HMRC contacts taxpayers as new 'legally required' rule begins this week

HMRC contacts taxpayers as new 'legally required' rule begins this weekHMRC has contacted people with an updateCommentsMoneySteven Smith Content Editor06:57, 08 Apr 2026Updated 06:59, 08 Apr 2026View 3 ImagesIt's all going online and there's no choice(Image: John_Lamb via Getty Images)Workers are being told to take note of new HMRC rules that have started this week and are being told it's a legal requirement to comply. HMRC has contacted workers directly, informing them they may need to act as a new regulation took effect this week.‌The beginning of the new tax year on Monday, April 6, 2026, means Making Tax Digital now applies to anyone submitting their own tax return who earned above £50,000 during the 2024/25 tax year. This forms part of a staged rollout of the new framework, which will require individuals such as landlords and self-employed workers to maintain digital records and utilise compatible software linking to HMRC systems for sending quarterly income and expenditure updates to the revenue authority, followed by a final declaration.‌In an email to people registered for self-assessment, it said: "If you receive qualifying income from self-employment and/or property, you’ll be legally required to use Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax – based on the level of qualifying income – from the following dates."‌It then said that additional people will fall within its remit from the beginning of the 2027 and 2028 tax years. From April 2027, it will cover those who earned over £30,000 in the 2025/26 tax year, and from April 2028, the threshold will be those earning more than £20,000 in the 2026/27 tax year, pending legislative approval.View 3 ImagesHMRC has been in touch(Image: coldsnowstorm via Getty Images)HMRC explained that it was hosting webinars to assist people, landlords and businesses in preparing.‌It said: "If you receive income from property, register for our webinar – 'Get ready for Making Tax Digital –...