HMRC Wants to Take Overdue Tax Straight From Your Bank Account
In its "Tax Update 2026" on 23 June, HMRC opened a consultation on tackling lower-value tax debts. It would expand the Direct Recovery of Debts power so HMRC can take money from a bank account for debts as small as 1p — down from the current £1,000 floor — and scrap the safeguard that leaves at least £5,000 in the account. HMRC says more than 750,000 such debts, worth over £2 billion, go uncollected each year despite at least 10 contact attempts.
Money would be taken in instalments. Nothing has changed yet — but if you have an unpaid bill, or think a demand is wrong, now is the time to check HMRC's figures against your own. The consultation runs to 28 August 2026.
Source: GOV.UK — Tax Update 2026 summary | Related: Self-Assessment Tax Bill guide
The Reason for the Crackdown: a £59.2 Billion Tax Gap
Published the same day, HMRC's "Measuring tax gaps 2026" put the 2024/25 tax gap at 6.4% of all tax owed — £59.2 billion that went unpaid. HMRC collected £865.2 billion, or 93.6% of the theoretical total. The gap is up £6.4 billion on the year; last year's estimate was also revised up, from 5.3% to 6.0%.
Small businesses' non-compliance is the single biggest share — which is why so much of Tax Update 2026 targets sole traders and SMEs. The government has pledged to raise an extra £10 billion a year by 2029/30 by closing the gap. For the compliant majority, expect more checks, nudge letters and tighter deadlines.
Source: GOV.UK — Tax Gap 2024-25 estimated at 6.4% | Related: Self-Employed Tax Calculator
How and When You Pay HMRC Is Set to Change
Two further consultations rework how tax is paid. From 2029, Self Assessment taxpayers who also have PAYE income would pay towards their bill through regular PAYE deductions, rather than in lumps after filing — a quiet shift in cash-flow timing. Separately, HMRC wants Direct Debit to become the mandatory way to settle VAT and PAYE return liabilities, with limited exceptions.
Neither is law yet — the Direct Debit consultation closes on 16 August 2026 — but the direction is towards smaller, more frequent, automated payments — worth modelling now if you budget in annual chunks.
Source: GOV.UK — Requiring payment of VAT and PAYE by Direct Debit | Related: Self-Assessment Tax Bill guide, VAT Calculator
Summer VAT Cut Is Live — but Check the Small Print
From 25 June to 1 September, VAT on children's meals, family entertainment tickets and admission to family attractions — zoos, museums, soft play and the like — drops from 20% to 5%. The start date was timed to the Scottish school holidays so the relief spans the break across all four nations.
The catches are easy to miss. It covers children's meals eaten in only (takeaways are excluded), sold from a children's menu — and businesses need not pass the saving on, keeping the 15-point gap as margin. So a family day out may be cheaper this summer — or not, depending on the venue.
Source: GOV.UK — Revenue and Customs Brief 5 (2026) | Related: VAT Calculator
Key Dates
31 July 2026 (Friday) — Second payment on account for 2025/26 Self Assessment.
16 August 2026 — Direct Debit for VAT and PAYE consultation closes.
28 August 2026 — Lower-value tax debts (direct recovery) consultation closes.
1 September 2026 — Summer VAT cut ends; covered items return to 20% VAT.