Taxpayers who are self-employed or receive rental income should check whether they will be subject to Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD for IT) from next month. The new rules significantly change how affected individuals report their income to HMRC.

The first cohort subject to MTD for IT from 6 April 2026 are those whose qualifying income exceeded £50,000 in the 2024–25 tax year. This figure is important because HMRC is using the income declared on 2024–25 self-assessment tax returns to determine who must join MTD from April 2026. Anyone above this threshold will normally be required to keep digital records and submit information to HMRC using compatible software.

Qualifying income broadly refers to the total gross income from self-employment and rental income before expenses are deducted, also referred to as ‘turnover’. This can include income from multiple sources of self-employment and property income. However, all other types of income are not included when determining whether the threshold is met. For example, employment income taxed through PAYE, pension income, dividends and partnership income do not count towards the MTD income limit.

A second phase of the rollout will follow in April 2027, when MTD for Income Tax will extend to individuals with qualifying income between £30,000 and £50,000.

A number of changes to the taxation of dividends, property income and savings income were announced in the Autumn Budget 2025. These measures will affect the rates at which different types of income are taxed and will be introduced in stages over the next few years.

From April 2026, the tax rates applying to dividend income will increase by 2%. The ordinary dividend rate will rise to 10.75%, while the upper dividend rate will increase to 35.75%. The dividend additional rate and the dividend trust rate will remain unchanged at 39.35% as will the dividend allowance at £500.

Further changes will apply from April 2027. Income Tax rates on both property income and savings income will increase by 2%. For the 2027–28 tax year, property income will be taxed at 22% (basic rate), 42% (higher rate) and 47% (additional rate). Savings income will also be taxed at the same rates.

Alongside these rate changes, the government is also reforming how Income Tax is calculated by altering the current ordering rules that determine the calculation of Income Tax. Under the current system, savings and dividend income are treated as the highest part of an individual’s income. Most other income, such as employment, pension or trading income, is grouped together as “non-savings, non-dividend income” and taxed first.

Under the new rules, the revised order of taxation will be:

1. Income that is not property, savings or dividend income
2. Property income
3. Savings income
4. Dividend income

These changes to the calculation of Income Tax are intended to better reflect the different nature of income sources and ensure the new tax rates for property, savings and dividends operate as intended.

If you have paid too much tax to HMRC, you may be able to claim a tax refund. Overpayments can happen for several reasons, such as a change in employment, being placed on the wrong tax code or failing to claim certain allowances or expenses.

The way you claim depends on your circumstances such as whether or not you complete a self-assessment tax return and how long ago the overpayment occurred.

HMRC states that you may be eligible for a refund if you have overpaid tax on:

• Income from employment
• Job-related expenses (for example, working from home, fuel, uniforms or tools)
• A pension
• A self-assessment tax return
• A redundancy payment
• UK income while living abroad
• Interest from savings or Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) payouts
• Income from a life or pension annuity
• Foreign income
• UK income earned before leaving the UK

HMRC offers an online service at www.gov.uk/claim-tax-refund/y that allows you to check whether you are eligible and, in many cases, submit a claim.

In most situations, you can backdate a claim up to four years from the end of the relevant tax year. This means you can still claim a refund for the 2021–22 tax year (which ended on 5 April 2022) until 5 April 2026.

An application to claim child benefits can usually be made 48 hours after you have registered the birth of your child, or once a child comes to live with you. An application for child benefit can be backdated for up to 3 months. 

An application for child benefit is usually made online either using the government gateway. If you are unable to complete a claim online, it is also possible to claim child benefit by completing the Child Benefit form CH2 and sending it to the Child Benefit Office. The address is on the form. If a claim is being made for more than 2 children, complete the additional child CH2(CS) form and send it with your CH2. It is also possible to contact HMRC to make a claim by phone if the online or postal routes are not available. Making an application through the government gateway will usually be the fastest way to make a claim.

Child benefit is also usually payable for children who come to the UK. However, there are a number of rules which must be met in order to claim. HMRC must be notified without delay if a child receiving child benefit moves permanently abroad.

The child benefit rates for the only or eldest child in a family is currently £26.05 a week and the weekly rate for all other children is £17.25. These rates will increase to £27.05 and £17.90 respectively from April 2026.

If you believe that you have overpaid tax to HMRC, you may be entitled to claim a tax refund. Overpayments can occur for a variety of reasons, including changes to employment, incorrect tax codes or unclaimed allowances. The process for making a claim will depend on whether you submit a self-assessment tax return and how long ago the tax was overpaid.

According to HMRC, you may be able to claim a refund if you have paid too much tax on:

• pay from a job
• job expenses such as working from home, fuel, work clothing or tools
• a pension
• a self-assessment tax return
• a redundancy payment
• UK income if you live abroad
• interest from savings or payment protection insurance (PPI)
• income from a life or pension annuity
• foreign income
• UK income earned before leaving the UK

HMRC provides an online tool to help individuals check their eligibility and make a claim for a tax refund. This can be accessed at https://www.gov.uk/claim-tax-refund/y.

Claims can usually be backdated for up to four years after the end of the tax year. This means that claims still be made for tax refunds dating back as far as the 2021-22 tax year which ended on 5 April 2022. The deadline for making claims for the 2021-22 tax year is 5 April 2026. It is important to ensure that all information provided is accurate and that claims are made within the required time limits.