The UK's tax authority is set to introduce a compulsory register for thousands of tax professionals, with new rules coming into force in less than a year. From May 2026, it will become mandatory for all tax advisers who interact with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) on behalf of clients to register and meet minimum standards.
What the New Mandatory Register Means
Details confirmed in the Labour government's Budget documents reveal that the new tax adviser interaction register will go live in May 2026. A three-month transition period will allow professionals to sign up via a new online portal, which is currently under development. Failure to comply with the registration requirement will result in penalties.
The scope of the register is broad, designed to encompass a wide range of professionals. It will include tax advisers, tax agents, and accountants who handle client tax affairs. Furthermore, it will also cover conveyancing firms that advise on Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) and lawyers involved in tax matters.
Driving Up Standards and Closing Gaps
The government states the primary aim of the policy is to ensure all tax advisers interacting with HMRC meet a consistent set of minimum standards. Currently, registration requirements vary across different HMRC services, creating administrative complexity and leaving gaps in the revenue body's ability to verify an adviser's competence.
"The changes will improve HMRC’s ability to monitor and exclude tax advisers who are objectively unable to meet HMRC’s Standards for Agents or cannot lawfully act as a tax adviser," the Budget documents explain. This move follows a consultation in October 2024 on raising standards in the tax advice market, where stakeholders showed strong support for a mandatory system. They argued it would enhance service security and help deter unscrupulous operators.
Implementation and Government Investment
To support the rollout of this significant change, the government is investing £36 million to modernise HMRC's existing registration services. This funding is intended to streamline the process and build the necessary digital infrastructure for the new portal.
The mandatory register marks a substantial shift in how tax professionals will be regulated in their dealings with HMRC. With the May 2026 deadline now formally set, tax advisers, accountants, and related firms have a clear timeline to prepare for the new compliance landscape.
