Revenue has issued a reminder that the deadline for filing the annual share related returns for 2025 is 31 March 2026 and has also updated its website to provide relevant tips and recommendations.  New versions of the relevant share scheme returns are now available and employers and trustees are advised to ensure the new version of the forms are used when completing and uploading details in respect of the return year 2025. The updated forms ESA, RSS1, ESS1 and KEEP1 have been annualized to allow for the new reporting year, 2025 and all cells that relate to “market value” data have been modified to allow entry and display of up to five decimal points. The following changes have been made to Forms SRSO1 and ESOT1: References to 2024 have been replaced with 2025. Reference to 31 March 2025 has been replaced with 31 March 2026. The .pdf files now contain free-text editable text fields. Some formatting and layout changes have been made to reflect latest accessibility guidance. Some linguistic changes were made to the Irish version of both returns to ensure they align with current Revenue Irish style guidance. In respect of the Form SRSO1 - a formatting error has been resolved on page 4 of the return. The text ‘4. Continued’ has been removed and the text ‘Replacement Options Exercised’ has been reformatted as a subheading rather than a main heading. This change applies to both the English and the Irish version of this return. In the reminder, Revenue outlined that failure to make a return by the due date may attract penalties.

Last week the Institute responded to the HM Treasury ‘Call for Evidence: Tax Supports for Entrepreneurs’, which was launched on Autumn Budget Day last November. We thank members for their feedback on this important issue. In our submission, the Institute highlights how the draft Finance (No. 2) Bill clauses which implement the Autumn Budget 2025 changes to the various scheme limits for several of the UK’s tax advantaged venture capital schemes exclude specified Northern Ireland (NI) companies due to EU State Aid rules. The submission also highlights that there is a need for a wider review of how the UK tax system could better support all entrepreneurs, and not just those investing in high growth companies. A specified NI company is currently defined in the Finance (No. 2) Bill as a company that has its registered office in NI which carries on a trade involving a trade in goods, or the generation, transmission, distribution, supply, wholesale trade, or cross-border exchange of electricity. As a result, these NI companies will be unable to benefit from the increased limits to these schemes from April 2026. This divergence in UK tax policy means that companies in NI who are excluded are disadvantaged when seeking external finance compared to their competitors across the remainder of the UK for no objective reason other than their location. To level the playing field, the Government needs to take the necessary steps to resolve this issue and enable the April 2026 changes to apply to all companies in NI via the discussions through the existing UK-EU structures which underpin the Windsor Framework, followed by an application for State Aid approval.

