UK announces VAT cut on electricity
The UK government has announced today, 21 July 2026, that VAT on domestic electricity bills will be reduced from 5% to 0% from 1 October 2026, providing support to households ahead of the next Ofgem price cap as part of a package of cost-of-living
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UK tariff sees major liberalisation for India, new scrutiny on Chinese machineryÂ
After a quiet start, the week in UK trade policy was defined by a massive mid-week surge of activity. The dominant events were a significant liberalisation for Indian agricultural goods, with hundreds of new 0% duties taking effect, and a swift
See MoreUK: HMRC consults draft 2026 Finance Bill tax measures
The UK government has published a series of draft Finance Bill 2026 measures proposing changes across several indirect taxes and duties, including the Soft Drinks Industry Levy, Air Passenger Duty (APD), Alcohol Duty, Landfill Tax, VAT and Vehicle
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UK: HMRC initiates tax consultations on NICs, brownfield relief, development costs
The UK’s His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has launched three tax consultations as part of the Finance Bill 2026 programme, seeking views on changes to the recovery framework for National Insurance contributions (NICs), reforms to Land
See MoreUK: HMRC publishes Oil and Gas Revenue Levy, foreign PE reforms for Finance Bill 2026-27
The UK HMRC has published policy papers, draft legislation, and explanatory notes covering two proposed tax measures: the introduction of a new Oil and Gas Revenue Levy to replace the existing Energy Profits Levy, and reforms to the foreign
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Switzerland, UK conclude negotiations on modernised free trade agreement
Switzerland and the United Kingdom have concluded negotiations on a modernised free trade agreement, Swiss President Guy Parmelin and UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Peter Kyle announced during a meeting in Bern on 13 July. The
See MoreUK: HMRC consults simplification of treaty relief for overseas withholding tax on interest
UK’s HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) launched a consultation on Simplifying Treaty Relief from Withholding Tax on Interest Paid Overseas on 13 July 2026. This consultation details the current processes for obtaining treaty relief available under
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UK: Tax rules on business succession, digital compliance enters into force in April 2026
The UK's 2026/27 tax year introduces a broad package of tax measures taking effect from April 2026, with changes affecting business succession, tax compliance, employment costs, property taxation and employee incentives. Although many of the
See MoreUK: HMRC launches advance tax certainty service for major investment projects
UK's HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has officially launched the Advance Tax Certainty Service, with applications open since 1 July 2026 to provide binding tax clearances for eligible major investment projects. The service is intended to reduce tax
See MoreUK: HMRC publishes draft side-by-side package, domestic top-up tax rules for multinationals
HMRC released a policy paper, draft legislation, and explanatory notes on 13 July 2026 covering the introduction of the Side-by-Side package and proposed changes to the UK's Multinational Top-up Tax and Domestic Top-up Tax regimes. Introduction
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India, UK: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement enters into force
The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between India and the UK will enter into force on 15 July 2026, marking a new phase in bilateral trade and economic cooperation. The agreement, signed on 24 July 2025 after 14 rounds of
See MoreUK: HMRC updates capital goods scheme to reduce VAT compliance burden
The UK’s HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has published a policy paper on the Simplification of the Capital Goods Scheme on 8 July 2026. This measure details the simplification of the Capital Goods Scheme to reduce the administrative burden for
See MoreUK completes massive steel quota rollover as new biofuel duties take effect
This week's UK tariff activity was defined by a massive administrative cycle that finalised the third-quarter steel tariff rate quota regime, accounting for the vast majority of the week's more than 7,300 changes. This large-scale but routine update
See MoreUK pivots from Q3 tariff reset to new trade defence measures
The start of the third quarter triggered a vast, scheduled administrative reset of the UK tariff, with over 18,000 measures taking effect to renew steel safeguard quotas, agricultural TRQs, and anti-dumping duties on fertilisers. This foundational
See MoreUK activates CPTPP rates for Mexico amidst Widespread Tariff RestructuringÂ
The UK's trade landscape was reshaped by over 17,000 regulatory changes this week, a volume dominated by administrative restructuring and targeted policy implementation. The strategic headline was the activation of new 0% duty rates for Mexican beef
See MoreUK, Sweden sign MOU on arbitration procedures for tax treaty disputes
The UK and Sweden have agreed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing detailed procedures for conducting arbitration under Article 23 of the Convention between the UK of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Kingdom of Sweden for the
See MoreUK: Supreme Court rules deferred partner profits taxable as miscellaneous income under Section 687
The UK Supreme Court ruled on 17 June 2026 that payments received by partners under a deferred remuneration scheme are taxable as miscellaneous income under section 687 of ITTOIA 2005, upholding the Court of Appeal's decision in HMRC v HFFX LLP
See MoreUK, Sweden publish MoU on tax treaty arbitration procedures
The UK's HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has published a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Sweden setting out the arbitration procedures under Article 23 of the 2015 UK-Sweden Double Taxation Convention, as amended by the 2021 Protocol. The
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