Tag: HMRC

Second registration window now open for tax advisers

  • Phase two of the new online registration requirement for tax advisers rolls out.
  • Advisers with Self Assessment or Corporation Tax accounts, but without an agent services account (ASA), now need to register.
  • Advisers who solely provide professional payroll services do not need to register before 18 November. Financial Services organisations do not need to register before 31 December 2026.
  • Mandatory tax adviser registration requirements will protect customers and raise standards in tax advice.

Registration is now open for tax advisers in the second phase of the new Modernising and Mandating Tax Adviser Registration (MMTAR) rollout. 

This applies to any advisers with Self Assessment or Corporation Tax accounts, but without an agent services account (ASA). They have until 18 November 2026 to register.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is encouraging advisers in the second registration window to check if they need to register and submit their application as soon as possible. 

More than 4,000 applications were submitted and over 2,000 accounts created during the first registration window, which targeted the smallest agent audience group.

These mandatory changes are designed to raise standards in the tax advice market, protect taxpayers, and support those who play by the rules.

MMTAR is a single, streamlined digital registration system that replaces a range of previous processes, making it easier for tax advisers to interact with HMRC.

Registration is free and online. Step-by-step guidance and an interactive checker tool are available on GOV.UK to help advisers understand if they need to register and what they need to do. Eligible tax advisers must meet HMRC’s registration conditions to apply for an ASA. 

Robert Jones, HMRC’s Director of Intermediaries, said: 

“Together, these measures will reinforce trust and transparency across the tax advice market, supporting high standards and helping taxpayers access advice with greater confidence. 

“Now that the second registration phase is open, advisers in the next group should check the guidance on GOV.UK and make sure they register by 18 November 2026.”

Registering on time will help advisers to continue supporting their clients without disruption and maintain the trust that individuals and businesses place in professional tax services.

Advisers who missed the first registration window or who are new entrants to the tax advice market should register as soon as possible. Advisers who submit an application and receive a registration number can still continue to engage with HMRC while their registration is being processed. Access to HMRC’s online services will not be affected in the short term.

HMRC may limit an adviser’s ability to act on behalf of clients if they fail to register when required. Advisers who continue to operate without completing the registration requirement could also face enforcement action, including financial penalties.

Extend Child Benefit for your teen before 31 August

  • Parents of 16 to 19-year-olds starting further education or approved training courses must extend their Child Benefit claim by 31 August or payments will stop automatically.
  • Scottish pupils received their exam results on 4 August and many will now be confirming their education or training plans for the autumn.
  • Parents can extend their claim in minutes using the HMRC app or GOV.UK.

Parents of 16 to 19-year-olds have just 2 weeks left to tell HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) whether their child will continue in non-advanced approved education or training, or they risk missing out on Child Benefit payments.

Following the release of National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher results on 4 August, many teenagers across Scotland will now be making decisions about their next steps in education or training.

For families whose teenager is staying in non-advanced approved education or training, Child Benefit can continue, but only if parents act before 31 August. 

Parents can extend their claim in minutes using the HMRC app or on GOV.UK. Those who received a letter from HMRC can also scan the QR code to go straight to the digital service. Payments will stop automatically for anyone who hasn’t responded by the deadline.

More than 372,000 parents have already extended their Child Benefit payment digitally ahead of the deadline.

Child Benefit is worth up to £1,406.60 a year for the eldest or only child, and up to £930.80 a year for each additional child.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, said: “Exam results season is a big moment for teenagers deciding their next steps, and it’s the perfect time for parents to confirm those plans with us. 

“Child Benefit is a vital source of support for many families and we don’t want anyone to miss out. It only takes a few minutes using the HMRC app or GOV.UK, so make sure you’re receiving the payments you’re entitled to.”

Child Benefit continues for children in full-time, non-advanced education, including A levels, T levels, Scottish Highers, NVQs up to level 3, and certain approved training schemes. A full list of approved education routes is available on GOV.UK.

Parents whose child’s plans change, for example if they leave education or start a paid apprenticeship, must tell HMRC straight away to avoid being overpaid. 