Last Wednesday, a delegation from the Institute attended a meeting with senior officials from  the Department of Finance to discuss our response to the Phase One Interest Review Feedback Statement. The meeting is part of the Department’s ongoing stakeholder outreach that is growing on the back of the formation of its Business Tax Stakeholder Forum back in 2024. The meeting involved a general discussion on the feedback received placing our own comments within that wider context. The discussion that followed was constructive and it was clear that our feedback and the feedback of the other respondents has been carefully considered. Broadly, the feedback we provided focused on our reservations with the earlier Feedback Statement, particularly the proposed application of a ‘profit motive’ test for Case I/II scenarios.  We also drew out our concerns about the potential impact on the principles established in Ringmahon. The Department advised it was not their intention to change the scope of the analysis applied in Ringmahon. Rather, the Department is considering how it can broaden the analysis for deductibility accepted in Case I scenarios in a way that is appropriate for Case III/V scenarios. It is considering alternative approaches now and we will be making further recommendations on this point. In terms of our detailed feedback to government through these public consultations, it is greatly welcomed that we are having more frequent opportunities to meet directly with officials to discuss our recommendations, or reservations as the case may be. As mentioned, we will be providing a follow-up note to the Department later this week highlighting our key recommendations as the next phase of work progresses on this key legislative project. At this point, it seems that the Department has taken stakeholders’ views on board and will consider an approach that preserves what already functions well within the current system.  It is also open to accepting proposals on what could be addressed in this year’s Finance Act and what proposals should be given further consideration for inclusion in later Finance Acts to avoid any unintended consequences. If you are reading this and have views you would like to share in relation to your own response to the Phase One proposals, please reach send your thoughts to tax@charteredaccountants.ie.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves will deliver this year’s Spring ‘Forecast’, previously known as the Spring Statement, tomorrow Tuesday 3 March at approximately 12.30 in the afternoon. The Institute will be reacting on the day with coverage of the key announcements on our dedicated UK fiscal events webpage, followed by more detail in next Monday’s Chartered Accountants Tax News. The expectation is that this year’s speech from the Chancellor will not contain any major tax policy changes or surprises. This follows the announcement at the Autumn Budget that performance against fiscal rules will only be assessed once every year in the autumn. Tomorrow’s forecast from the Chancellor and the Office for Budget Responsibility is therefore expected to be an interim update on the economy and public finances, without policy changes, unless, as the Chancellor said in November, there is ‘a significant change to the economic outlook that requires a response.’ Will global disruption in recent days mean that the Chancellor needs to increase defence spending? What we do expect tomorrow is the launch of several tax consultations which were previously announced on the day of the 2025 Autumn Budget. The House of Commons Library has published a briefing on the Spring Forecast, whilst the Institute for Fiscal Studies has published a useful article ahead of tomorrow. And, in light of the events that occurred in the run up to the 2025 Autumn Budget, HM Treasury has published a review of Budget information security. 

In this week’s detailed miscellaneous updates which you can read more about below, the February 2026 Employer Bulletin has been published, and HMRC is holding a range of webinars in the coming weeks. In other news this week: The latest HMRC Stakeholder Digest is available, HMRC has published guidance for developers on what good use of generative artificial intelligence looks like in commercial software products which assist users when submitting tax returns or other information to HMRC, It has been confirmed in a consultation response that a proposal suggested in a 2024 consultation by the Tribunal Procedure Committee which would have removed written judgments on tax rulings will not go ahead following significant opposition, We remind you that as announced last March, from 31 March 2026 HMRC’s online service for filing a company’s accounts and corporation tax return (commonly known as the CATO service) will close. This means that from 1 April 2026, companies will need to use commercial software for filing, and HMRC is planning maintenance to the Agent Services Account service which will be unavailable from 7am this Sunday 8 March to 9am on Monday 9 March 2026. February 2026 Employer Bulletin The February 2026 edition of HMRC’s Employer Bulletin brings you all the latest HMRC updates and guidance to support employers, payroll professionals, and agents. Included in this edition are important updates on: reporting expenses and benefits for the tax year 2025/26, end of year reporting, upcoming State Pension age changes and the impact on payroll operation, implementation of the Employment Rights Act 2025, Statutory Sick Pay changes: what employers need to know, and tax code changes for recovery of winter fuel payments. HMRC webinars The following webinars are scheduled over the coming weeks which are now open for registrations: Guidelines for Compliance 13: help ensuring documents filed with HMRC are correct and complete, upcoming payroll changes in 2026/27, and the treatment of statutory maternity and paternity pay.

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on its draft for a new General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER). This simplified and modernised version of GBER is intended to respond to changes in social, technological and internal market conditions. Member States and all interested parties are invited to submit their comments by 23 April 2026.

The European Parliament Subcommittee on Tax Matters (FISC) has held a public hearing on addressing the debt-equity bias in taxation. The MEPs considered expert opinion on the impact of this bias on investment decisions, capital allocation, competitiveness and economic resilience.

The European Commission’s soon to be proposed new corporate legal framework for EU companies (“the 28th tax regime”) was discussed at a FISC Subcommittee public hearing. The MEPs expressed their concerns regarding the scope of the proposals and sought expert opinion on the removal of tax barriers for companies.

