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News

Up-to-date coverage of all that is happening in the worlds of accountancy and finance. Analysis and insights of the latest trends affecting the profession along with podcasts and videos offering fresh perspectives on accountancy.
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Stephen Relf and Lindsey Wicks
The Tax Track

Modernising and mandating agent registration

  • Podcast
  • 13 May 2026
Finance Act 2026 introduces a package of measures designed to drive up standards in the tax advice market, including mandatory agent registration with HMRC. In this episode, we explain how the process will work and discuss the consequences for advisers of having their registration suspended.
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Latest news

A hand holding a magnifying glass looking at some papers
Letters of representation: a key protection for auditors
  • 14 May 2026
Peter Herbert and Karen Eckstein explain why letters of representation matter in an audit of financial statements, what can go wrong, and how shortcomings can be addressed.
Chart of the week: car exports and imports
  • 14 May 2026
Our chart this week is on the car market in the UK, showing how most of the cars made in the UK are exported (our third biggest goods export) and most of the new cars registered in the UK are imported (our biggest goods import).
Two people looking at the laptop having a conversation
King’s Speech 2026: late payments plan confirmed
  • 13 May 2026
The King’s Speech featured proposed legislation on late payments and regulatory reform in an agenda that prioritised national security above all else.
Two people looking at the laptop having a conversation
How UK agriculture can weather the heat of Middle East war
  • 12 May 2026
As the Middle East conflict heaps further pressure on an already fraught UK agricultural sector, how can farmers weather this multi-faceted storm?

Latest tax news

Tax adviser registration: suspension and sanctions guidance
  • 12 May 2026
HMRC’s new guidance highlights the importance for agents to meet the conditions for tax adviser registration and understand the routes available to review and appeal decisions.
Agents reminded not to use clients’ login details
  • 12 May 2026
Agents who use clients’ sign in credentials for HMRC’s online services may be in breach of HMRC’s standard for agents.
New tax return requirements for directors cause uncertainty
  • 12 May 2026
Taxpayers carrying on a trade and directors of close companies may find it difficult to comply with new requirements to provide additional information in their self assessment (SA) tax return for 2025/26.
Tax news in brief 12 May 2026
  • 12 May 2026
Highlights from the broader tax news for the week ending 12 May 2026, including an update on HMRC’s one-to-many campaign relating to claims for business asset disposal relief (BADR).

Podcasts

Stephen Relf and Lindsey Wicks
Modernising and mandating agent registration
  • 13 May 2026
Finance Act 2026 introduces a package of measures designed to drive up standards in the tax advice market, including mandatory agent registration with HMRC. In this episode, we explain how the process will work and discuss the consequences for advisers of having their registration suspended.
Fahad Asgar, Technical Manager and Philippa Lamb
Can businesses mitigate rising energy prices? Plus AI in audit, UK GAAP
  • 06 May 2026
Everyone’s talking about energy costs at the moment. Greenfields Energy Group’s co-founder Liam Conway walks us through the energy impacts of the Iran War and outlines the best ways for businesses to protect themselves from global energy shocks.
Philippa Lamb and 2 other guests in a podcast session
Is AI accelerating the brain drain?
  • 14 Apr 2026
AI is already having an impact on the make-up of audit teams and there’s some evidence it’s already reducing the number of junior roles. But it’s all still new, and developing all of the time. What about the medium and longer term effects? How might it change training and career paths and will it ultimately boost or diminish the appeal of a career in accountancy?

Videos

Showcasing recent news-related video content from ICAEW.
Displaying 1-5 of 35 results
ICAEW's latest research into the evolution of mid-tier accountancy firms
ICAEW's latest research into the evolution of mid-tier accountancy firms
  • 13 May 2026
  • 00:00:45
Chief Executive, Alan Vallance, introduces the 2026 edition of ICAEW's research into the activities of the UK's mid-tier accountancy firms and their plans for the future.
ICAEW Annual Report 2025
ICAEW Annual Report 2025
  • 24 Apr 2026
  • 00:01:07
Alan Vallance recaps some of the highlights in 2025. To find out more read the ICAEW Annual Report 2025 at https://www.icaew.com.
Looking ahead: financial services in 2026
Looking ahead: financial services in 2026
  • 24 Feb 2026
  • 00:00:52
Polly Tsang, ICAEW's Senior Financial Services Regulatory Manager, previews the year ahead in financial services.
Looking ahead: technology and cyber security in 2026
Looking ahead: technology and cyber security in 2026
  • 18 Feb 2026
  • 00:00:56
Esther Mallowah, ICAEW's Head of Tech Policy, previews the year ahead in technology and cyber security.
Looking ahead: regulation policy in 2026
Looking ahead: regulation policy in 2026
  • 18 Feb 2026
  • 00:01:03
Sophie Wales, ICAEW's Director, Regulatory Policy, previews the year ahead for regulation policy in accountancy and finance.
Displaying 1-5 of 35 results

The opinions expressed by external guest speakers in interviews or other publications included on this website are, by their nature, those of the speaker. They are not necessarily fully endorsed by the ICAEW or purport to reflect the official policies and views of the ICAEW or its members.

Charts of the week

Chart of the week: car exports and imports
  • Article
  • 14 May 2026
Our chart this week is on the car market in the UK, showing how most of the cars made in the UK are exported (our third biggest goods export) and most of the new cars registered in the UK are imported (our biggest goods import).
Chart of the week: top 20 military spenders
  • Article
  • 06 May 2026
Our chart this week is on the 20 countries that incurred the most military expenditure in 2025, starting with the US spending the most at $954bn, followed by China spending $336bn and the UK in sixth place at $89bn (£71bn).
Chart of the week: more people living longer
  • Article
  • 01 May 2026
Our chart this week looks at how the number of people aged 65 or older is projected to increase by 34% over the next 25 years in contrast with a projected rise of just 1% in the number of working age adults. This will be a major challenge for the UK’s public finances.

News specials

A listing of one-off News specials that focus on a particular subject, interviewing the key people, identifying developing trends and examining the underlying issues.

Cheery tree with blossom
Mental health and wellbeing
  • 07 May 2026
There is now a far greater understanding that we should look after our mental health with the same care as our physical health. Discover ICAEW's and caba's resources for maintaining your mental health..
Road winding through hilly countryside with sun rising in the background
Prepare for 2026
  • 25 Feb 2026
Accountants face some significant challenges, but also some key opportunities in 2026. Hear from ICAEW experts on the important issues that members need to be thinking about over the next 12 months.
Diverse group of people smiling and looking up
Global Ethics Day
  • 07 Oct 2025
ICAEW celebrates Global Ethics Day each year. The 2025 theme is "Ethics Re-envisioned,” challenging us to think boldly about how we embed ethical principles into the heart of our organisations.

Featured sections

Diversity and Inclusion
ICAEW is committed to Diversity and Inclusion. In this hub we bring together timely D&I resources on the protected characteristics of the Equality Act, along with our latest news into diversity in the profession.
Regulatory News
A round-up of regulatory and conduct updates and communications from the ICAEW Professional Standards Department.
Sponsored content
Hear what our partners are saying on topical issues impacting the accountancy profession.
News and Insights index
This page provides an entry point to the articles that have formed the daily, monthly and weekly member emails, arranged by section and month. It also contains an index of themed news and the Quarterly magazine.
News archive
In this section you can read some of the best material that was in ICAEW's monthly magazine, Economia, as well as from the Insights section published in 2020.

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