Advisory Fuel Rates Jump from 1 June — Company Car Users Pay More
HMRC published its quarterly advisory fuel rate update on 22 May, and the new rates taking effect from 1 June 2026 are materially higher across the board. Petrol rates rise to 14p, 17p and 26p per mile (up from 12p, 14p and 22p). Diesel moves to 15p, 17p and 23p (up from 12p, 13p and 18p). The diesel over-2000cc band alone is up 28% in one quarter.
Electric advisory rates are unchanged — 7p per mile for home charging, 15p for public chargers. If your employer reimburses at the old rates, you're out of pocket from Sunday. The previous rates can still be used for up to one month after 1 June, but payroll teams should update promptly. Employers using rates above the advisory without evidence of higher fuel costs will need to treat the excess as taxable pay.
Source: GOV.UK — Advisory Fuel Rates | Related: Allowable Expenses for Self-Employed
Council Tax Surcharge Consultation Opens — £2m+ Homes from April 2028
The government launched its consultation on the High Value Council Tax Surcharge on 19 May. Owners of residential property in England valued at £2m or more will pay the surcharge on top of their existing council tax from April 2028. The Valuation Office Agency will conduct a targeted valuation exercise to identify properties in scope. Fewer than 1% of properties in England are expected to be above the threshold.
The estimated yield is around £430m a year, earmarked for local government services. The consultation covers reliefs and exemptions, treatment of complex ownership structures (companies, trusts, partnerships), and rules for tied property where an employee must live in a home as a condition of their job. The surcharge is paid by the owner, not the occupier. The consultation closes on 14 July 2026.
Source: GOV.UK — High Value Council Tax Surcharge | Related: IHT Planner
HMRC Warns on Bills of Exchange Tax Fraud
HMRC has issued a tax fraud warning about promoters marketing "Bills of Exchange" as a way to settle tax liabilities. The schemes — sometimes packaged with references to money orders, Public Trusts, Merchant Law or Negotiable Instruments — claim that a bill of exchange can legally discharge a tax debt. HMRC is clear: it does not accept Bills of Exchange against a tax liability. Tax must be paid through HMRC's normal payment methods.
Promoters appear to be particularly active in the recruitment and temporary labour sector, where they claim Bills of Exchange can sidestep the new umbrella company PAYE legislation that took effect from April 2026. HMRC says it will charge additional interest and penalties, and use enforcement powers to collect, where Bills of Exchange are used. If you've been approached, seek independent professional advice before acting.
Source: GOV.UK — Tax Fraud Warning: Bills of Exchange | Related: Sole Trader vs Limited Company
Kinship Carers Get Income Tax Exemption on Allowances
New regulations provide an income tax exemption for kinship allowances paid under the Department for Education's Kinship Zones pilot scheme, backdated to 1 April 2026. Around 4,500 kinship carers — typically grandparents, aunts, uncles or family friends raising a child when parents cannot — are currently in the scheme. The exemption means they receive the full financial benefit of the support and will not need to file a Self Assessment return solely because of this income.
Source: ICAEW — Tax News in Brief, 26 May 2026 | Related: How Much to Set Aside for Your Tax Bill
Key Dates
31 May 2026 (Saturday) — P60 deadline for 2025/26. Also the last day to use HMRC's online overlap relief tool — it shuts permanently on 1 June.
1 June 2026 — New advisory fuel rates take effect. Also the start of NCTS6 (New Computerised Transit System Phase 6) — GB and NI services unavailable 7am to 9am.
18 June 2026 (Thursday) — Bank of England MPC decision. Bank Rate currently 3.75%. April CPI at 2.8% strengthens the case for a cut.
14 July 2026 — High Value Council Tax Surcharge consultation closes.