In Irish news, we bring readers an update on the Government’s Research and Development Tax Credit and Innovation Compass which was published last week, and Revenue has announced the extended ROS pay and file deadline for the 2025 tax year. In UK news this week, HMRC has published initial guidance outlining the timetable for mandatory tax adviser registration, and the Institute has written to Government Ministers in Northern Ireland on cross-border and remote/hybrid working. In International news, the EU has updated its list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions. Ireland 1. Read our update on the Research and Development Tax Credit and Innovation Compass which was recently published by the Department of Finance. 2. Revenue has confirmed Wednesday 18 November 2026 as the ROS 2025 return extended filing and payment date for certain self-assessment taxpayers. UK 3. HMRC has issued initial guidance setting out the timetable for mandatory tax adviser registration. 4. The Institute has written to Government Ministers in Northern Ireland on cross-border and remote/hybrid working. International 5. The EU has issued an updated list of ten non -cooperative tax jurisdictions. 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 latest UK tax tidbits features guidance across a wide range of areas in addition to details of its most recent performance reports on service levels for the quarter ended December 2025. Whistleblowing: prescribed person reports, Check for signs of outsourced labour payroll fraud, Complain about HMRC online services, Help with sharing group structure information — GfC17, HMRC issue briefing: operational activity following the new independent review of the Loan Charge, Employer Bulletin: February 2026, Inheritance Tax: foreign assets (IHT417), Check the recognised overseas pension schemes notification list, Appeals reviews and tribunals guidance, Recognised stock exchanges — designated countries, Corporation Tax: return of Income Tax on company payments (CT61), Plastic Packaging Tax: steps to take, The fit and proper test, Named tax avoidance schemes, promoters, enablers and suppliers, HMRC performance updates, HMRC performance update: October to December 2025, Check genuine HMRC contact that uses more than one communication method, Work out Inheritance Tax due on gifts, Class 1A National Insurance contributions on benefits in kind (CWG5), Collect and verify digital platform seller information, HMRC introduces GOV.UK One Login for new customers, HMRC standard for agents, Check if a text message you've received from HMRC is genuine, Changes and issues affecting the Corporation Tax online service, Get help to correct an employer PAYE bill, Check when you can expect a reply from HMRC, HMRC Trusts and Estates newsletters, HMRC email updates, videos and webinars for off-payroll working, Check if a QR code on a letter you've received from HMRC is genuine, and Check if a letter you’ve received from HMRC is genuine.

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. And finally, the House of Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee has published the Government’s response to its first report following its inquiry into strengthening Northern Ireland’s voice in the context of the Windsor Framework. Miscellaneous guidance updates and publications This week’s miscellaneous guidance updates and publications are as follows: Inverters with maximum power point tracking functionality (Tariff Notice 2), Remote internal temporary storage facilities codes for Data Element 5/23 of the Customs Declaration Service, Moving sheepmeat, poultry and beef to Northern Ireland from outside the UK and EU, External temporary storage facilities codes for Data Element 5/23 of the Customs Declaration Service, Data Element 2/3: Documents and Other Reference Codes (Union) of the Customs Declaration Service, How to claim a repayment of import duty and VAT if you've overpaid, Report incorrect Customs Duty or VAT on items imported by post (BOR286), Report a problem using the Customs Declaration Service, Notice to exporters 2026/03: director jailed for illegal export, and Transit newsletters — HMRC updates.

