Crime & Safety
HMRC tax warning many don’t understand new April 2026 rules
New rules under Making Tax Digital for Income Tax come into force from April 6, requiring many self-employed workers and landlords to keep digital records and submit updates to HMRC throughout the year.
But research suggests a large number are unprepared and increasingly anxious.
A study by FreeAgent found:
- Less than half feel confident they will be ready
- Only 39 percent say they fully understand the rules
- One in five do not know what is required
- More than one in ten have lost sleep over the changes
The reforms will initially affect more than 850,000 sole traders and landlords earning over £50,000, with millions more set to follow in the coming years.
Concerns go beyond understanding the rules, with many worried about the consequences of getting it wrong.
- 47 percent fear being fined or penalised
- 17 percent admit avoiding letters or emails about the changes
- Nearly half say they feel confused or anxious about the system
Some are even reconsidering their future:
- 23 percent are thinking about leaving self-employment
- 28 percent say they may take on less work
According to Oliver Harcourt from Taxfix, the scale of confusion is a major concern.
He said hundreds of thousands are heading into the changes without a clear understanding, adding that the reforms risk making tax feel like a second job for many.
What the new tax rules actually mean
Despite widespread confusion, the changes are about how tax is reported, not how much is paid.
Key points include:
- You will still need to submit an annual tax return
- Quarterly updates are summaries, not full tax returns
- The rules do not mean you will pay more tax
- Digital record keeping and approved software will be required
However, fewer than four in ten correctly understand the need for digital records, and only a third know they must use HMRC-recognised software.
Dominic Littlewood, working with FreeAgent, said the scale of the change explains why so many are worried.
He described Making Tax Digital as the biggest shake-up to tax submissions in two decades but stressed it does not have to be overwhelming.
He said many sole traders are asking the same questions about bookkeeping and potential fines, and need clear, simple guidance to stay compliant.
The rollout begins next week for higher earners but will expand:
- Over £50,000 income from April 2026
- Over £30,000 from April 2027
- Over £20,000 from April 2028
In total, around 2.9 million people are expected to be affected.
Experts warn that without better awareness and preparation, confusion could lead to mistakes, penalties and added pressure on small businesses already dealing with rising costs.
Pattie Boyd has said no one involved with the forthcoming Beatles biopics has approached her, despite casting an actress to play her.
Former Magdalen College School pupil Sir Sam Mendes is to make four separate films about The Beatles, with one from each band member’s perspective.
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Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Ringo Starr and the families of John Lennon and George Harrison have all granted permission and music rights for the four biopics.
Sir Sam attended Magdalen College School in east Oxford in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
The series about the Fab Four is due for a simultaneous release in April 2028.
It will star Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison, and Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr, and each film will tell the story of the band from a different member’s point of view.
Other actors who will star in the films include Saoirse Ronan, Anna Sawai, Mia McKenna-Bruce, and Aimee Lou Wood, who are playing Linda McCartney, Yoko Ono, Maureen Starkey, and Pattie Boyd, respectively, with Sir Sam calling all four women “fascinating and unique figures in their own right”.
Speaking about the ambitious movie project, Ms Boyd told a podcast that nobody had “reached out” to her.
She added: “I might be completely wrong, but I would have thought it would be polite to mention it to me or let me know that they got someone who’s going to be playing me.
“Don’t you think they’d let me know? Well, I haven’t been contacted by anyone. I could have really told them great stories.
“But I don’t think they want to know. I think they want to create something that’s completely different, like a different story.”
Ms Boyd added that the forthcoming biopics seem to have “nothing to do with the truth (and) nothing to do with what really happened because they don’t want to talk to anyone who was there”.
Instead, she said it was closer to “the filmmaker’s creation of what they think happened”, according to the NME music and pop culture publication.
Mrs Boyd first met Mr Harrison on the set of 1964’s A Hard Day’s Night, eventually marrying the guitarist in 1966 and divorcing him in 1977.
For many years, Mr Harrison lived at Friar Park in Henley, and his family still owns the mansion. He died in 2001.
A recording studio was used at Friar Park by Mr Harrison for his solo albums.
The studio was also used for work on Traveling Wilburys releases – the former Beatle was a member of the supergroup, which also featured Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan and Jeff Lynne.
And recording and filming for The Beatles’ 1995 Anthology project also took place at the mansion studio.
Walled Gardens of Wallingford is set to return for 2026 on Sunday, June 14, opening a record number of 20 usually private gardens to delight visitors for the afternoon, including three opening to the public for the first time.
Now in its third year, the annual event has proved hugely popular with locals and tourists alike and saw more than 1,200 visitors at last June’s event.
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A spokesperson for the organisers of the Walled Gardens event said: “With secret nooks, beautiful blooms and surprising quiet in the centre of the bustling market town of Wallingford, this event is the perfect way to spend a summer afternoon.
“If you need to rest your feet there will be the opportunity to enjoy a glass of wine and strawberries, or an idyllic trip down the river on a short boat tour.
“Tea and cake will also be available as you peruse some of the local food, drink, arts and plant stalls.”
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The afternoon is run by a group of garden owners who raise money through tickets sales for charities in Wallingford and is this year sponsored by Root One and Champions.
Last year, more than £16,000 was raised for good causes in the town, and this year proceeds will be split between 10 charities including The Corn Exchange, St Mary-le-More Church, Style Acre and Wallingford Museum.
Tickets are limited and must be bought in advance from www.walledgardensofwallingford.co.uk or in person from KP Stationers, The Corn Exchange or Root One Garden Centre.
Launched by the national trade body, the Property Care Association (PCA), the PCA Plant Risk App helps with the identification of species and provides a hazard rating as well as advice.
The app can help householders understand what is growing on their property, whether it is a cause for concern and what action they should consider.
Invasive non-native plant species can cause a range of issues, from damage to property and impacts on native ecosystems to causing injury.
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Japanese Knotweed and certain types of bamboo spread quickly and can cause hard landscape damage, while buddleia is known to colonise masonry, which can make walls and chimneys unstable.
Contact with giant hogweed may produce a skin reaction that is exacerbated by exposure to sunlight and can result in painful blisters.
Himalayan balsam tends to shade out native plants and creates problems around watercourses.
Daniel Docking is the technical manager at the PCA and played a key role in the development of the PCA Plant Risk App.
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He said: “Invasive plants are not just about whether a species appears on a list. The risk often depends on the plant, the site and the context in which it is growing.
“While Japanese knotweed is often seen as the main concern, plants such as bamboo, buddleia, and other problematic vegetation such as bramble can also create nuisance, management issues or biosecurity concerns in certain environments.
“There are also species, such as Virginia creeper, that are listed in Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
“This means it is the property-owner’s responsibility to ensure they are not allowed to spread into the wild.”
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Householders with concerns around unidentified vegetation on or near their property can upload a photograph, ideally including leaves, stems, flowers and overall growth habit.
Once on the PCA Plant Risk App, the picture will help confirm species using the Pl@ntNet database.
A short series of scenario-based questions will follow, which will produce a hazard-rating indication along with advice that sets out what action should be taken, what to avoid and whether specialist help is needed.
In instances where a survey or management plan is strongly recommended, householders can enter their postcode to search for PCA members who specialise in invasive weed control.
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Daniel added: “The app is designed to be a useful tool for homeowners, particularly where early identification and practical biosecurity advice could help prevent problems from escalating.
“The earlier problematic plants are recognised, the easier it is to manage spread, reduce disruption and limit potential costs.
“Alongside the app’s learning hub, it also gives users more confidence in identifying issues and applying sensible biosecurity measures.”
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