompt the taxpayer to share this with their agent). HMRC has also published an update on its MTD for income tax trial and we have been asked to remind you about HMRC’s agent outreach campaign for MTD. Mandation letters Sole traders and landlords who had already filed their 2024/25 SA return by the end of August 2025 are the first to receive a mandation letter from HMRC that they must comply with MTD for income tax from 6 April 2026. This is on the basis that their 2024/25 SA return included gross income from sole trade self-employment and property of more than £50,000. A further batch of mandation letters for anyone meeting these criteria but not filing their 2024/25 SA return until after 31 August 2025 but on or before 31 January 2026 will not be sent until February and March 2026. Although HMRC will be sending out mandation letters, HMRC is reminding taxpayers that it is their responsibility to: check if they are required to comply with MTD income tax from April 2026; and sign up for MTD income tax. As sign up is not automatic, if a taxpayer believes they are mandated but they do not receive a mandation letter, they should still sign up. HMRC has published guidance for taxpayers and for agents on how to sign up. We expect that towards the end of November 2025, HMRC will also send a letter to all unrepresented taxpayers who have not yet filed their 2024/25 SA tax return to remind them of the April 2026 start date for MTD income tax. These are not mandation letters but are prompt letters which are being sent on the basis of the 2023/24 SA return if this shows gross income exceeding £50,000. Trial update On the MTD trial front, the MTD testing update bulletin sets out progress made to date, provides answers to frequently asked questions and encourages participants in the trial to give their views by completing a survey.  According to HMRC, almost 2,100 successful quarter one submissions for 2025/26 have been made. A reminder was also issued to participants about the second cumulative quarterly update which were due for filing by 6 November 2025. Agent outreach campaign reminder HMRC has also asked us to remind you about the agent outreach campaign which we told you about in Chartered Accountants Tax News on 1 September. Agents can check the authenticity of this service here: Check if an email you've received from HMRC is genuine. Testing by HMRC indicates that completing the agent outreach form takes circa 2 minutes. When completing the form, agents are asked to:  Give permission to be contacted by HMRC by email, Indicate how many clients they have for testing and mandation sign ups, and  Express an interest in a one to one conversation with HMRC about MTD readiness and testing. To access the form, agents should sign in with the Government Gateway ID and password linked to their Agent Services Account (ASA). Note that if an agent does not yet have an ASA, they can still complete the expression of interest form by signing in with their Government Gateway ID and the password associated with their existing HMRC online services for agents account (agents will need to manually provide contact details when using this method).