Citation

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Finance Act 2026 (Registration of Tax Advisers) (Appointed Days and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026.

Interpretation

2. In these Regulations—

“ Agent Services Account ” means a communications authorisation which was described as such an account when it was given to the tax adviser;

“ communications authorisation ” means an approval to use electronic communications given by virtue of regulations made under section 132 or 133 of the Finance Act 1999 ( 2 ) or section 135 or 136 of the Finance Act 2002 ( 3 );

“ group undertaking ” has the meaning given by section 1161 (5) of the Companies Act 2006 ( 4 );

“ payroll services ” means the delivery of information, or the making of payments, to HMRC in accordance with PAYE regulations;

“ regulated activities ” has the same meaning as in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 ( 5 );

“ specified tax account ” means a communications authorisation that was described as a Self-Assessment Account or a Corporation Tax Account when it was given to the tax adviser.

Appointed day for the purpose of making regulations under section 247 of the Finance Act 2026

3. 14th July 2026 is appointed as the day on which Chapter 1 of Part 7 of the Finance Act 2026, so far as it is not already in force, comes into force for the purpose of making regulations under section 247 of that Act (power to amend Schedule 20 (exceptions)).

Appointed days for all remaining purposes

4.—(1) The appointed days on which Chapter 1 of Part 7 of the Finance Act 2026, so far as it is not already in force, comes into force for all remaining purposes are—

(a)in relation to a tax adviser in the first tranche, 18th August 2026;

(b)in relation to a tax adviser in the second tranche, 18th November 2026;

(c)in relation to a tax adviser in the third tranche, 18th February 2027;

(d)in relation to a tax adviser in the fourth tranche, 1st April 2027.

(2) A tax adviser is in the first tranche if they are not in any other tranche.

(3) A tax adviser is in the second tranche if—

(a)immediately before 18th August 2026, they do not have an Agent Services Account, but do have a specified tax account, and

(b)they do not fall within the third tranche or the fourth tranche.

(4) A tax adviser is in the third tranche if—

(a)immediately before 18th August 2026, they do not have an Agent Services Account,

(b)in the period beginning with 18th August 2026 and ending with 17th February 2027, their only tax adviser activities are payroll services, and

(c)they do not fall within the fourth tranche.

(5) A tax adviser is in the fourth tranche if—

(a)immediately before 18th August 2026, they do not have an Agent Services Account, and

(b)in the period beginning with 18th August 2026 and ending with 31st March 2027—

(i)their business consists, to a substantial extent, of carrying on one or more regulated activities, or

(ii)their clients are, to a substantial extent, group undertakings in relation to the tax adviser, and one or more of the tax adviser’s group undertakings has a business which consists, to a substantial extent, of carrying on one or more regulated activities.

Transitional provision for tax advisers with an Agent Services Account

5. Where, immediately before 18th August 2026, a tax adviser has an Agent Services Account, Chapter 1 of Part 7 of the Finance Act 2026 applies in relation to them as if—

(a)they had made an application in accordance with section 225 of that Act (application for registration),

(b)that application was approved in accordance with section 230 of that Act (registration of application), and

(c)they were notified that their registration had effect from 18th August 2026.