If a Child Benefit claimant or their partner has an individual adjusted net income of more than £60,000, the higher earner may need to pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC). Use the Child Benefit tax calculator on GOV.UK to find out how much HICBC to pay. Eligible parents can pay through their PAYE tax code using the HICBC digital service, or through Self Assessment.

Make the most of Playday with Tax-Free Childcare

  • Working families urged to sign up for Tax-Free Childcare on Playday to help pay for holiday clubs, after-school clubs, nurseries and childminders
  • Latest statistics show families save almost £100 a month with Tax-Free Childcare
  • Number of families using Tax-Free Childcare for children aged 8 and above increased by 20%

Working families are being encouraged to check if they could cut the cost of childcare this Playday (5 August), as HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) latest statistics show families using Tax-Free Childcare saved an average of almost £100 a month.

Playday, the national day for play, is a reminder for eligible parents to see if they could benefit from the scheme. Tax-Free Childcare can provide up to £2,000 per year per child (or £4,000 for a disabled child) helping manage childcare costs while balancing work and family life.

People can visit GOV.UK to check eligibility and sign-up for Tax-Free Childcare.

Once families have signed up, they can receive a £2 government top-up for every £8 they deposit into their account. Families can open an account for each of their children aged up to 11 and, if they have a disabled child, aged up to 16.

It can be used to pay for any approved childcare including nurseries, childminders, holiday clubs, breakfast clubs and after-school clubs. Almost 75,000 providers are now signed up to receive Tax-Free Childcare payments.

While the majority of families who use the scheme have younger children, recent statistics show the number of families using it to pay for childcare for children aged 8 and above increased by more than 20% compared to the previous year.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, said: “Tax-Free Childcare can help with your summer childcare plans and, looking to the term ahead, with whatever type of care you require for your child.

“If you haven’t signed up already, do it today so you don’t miss out. Go to GOV.UK and search ‘Tax-Free Childcare’.”

Families can receive up to £500 worth of top-up money, or £1,000 for a disabled child, every 3 months.

Once families have opened a Tax-Free Childcare account, they can deposit money and use it straight away or keep it in their account to use it whenever it’s needed. Unused money can be withdrawn at any time.   

Families could be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare if they:     

  • have a child or children aged 11 or under. They stop being eligible on 1 September after their 11th birthday. If their child has a disability, they can receive up to £4,000 a year until 1 September after their 16th birthday   
  • the parent and their partner (if they have one) earn, or expect to earn, at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week, on average  
  • each earn no more than £100,000 per annum   
  • do not receive Universal Credit or childcare vouchers    

Tax-Free Childcare can be used alongside the government funded childcare hours, subject to eligibility. 

HMRC urges customers not to ignore Simple Assessment letters

  • HMRC will send Simple Assessment letters for the 2025 to 2026 tax year this summer.
  • The letters are sent to those who have tax to pay on income that has not been taxed through Pay As You Earn (PAYE) or Self Assessment.
  • HMRC is encouraging recipients to not ignore the letters.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is encouraging people who receive a Simple Assessment letter this summer to not ignore it, and to check the details and pay any tax owed.

Every year HMRC writes to people who need to pay tax on income which has not been collected through PAYE or Self Assessment.

The letters – known officially as PA302 – set out exactly how much tax is owed and why. 

Customers may receive a Simple Assessment tax calculation letter if they have tax to pay that HMRC cannot collect automatically, for example:

  • there is tax to pay on interest on savings or dividends
  • a second income has not been taxed
  • tax is due on pension income 
  • received more tax-free allowance than they were entitled to
  • the tax cannot be collected through a tax code (for example, larger amounts owed, typically £3,000 or more)

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, said: “If you receive a Simple Assessment letter and have tax to pay, please don’t ignore it. It is quick and easy to pay any tax owed via the HMRC app.

“If you need extra support, or want to find out more, search ‘Simple Assessment’ on GOV.UK.”

HMRC will issue around 1.8 million Simple Assessment letters. People should check the figures in their letter against their own records and pay any tax owed by 31 January 2027, unless a different date is shown. Payments can be made in full or in instalments before the deadline and do not require a tax return.

