Latest updates

The Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG) has called on the Treasury to make it easier for state pensioners to pay any tax they owe.

We have updated our guidance on the high income child benefit charge (HICBC) to explain HMRC’s new provisions for paying the charge via pay as you earn (PAYE). This might mean that you no longer need to file a tax return. 

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) have restarted their ‘Direct Recovery of Debts’ (DRD) process, which enables the collection of unpaid tax directly from bank accounts in certain circumstances.

Our updated guidance page explains how to use HMRC’s Check Employment Status for Tax (CEST) tool, what its key questions mean, and how to avoid common pitfalls when completing it. Our guidance also outlines the tool’s limitations and includes a worked example.

In advance of the 2025 Autumn Budget, LITRG have made a submission to HM Treasury recommending the operation of Pay As You Earn (PAYE) on the state pension. 

We’ve added a new page to our website to help you keep your online tax account safe from fraud.