In this week’s detailed miscellaneous updates which you can read more about below, HMRC has published the latest Agent Update and HMRC has sent an update on its Corporation Tax return and payment reminder trial. In other news this week: The UK and India have signed a social security agreement to eliminate the potential for double social security for temporary workers, The Institute for Fiscal Studies has published From fiscal rules to fiscal traffic lights: rethinking the UK fiscal framework and How to fix the fiscal rules, HMRC’s latest newsletter for participants of the 2025 Making Tax Digital for income tax testing programme 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. Agent Update: Issue 140 Get the latest guidance from HMRC if you're a tax agent or an adviser. The latest edition of HMRC’s Agent Update features the following: • closure of the service to file company accounts and tax return, • upcoming State Pension age changes–impact for individuals and payroll, • prepare for Vaping Products Duty registration from 1‌‌‌April‌‌‌2026, • submitting your clients’‌‌‌2026‌‌‌/27‌‌‌Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings returns, and • get ready for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax now. Update: Corporation Tax return and payment reminder trial Since July 2025 HMRC has been conducting a trial which involves not sending Corporation Tax return and payment reminder letters (CT208 PR1 and CT208 PR2) to approximately 5 percent of companies that have an authorised agent. The trial is testing whether or not removing the CT208 will impact companies supported by an agent. HMRC has now sent an update on that trial which we share below: “As part of HMRC’s efforts to improve its services to send and receive taxpayer information digitally, HMRC is continuing its trial of not sending Corporation Tax reminder letters (CT208) where customers and agents can access the same information via online services when they need it.  From March HMRC will begin the next phase of the trial of not sending CT208 reminders to a small population of customers who are without an agent. We will monitor the effect over six months and stop the trial if we see a negative impact on our customers or process. There are no changes to the Corporation Tax process itself. Companies will still receive a notice to deliver a Company Tax Return and access their HMRC online accounts. Agents can access HMRC's Corporation Tax for Agents online service to view liabilities and payments. Information on the Company Tax returns is available on GOV.UK where there is also guidance on the Corporation Tax accounting periods.   Previous copies of communications “Agent Update – published 21 August Changes to Corporation Tax reminders, statements and receipts HMRC will stop sending some paper non-statutory Corporation Tax letters where customers can access the information in their HMRC online accounts or GOV.UK guidance. Agents can access the information in HMRC's Corporation Tax for Agents online service. The Corporation Tax process is not changing. This is part of HMRC’s wider drive to help the environment and bring down costs by reducing its use of paper to communicate with customers. From September the following Corporation Tax letters will no longer be issued: CT205/A return reminder CT608 instalment payment reminder CT207 interest statement CT209 payment receipt From October we’ll also stop sending the CT603A agent list of issued notices to deliver Company Tax return (customers will still receive the CT603 notice to file). We’ll also trial no longer sending CT208 reminders before we stop sending them permanently. The trial runs from September until January 2025. We will monitor the effect and stop the trial if we see a negative impact on our customers or process. The letters to be trialled are: CT208 PR1 payment reminder CT208 PR2 return and payment reminder CT208A PR2 return and payment reminder agent copy.” “Changes to Corporation Tax reminders, statements and receipts – sent May 2025 As part of HMRC’s continuing efforts to improve its services to send and receive taxpayer information digitally, HMRC is no longer sending paper copies of some Corporation Tax (CT) letters where customers and agents can access the same information via online services when they need it.   From June, we’ll no longer automatically send the following non-statutory Corporation Tax letters: CT205/A return reminders for companies and agents  CT207 interest statement  CT209 payment receipt  CT603A agent list of issued notices to deliver Company Tax return   CT608 instalment payment reminder  We’ll also trial no longer sending Corporation Tax reminder letters (CT208) before we stop sending them permanently. The trial will initially stop sending reminders to a small population of customers with agents and, if successful, we’ll increase this and eventually include the CT208 reminders to customers. We will monitor the effect and stop the trial if we see a negative impact on our customers or process.  There are no changes to the Corporation Tax process itself. Companies will still receive a notice to deliver a Company Tax Return. Customers can also contact us by phone or post for any queries.   Companies can also access their HMRC online accounts and agents can access HMRC's Corporation Tax for Agents online service to view liabilities and payments. Information on the Company Tax returns is available on GOV.UK where there is also guidance on the Corporation Tax accounting periods.””