Customers can pay using the free and secure HMRC app, online via GOV.UK, by bank transfer or by cheque. Visit GOV.UK for a full list of payment methods.

Detailed guidance on Simple Assessment – including a dedicated guide for pensioners – is available on GOV.UK. HMRC’s new Tax Confident website also offers clear, simple resources to help people understand their tax affairs with confidence. 

The letters are official and arrive by post or appear in a customer’s Personal Tax Account online. Customers can check if a letter from HMRC is genuine on GOV.UK.

Deadline approaches for first Making Tax Digital quarterly update

  • Sole traders and landlords earning more than £50,000 from their self-employment and property must send their first Making Tax Digital for Income Tax quarterly update by 7 August 2026
  • The quarterly update covers income and expenses for the first three months of the tax year.
  • The update takes minutes through recognised software and is not a tax return.

More than 864,000 sole traders and landlords signed up to Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax have just two weeks left before the deadline to submit their first quarterly update.

The update covers income and expenses for the first three months of the tax year. The deadline for submitting it to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is 7 August 2026.

The quarterly update is not a tax return. It is a short summary sent directly to HMRC through recognised software and takes minutes to complete.

Customers who have not yet signed up can still do so now by visiting GOV.UK, where they can also find software and access free guidance and webinars. If customers use an agent, they can sign them up instead. 

Some software includes digital support tool HMRC Assist, which gives tailored feedback to help customers spot potential errors before submission. Customers remain responsible for ensuring their return is accurate.

After each update, users can see an estimate of their tax bill, helping them to plan ahead.

Craig Ogilvie, HMRC’s Director of Making Tax Digital, said: “This is a landmark moment for the tax system. Hundreds of thousands of sole traders and landlords are now keeping digital records and will be sending their first quarterly update in the coming weeks.

“For those already using software, this should be straightforward and take minutes. If you haven’t signed up yet, there is still time – visit GOV.UK and search ‘Making Tax Digital for Income Tax’ to get started.” 

Making Tax Digital is now a legal requirement and customers in scope should check now that they are signed up, that their software is compatible and submit their update before the deadline.

It will extend to those earning more than £30,000 from April 2027, and to those earning more than £20,000 from April 2028.

The tax return deadline remains 31 January. Quarterly updates do not replace the tax return – customers will still need to submit their return and pay any taxed owed by the 31 January 2027.

CASE STUDY

“My first Making Tax Digital update was so easy – if they can all go this seamlessly, we’ll be set up for smooth sailing”

Natasha Patterson, 33, is a full-time potter based in Whitehead, County Antrim, and is already ahead of the game – she has submitted her first Making Tax Digital for Income Tax quarterly update weeks before the 7 August deadline. 

She has been working as a potter since 2020 and opened her studio shop – Natasha Swan Ceramics – in 2023, where she specialises in functional wheel-thrown tableware including mugs, salt pigs and reed diffusers.

Like many small business owners, Natasha was not looking forward to a new tax obligation. She decided to submit early – just in case there were any issues along the way.

Natasha said: “I was expecting there to be some hurdles and I wanted to give myself time to work through any issues but was pleasantly surprised to find the process very smooth and straightforward.”

In the end, the submission itself took about ten minutes. Natasha had been adding receipts and updating her records throughout the quarter, so everything was ready to go when it came to submitting.

“I went back to check I did it right about three times, but it really was very straightforward.

“Everything made sense and was logical – it wasn’t overwhelming, even though it was all new to me.

“If they can all go this seamlessly, we will be set up for smooth sailing at the end of this tax year.”

One of the things she has valued most is being able to see a forecast of her tax bill straight away.

“It’s great to have a forecast of what I owe already, without mounds of paperwork. I feel more prepared knowing what’s expected of me in the coming months and also more confident going into the second quarter now knowing how straightforward the first submission was.”

Her message to other sole traders approaching their first update is straightforward. She said: “If you can complete your Self Assessment tax return, this is much easier. As far as tax submissions go, it was probably as pleasant as they come.”

