Welcome to this edition of Technical Insights. We have curated a focused round-up of key messages, legislative reminders and essential updates to support you and your practice to ensure continued compliance in an evolving regulatory landscape.
IPA Regulation
To be or not to be a tax advisor…
HMRC has introduced an online registration system for agent services accounts (effective 18 May 2026). But if you are an IP, there is good news.
IPs are exempt from online registration.
The updated HMRC guidance confirms you do not need to register if you:
“Interact with HMRC on behalf of taxpayers because the law requires it, even if you get paid (for example, IPs…”)
Other standard exemptions include:
- Running payroll for your own staff / in-house tax teams.
- Only dealing with tax affairs within your own company group.
- Providing free tax advice (charity, friends, family).
Important – any interaction with HMRC by an IP to comply with their obligations as a nominee in an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) or Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) is fully covered by this exemption.
HMRC guidance can be found here.
An increase in mileage
The HMRC approved mileage rates have increased. Cars and vans mileage has increased from 45p to 55p for 2026/2027.
More information can be found here.
Insolvency Service
Dear IP, June 2026 – Issue No. 171 (Special Edition)
Amendment to RP14 Declaration
The Insolvency (England and Wales) (Amendment) Rules 2026
The issue can be found here.
Dear IP, May 2026 – Issue No 170
IP Complaints Gateway
Filing Statements of Affairs at Companies House
UK Government Sanctions on Russia
Approved Spreadsheets for Submission to the Insolvency Service
🕵 Corporate Civil Enforcement Reforms Consultation
Records Dealing with Businesses that Hold a Facility Security Clearance (FSC)
The issue can be found here.
“Working effectively”… Members’ Voluntary Liquidations
The INSS has published its first large-scale analysis of Members’ Voluntary Liquidations (MVLs) outcomes in England and Wales. Based on a random sample of 2,309 cases commenced between 2016 and 2024, the report concludes that “Members’ Voluntary Liquidations are working effectively”.
Headlines:
- Creditors were paid in full within 12 months in 95% of the closed cases examined.
- Scenarios where creditors remained unpaid beyond 12 months were found to be rare.
- Only seven out of 2,309 cases converted from MVL to CVL, and one of these resulted in a director disqualification.
The INSS’ Claire Hardgrave commented that: “The findings show that MVLs play an important role in the economy, with creditors being paid in full in almost all cases and these companies able to close in an efficient way.”
Read more here.
Technical Alert can be found here.
Northern Ireland
Law Society of Northern Ireland ceases to be a Recognised Professional Body
Members are advised that the Law Society of Northern Ireland (Society) has officially ceased to be a Recognised Professional Body (RPB) for the purposes of authorising IPs.
Following a request made by the Society under art.350N of the Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (INIO89), the Insolvency Practitioners (Recognised Professional Bodies) (Revocation of Recognition) (No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Order) was enacted.
The Order came into operation on 5 November 2025, removing the Society from the schedule of RPBs in the Insolvency Practitioners (Recognised Professional Bodies) Order (Northern Ireland) 1991, and consequently, its power to authorise individuals to act as IPs.
The Northern Ireland Insolvency (Amendment) Bill
The Bill is now awaiting Royal Assent. More information can be found here.
Redundancy Payments Service
RP15 – Processing delays
According to specialist employee and pension service provider Clumber Consultancy, the Redundancy Payments Service (RPS) is currently working to a turnaround time of approximately 12 to 16 weeks for processing RP15 unpaid pension contribution claims. If you have submitted an RP15 claim and are awaiting an update, patience may be required while the RPS works through its backlog. The usual processing time should be 6 to 8 weeks.
Sanctions
New OFSI–OFAC Joint Guidance: Comparative Overview of UK and US Sanctions Regimes
In January 2026, the UK’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) and the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) met in London for the latest in-person exchange under the UK-US Enhanced Partnership.
On 23 June 2026, OFSI published new joint guidance (Guidance) to help businesses navigate important differences and similarities between the UK and U.S. sanctions regimes. The Guidance compares important aspects of the U.S. and UK sanctions regimes, including sanctions lists, licences, record keeping and reporting requirements.
Read the Guidance: The U.S. and UK Economic Sanctions Authorities: A Comparative Overview
Scotland
Common Financial Tool – energy price gap update
AiB update
Section 6.8 (Essential Expenditure) of the Notes for Guidance – Common Financial Tool (CFT) on their website has been updated as follows:
“AiB will only require sight of supporting evidence/estimates if it has been determined that the spend will exceed £137.00 per month. This will increase to £155.00 per month from the 1 July to 30 September 2026.”
More information about the CFT is available on the Common Financial Tool section of the AiB website.
England & Wales Court
Inflationary increases to court and tribunal fees
The Ministry of Justice plans to make a series of changes to court and tribunal fees payable in HM Courts and Tribunals Service. These changes will take place on 13 July 2026, subject to parliamentary approval. The changes include:
| Current | New | ||
| 3.1b | Petition for bankruptcy (presented by creditor/other person) | £343 | £352 |
| 3.2 | Petition for an administration order | £343 | £352 |
| 3.3 | Any other petition | £343 | £352 |
| 3.4b | Copy of a certificate of discharge from bankruptcy | £11 | £14 |
| 3.5 | Insolvency – other application | £318 | £326 |
| 3.8 | Notice of intention to appoint administrator | £57 | £58 |
| 3.11 | Application within proceedings (by consent/without notice) | £30 | £31 |
| 3.12 | Application within proceedings (with notice) | £112 | £115 |
Other
The National Archives – Guidance for IPs
The National Archives (NA) has asked the IPA to share the NA’s guidance for IPs (Guidance). This Guidance provides IPs with a framework to safeguard records of historical (archives) of value when a business or charitable organisation fails.
“Insolvency professionals have a critical role in ensuring that the archives of businesses are not lost or destroyed in cases of administration, liquidation, or closure. These records tell the story of a business and the people who worked for it; they can also be part of history at local and national levels. This guidance is designed to help you play your part to safeguard archives and work collaboratively with colleagues in the archive sector to ensure archives’ survival for future generations.”
If you have any queries, please contact Philippa Turner, Sector Development Manager for London and Business Archives at The National Archives and member of the Crisis Management Team for Business Archives
The Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet 2026
Most landlords and letting agents should have given an Information Sheet to their tenants by 31 May 2026. The government’s guidance has been updated to include information for landlords that gave a valid s.8 or 21 of the Housing Act 1988 (HA88) before they were abolished on 1 May 2026.
Read more here.
The Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 alternative formats
Accessible format copies of Information Sheet for landlords to give to their tenants in addition to the official PDF.
Read more here.
If you have any queries regarding any of the contents of this edition of Technical Insights, please do not hesitate to contact Ben Luxford, Technical Lead, by email: [email protected].