Compliance – British SME

Pen-and-ink illustration of a small business owner reviewing tax papers with an accountant, with a small tucked-away Union Jack as the only coloured element

HMRC agent authorisation: what small firms should check now

by Alistair Cowen-Page
12 July 202615 July 2026

HMRC has updated guidance on authorising paid tax agents. Small businesses should check who can act for them, which tax services are covered, and whether old adviser access should be removed.

Pen-and-ink illustration of a small high street shopkeeper checking till records and supplier invoices, with a small tucked-away Union Jack as the only coloured element

HMRC high street crackdown: what honest small firms should check now

by Alistair Cowen-Page
13 June 202615 July 2026

HMRC plans more than 30,000 high street interventions in 2026 to 2027. SMEs should review sales, payroll and supplier records before enforcement activity reaches their sector.