HMRC: Say ‘I do’ to getting your side hustle tax right

  • Wedding season is here – and so is a reminder that income from side hustles may be taxable
  • Anyone earning more than £1,000 may need to register for Self Assessment and declare their income to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
  • A free online tool can help people earning extra money check if and when they need to report their additional income

The invitations are out, the venues are booked and the flowers are ordered – but for wedding suppliers who have turned their hobby into a side hustle, there is one more item on the to-do list: checking their tax obligations.

As wedding season gets underway, HMRC is reminding anyone earning extra income from activities like selling wedding stationery, filming the first dance or cake-making, that they will need to tell HMRC if they earn more than £1,000.

HMRC’s Help for Hustles campaign is here to help side hustlers get their tax right, quickly and easily – whether that’s wedding suppliers, parents earning from a hobby business or content creators making money from posting about the latest trends online.

Kevin Hubbard, HMRC’s Director of Small Business & Individuals, said: “For many people, a side hustle is a valuable source of extra income. If you’re earning more than £1,000 a year from your side hustle it’s important to understand your tax responsibilities, and HMRC wants to make that as straightforward as possible.

“You can check if you need to do a Self Assessment tax return by using the tool on GOV.UK. It takes minutes to use, tells you exactly what you need to do and means no unexpected tax bills later.”

If someone has earned more than £1,000 from their side hustle in a tax year, they may need to complete a Self Assessment tax return.

They can use the ‘Where is your additional income from?’ tool on GOV.UK. It takes a few minutes to complete and, if a tax return is required, it will explain how to register.

New entrants to Self Assessment should register for the 2025 to 2026 tax year by 5 October 2026.They must file their online tax return and pay any tax due by 31 January 2027.

The £1,000 threshold covers all side hustle income combined – so someone earning £600 from wedding photography and £500 from social media posts would need to register as their total exceeds £1,000.

Not all extra income is taxable. Selling unwanted personal belongings – such as clearing out a wardrobe – does not usually need to be reported to HMRC.

But regularly selling goods for profit, or providing a service for payment, is likely to count as trading and may need to be declared. Customers can check if they need to tell HMRC about additional income on GOV.UK.

CASE STUDY

“As soon as the wedding bookings started coming in, I knew I needed to look into my tax”

Lianna Dickson, 30, from Livingston, is currently on maternity leave from her role in influencer marketing and runs a successful wedding content creation business alongside family life as a new mum.

After getting married in 2024, Lianna realised she regretted not hiring a wedding content creator to capture behind-the-scenes moments from her own wedding day. With a background in social media and a long-held dream of running her own business, she saw the opportunity to combine both and launched Captured By Fifteen.

Lianna said: “I fell in love with all things weddings following my own and thought it was the perfect way to combine something I loved with the work experience I had.”

As a wedding content creator, Lianna captures authentic, behind-the-scenes moments as they naturally unfold on her phone, delivering raw footage and professionally edited highlight reels within 24 hours.

“Couples can wake up and relive their full wedding the very next morning in the most authentic way.”

Her business took off quickly and within her first year she had shot almost 50 weddings. As bookings and income grew, she knew she needed to look into her tax obligations.

“As soon as I started booking in a number of weddings I knew this was going to be a decent amount of extra money. I read a lot of information on GOV.UK and HMRC’s website.

“Once I realised my income was over the £1,000 trading allowance, I knew I’d need to complete a Self Assessment tax return.

“Everything online was super easy to understand.”

She found the process more straightforward than expected, keeping a detailed spreadsheet with tabs for invoices, outgoings, subscriptions and mileage to stay on top of her figures throughout the year.

“I had my tax return done within the hour. It was so much easier than I thought it would be.

I thought I would need to input every single transaction and that it would take hours, but it wasn’t the case at all – I had been keeping record of all the numbers, so it was really just a case of filling in information and copying the figures over.”

Her advice to anyone in a similar position is simple.

“Just keep track of everything and speak to someone who understands the process — or look up videos of someone explaining it if you struggle with just reading things.”

Lianna explains how her side hustle started on YouTube.

HMRC is encouraging anyone in a similar position – whether filming weddings, photographing events, baking celebration cakes or selling handmade goods – to use the Tax Help for Hustles guide or the free online HMRC tool to check whether they need to register.

