Changes affecting accountancy practices in 2026
We write about the changes that affect practice owners this year, including MTD, Companies House verification, practice valuations and consolidation.
We write about the changes that affect practice owners this year, including MTD, Companies House verification, practice valuations and consolidation.
HMRC switches its agent reference number checks back on, timed to land on the same date the second tax adviser registration window closes. Here is what a call to the agent line involves from that date.
Read insight →HMRC says 87% of taxpayers filed their first quarterly update on time. A survey of 14,000 practitioners puts the share of the mandated population who filed at 54%, and most of the difference is people who were never signed up.
Read insight →HMRC is switching on compulsory multi-factor authentication for every remaining agent account in daily batches between 28 September and 15 October 2026. An agent whose access code is out of date will be locked out on the day their account is switched over.
Read insight →HMRC is now signing up taxpayers who should be in Making Tax Digital for Income Tax itself, using their 2024-25 income data. The confirmation letter goes to the client, and the agent does not receive it.
Read insight →Audit registration depends on who holds the votes after completion, so it does not pass automatically with the shares. We cover the 75% clause in the articles that raises the threshold, why an evenly split board already fails the test, and the ninety-day limit, which cannot be extended.
Read insight →The new lease rules apply to periods beginning on or after 1 January 2026, and for December and March year ends the transition date has already passed. We cover the effect on audit exemption, the tax position, and an example of 179 hours of unbudgeted work.
Read insight →ICAEW reviewed 2,068 firms in 2025 and published what it found. It recorded anti-money laundering breaches in 63% of reviews and penalised 44 firms. A firm is most likely to be reported to committee when a finding from its last review has not been put right.
Read insight →HMRC's consultation closed on 16 August 2026. The proposal includes a penalty that could apply even when a client pays in full and on time, puts seven days of working capital at risk, and relies on a mandate that agents are not permitted to set up for clients.
Read insight →Tribunal time limits double on 1 October and a new harassment duty starts on 30 October. On 1 January 2027 the unfair dismissal qualifying period falls from two years to six months, and the change applies to staff already on your payroll.
Read insight →HM Treasury has confirmed the FCA will replace 23 professional body supervisors for around 60,000 firms. The Money Laundering Regulations were already amended on 30 June 2026.
Read insight →From 1 April 2028 accounts must be filed in iXBRL through software, every small and micro company must file a profit and loss account, and filleted accounts end. We set out what your practice needs to do in the 21 months before then.
Read insight →The new rate is not yet known, but the way a change works through is predictable. We set out scenarios for your clients' cash and for your own firm's profit, pricing and capacity.
Read insight →From May 2026, every UK tax adviser who deals with HMRC on a client's behalf must register to keep access. We cover the phased deadlines, the minimum standards, and what to do before your own deadline.
Read insight →Around 91% of UK accountants are using AI or plan to. We look at what it changes for practice owners in 2026: capacity, advisory work, headcount and the value of the firm.
Read insight →Making Tax Digital for Income Tax starts on 6 April 2026 for sole traders and landlords with income over £50,000. It changes your firm's workflow and capacity, and we set out how to prepare.
Read insight →Identity verification at Companies House is now law, and existing directors must verify by 17 November 2026. Firms that file on clients' behalf must also register as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP).
Read insight →After years of consolidation funded by private equity, 2026 data suggests UK accountancy practice valuations may have stopped rising. We explain what that means if you are thinking about selling.
Read insight →Private equity roll-ups drove a large wave of accountancy deals, and some are now struggling to integrate the firms they bought. A direct sale to a buyer who runs practices can be safer for your clients and staff.
Read insight →MTD for Income Tax, Companies House verification and rising client demand all arrive in 2026, at a time when good staff are hard to find. We look at how practice owners are freeing up capacity.
Read insight →Valuations may be peaking, compliance pressure is rising, and consolidators are paying lower multiples than before. We explain how to read the 2026 market if you are considering a sale.
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