5.6 million taxpayers check their pay in the HMRC app an average of 18 times a year

  • 5.6 million taxpayers checked their pay in the HMRC app last year a total of 100 million times – equivalent to 18 times each a year.
  • The app had 7.6 million unique users and 2.8 million new users in 2025 to 2026.
  • HMRC transformation is on track – with digital services taking off, and outdated communication being phased out.

Millions of taxpayers are choosing to go digital and check their pay via the HMRC app, as HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) reveals the service was used almost 100 million times last year.

Publishing its Transformation Roadmap – Update, HMRC is setting out how it is transforming and modernising the way taxpayers interact with HMRC’s services, while also making tax easier to understand and simpler to engage with.

The department highlights how its top-ranked app has been used by 7.6 million people in 2025 to 2026 – up 28% on the previous year, with user experience improved in recent months. HMRC has an ambitious target to reach 10 million users by April 2027.

That means one-in-seven Pay As You Earn (PAYE) taxpayers have now used HMRC app to check their pay before it lands in their bank accounts, allowing them to plan and understand their finances better.

The HMRC app is driving the digital-first agenda. The app allows customers to check their pay before pay day and check their National Insurance number, tax code, income and benefits, and users can make Self Assessment payments, track letters, get tax estimates and more.

The number of letters HMRC has issued to customers has reduced by 15 million in the last 3 years and call waiting times have almost halved over the last 2 years, down to an average of around 12 and a half minutes.

Speaking at the Institute for Government this week, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury Dan Tomlinson MP set out how HMRC is transforming the way it supports its customers. He also announced that HMRC will bring an end to the era of post by default.

From summer 2027, over 100 personal tax letters, that currently account for more than half of the 120 million letters HMRC sends every year, will be available digitally for the first time.

The department has committed to reducing the number of postal letters issued by up to 75% by 2028 to 2029, saving £50 million a year and giving customers faster, simpler ways to manage their tax.

One year on from publishing its five-year Transformation Roadmap, key reforms already delivered include:

  • giving taxpayers more ways to manage their money by enhancing the HMRC app
  • encouraging up-to-date record-keeping with the first phase Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax for sole traders and landlords with a qualifying income of above £50,000
  • 20 million people used their Personal Tax Account and achieved 80% of customer interactions through automated or digital self-serve channels in 2025 to 2026, compared with around 65% in 2020 to 2021
  • making it easier to sign up to HMRC’s digital services for one million new customers through the rollout of GOV.UK One Login

More than 350,000 sole traders and landlords have already signed up to MTD for Income Tax. Launched in April 2026, it is the most significant change to how many customers interact with the tax system in 30 years.

Around 2 million businesses already using MTD for VAT have found that keeping digital records means an average saving of 26 to 40 hours on administrative tasks a year.

Dan Tomlinson, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, said: “HMRC is transforming so that dealing with the tax system is simpler, faster and more convenient. We’re making big progress, and I hope people will download the HMRC app to see how well it works for themselves.

“There is more to do, but this is an important milestone on our journey towards a modern tax authority that saves people time, supports economic growth and helps ensure everyone pays the right tax.”

JP Marks, HMRC’s Chief Executive and First Permanent Secretary, said: “This roadmap updates on the progress we have made in year one of HMRC’s transformation and openly sets out our plans for the future.

“We are determined to go further, transforming digital customer experiences and strengthening our foundations for a more modern and secure tax, customs and valuation system. We are answering phones faster, collecting more debt, with tax receipts and HMRC yield up at record levels, with more to come.

“We remain focussed on delivering an improved service for our customers and bringing in the revenue that underpins the vital public services on which we all depend, and I hope this roadmap helps explain the progress we have made, and our next steps.”

The roadmap update also highlights how HMRC is investing in AI technologies to identify non-compliance earlier and more precisely. Several private sector organisations are currently on a 12-month programme to test AI-driven solutions to tackle non-compliance and help close the tax gap.

Following the integration of the Valuation Office (VO) into HMRC in April 2026, the VO’s plans to become a digital-first, high-trust organisation are now included in the HMRC roadmap.

The progress HMRC has made during the first 12 months underpins the ambitious plan to deliver a modernised tax and customs system that works for everyone, with planned activity for the year ahead focusing on further improving customer experience and strengthening compliance.

The Transformation Roadmap – Update 2026 can be found on GOV.UK

Taxpayers urged to get ahead of July Self Assessment payment deadline

  • One month to go until the second Payments on Account deadline on 31 July
  • The HMRC app is the quickest way to pay, with more than 110,000 payments made through the app since April
  • Customers can set up payment plans to help spread the cost of their tax bill

With one month to go, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding millions of Self Assessment taxpayers to prepare for the 2025 to 2026 tax year second payments on account 31 July deadline.

Customers can set up monthly or weekly payment plans and any payments already made via these plans will count towards their next Self Assessment tax bill.

Payments can be done via the HMRC app, with nearly two million Self Assessment taxpayers doing so since its introduction in January 2022. It makes it easy for people to pay towards their tax bill, set payment reminders and track and view their payment history.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, said: “We know managing a Self Assessment tax bill isn’t always straightforward and we are here to help. From paying instantly via the HMRC app to spreading the cost through a payment plan, there’s support available for every customer. 

“Search ‘Pay your Self Assessment tax bill’ on GOV.UK to choose the payment option that works for you.”

Payments on account are payments towards a customer’s next Self Assessment tax bill. They help spread the cost of the tax owed by making payments in two instalments. Each payment is half of the tax the customer owed last year. These payments are due by midnight on 31 January and 31 July.

Taxpayers can make payments on account via GOV.UK or the HMRC app. A full list of payment options is available on GOV.UK.

Customers must make these two payments, unless either:

  • the amount of tax owed last year was less than £1,000
  • last year they paid more than 80% of the tax owed outside of Self Assessment (for example through their tax code or because their bank had already deducted interest on their savings)

Payments on account instalments can be paid before a customer has filed their Self Assessment tax return. The deadline for submitting tax returns and paying any remaining tax owed for the 2025 to 2026 tax year is 31 January 2027. Filing early means that customers know how much tax they owe sooner. A wide range of online help and support is available on GOV.UK to help people fill in and file their tax return.

HMRC is also making it easier for customers who are liable to pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) to complete their return accurately. From mid-July 2026, around 300,000 Self Assessment customers will have their or their partner’s Child Benefit payment information pre-populated on their online Self Assessment tax return, making it faster and easier to get it right.

UK Government steps up drive to reconnect young people with £1.6bn in unclaimed savings

  • Nationwide, HSBC UK, Sheffield Mutual and Yorkshire Building Society among members of new taskforce meeting for first time as government takes action to reunite young people with unclaimed Child Trust Funds  
  • The Taskforce will improve coordination across government and industry to encourage more young people to access their unclaimed matured funds 
  • More than 750,000 young people have unclaimed accounts worth £2,200 on average

Hundreds of thousands of young people could soon be reunited with unclaimed savings worth more than £1.6 billion, as the Government launches a new push to trace matured Child Trust Funds (CTFs).

Around 6.3 million Child Trust Fund accounts were opened for children born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011, predominantly by parents and guardians, with the remainder established by HMRC. Accounts can go unclaimed for a number of reasons difficulty locating them, people forget they have them, or a decision to leave the funds invested for the time being.

Child Trust Funds were introduced to give every child a financial asset at adulthood, and this Government is doing everything it can to make sure young adults are aware of and can access their accounts.

To make this happen, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Rachel Blake MP, has convened a new Child Trust Fund Taskforce, bringing together CTF providers and the Government to drive a coordinated effort to increase reunification of accounts. 

Members of the Taskforce will include One Family, Coutts, Nationwide, HSBC UK, Pilling, The Coventry (Co-operative), Sheffield Mutual, Unity Mutual, Forester, Healthy Investments and Yorkshire Building Society – with the first meeting happening today. 

More than 750,000 young adults still have unclaimed matured accounts, holding £2,200 on average. The funds were originally set up by the government for those born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011. The Taskforce will improve coordination across government and industry to encourage more young people to access their unclaimed matured CTFs.  

Rachel Blake, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, said: “Too many young people are missing out simply because they are not aware of where their Child Trust Fund is or how to access it. 

 “We are acting to fix that by bringing government and industry together – improving coordination and making it easier for people to find and claim what’s rightfully theirs.” 

JP Marks, HMRC’s Chief Executive and First Permanent Secretary, said: “Many young people have Child Trust Fund accounts with an average £2,200 waiting to be claimed. This is their money, and we want to do all we can to help them find and access it. 

“If you think you have one, you can use the ‘Find my Child Trust Fund’ tool on GOV.UK to find out where your account is held.” 

The Taskforce will bring providers together to improve tracing approaches, test more effective engagement with young people, and drive practical actions that lead to more accounts being claimed.  

Today’s move builds on existing action to tackle unclaimed matured accounts, including ongoing HMRC communications campaigns and direct letters going out to eligible 21-year-olds. 

Anyone born between 1 September 2002 and 2  January 2011 can search for their account on GOV.UK. The search is free, requires only a National Insurance number, and takes minutes. Those aged 18 or over can access funds immediately. 

Jim Islam, Chief Executive Officer, OneFamily, said: “We welcome the creation of the Child Trust Fund Taskforce to help more young people access their savings. We know from our own experience that making this process as easy as possible is essential and we look forward to working together with government and industry partners.

“Child Trust Funds have already provided a valuable financial boost to millions of individuals who have claimed their accounts as they enter adulthood, making a real difference to people’s lives.

“We’re committed to playing our part in helping people who have not yet claimed. Anyone born after 1 September 2002 who has already turned 18 will have a Child Trust Fund, and can search for their account on the government website.”

Philip Kurtenbach, Head of Product Management & Governance, Wealth & PB, HSBC UK said: “At HSBC UK, we’re committed to putting customers at the heart of everything we do.

“We know that having a fund to support young people as they start adult life can make a real difference – opening up opportunities at a pivotal moment in their lives. That’s why we’re supporting the HMT Taskforce as the industry comes together to ensure the funds reach those they were intended for.”

 Richard Stocker, Head of Savings, Nationwide said: “Nationwide is pleased to be part of the Child Trust Fund taskforce and fully supports its aims.

“We remain committed to working collaboratively across the industry to build on the progress made so far and deliver a meaningful outcome on this important issue.” 

Government pays £600 million in supported childcare costs through Tax-Free Childcare

More families than ever are using Tax-Free Childcare to save on their childcare bills as the government funded almost £600 million in Tax-Free Childcare top up payments in 2025-26.

Latest figures show a record 868,095 families are benefitting from the scheme and saved thousands on their childcare last year , as HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) encourages families to sign up to save ahead of the summer holidays.

Tax-Free Childcare is a government funded top-up scheme to be used to pay for approved childcare for children aged 11 or under, or up to 16 years old if the child has a disability. Working parents can save up to £2,000 annually per year per child or £4,000 if their child is disabled.

HMRC’S Chief Customer Officer Myrtle Lloyd said: “I’m so pleased these figures show more families than ever are using Tax-Free Childcare to save on their bills. £2,000 is not a small amount and it can make a real difference – especially with the childcare void of the summer holidays approaching. If you haven’t signed up yet, don’t miss out, go to GOV.UK to do it today.”

Once a Tax-Free Childcare account is open, for every £8 deposited by parents, the government tops it up by £2. Parents can receive up to £500 (or £1,000 if their child is disabled) every 3 months to help pay their childcare costs. 

The funds can be used to pay for any approved childcare – before or after-school clubs, a childminder or an activity club during the holidays. It can also be used to pay for any specialist equipment a childcare provider may need for a disabled child.

Families could be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare if:

  • they have a child or children aged 11 or under. They stop being eligible on 1 September after their 11th birthday. If their child has a disability, they receive up to £4,000 a year until 1 September after their 16th birthday    
  • the parent and their partner (if they have one) earn, or expect to earn, at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week, on average    
  • each earn no more than £100,000 per annum    
  • do not receive Universal Credit or childcare vouchers 

   Families can check their eligibility and apply on GOV.UK.

  Tax-Free Childcare can be used with the free childcare hours offer as long as eligibility is met.