If you’ve ever tried to keep up with the UK tax system, you’ll know it’s a moving target. One Finance Act ends, another begins. Reliefs change, thresholds shift, and HMRC quietly updates a form you’ve been using for years. For tax professionals, accountants and advisers, staying informed isn’t optional - it’s survival.
The problem is, there’s no single place that holds everything. Official guidance lives in one corner, technical updates in another, and the best practical tips come from people who’ve been through it before. That’s where this guide comes in. We’ve pulled together some of the most useful UK tax resources - official sites, professional bodies, online communities, podcasts, and more - so you can spend less time searching and more time getting actual answers.
Official UK Tax Resources
If you work with tax, you’ll spend a lot of time on the official government sites. They’re not always the easiest to use, but they’re where everything starts. Every policy, every rule, every update - it all flows from here.
HMRC Website
Most professionals have a love-hate relationship with the HMRC website. It’s where you go for forms, manuals, submitting tax returns and calculators, even though it sometimes feels like a maze. The good stuff is there though: guidance on income tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, VAT, and National Insurance. You’ll find examples, rates, thresholds, and all the things clients ask about five minutes before a deadline.
The HMRC manuals are essential reading if you need to understand how the department interprets legislation. They’re detailed - occasionally too detailed - but they’re also the closest thing to an inside view of HMRC’s thinking. When you need to check the official line before submitting a return or giving advice, this is where you look.
Let’s say a client wants to know whether they can reclaim overpaid National Insurance or claim relief on professional fees. Instead of diving into forums, a quick search in HMRC’s guidance can confirm exactly how to report it. It’s not always the most exciting reading, but it’s accurate — and that’s what matters when deadlines are close.
It’s far from perfect, but it’s the only site that shows you what HMRC actually means when it talks about “reasonable care” or “allowable expenses.”
GOV.UK Tax Portals
GOV.UK is the big umbrella that covers everything from benefits to border control - but the tax section is where you’ll find key information for both individuals and businesses. It’s also where new Budget announcements, Finance Bill notes, and policy papers appear first.
If you’re advising clients, this is where you confirm the finer points: when the next tax year starts, how to reclaim overpaid tax, or what forms have been updated. It’s not glamorous, but it’s the backbone of most day-to-day work.
Tip: bookmark the pages on “Self Assessment” and “Business Tax.” They’re updated often, and those small changes - like a revised deadline or an updated claim form - can catch you out if you’re not watching.
Legislation.gov.uk
If you really want to know how the UK tax system fits together, Legislation.gov.uk is your best friend and your worst enemy. It’s a full record of UK law - Finance Acts, statutory instruments, and everything in between.
You’ll use it when you need the exact wording of a section, or when you’re cross-referencing what a client has read on a blog with what the law actually says. It’s not light reading, but for technical research, there’s nothing better.
Search can be fiddly, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll save time. Bookmark the big ones — Income Tax Act 2007, Corporation Tax Act 2010, Finance Act 2024. You’ll thank yourself later.
Specialist Tax Websites & Portals
Once you’ve got the official sources handled, it’s worth exploring the places where professionals share applied knowledge — the kind you actually use in client work.
Tax Insider
Let’s start with Tax Insider, because it’s one of the best all-round resources for tax professionals who want practical tax advice. Everything is written by people who work in tax every day — accountants, advisers, and policy experts. You’ll find articles, newsletters, webinars, and even eBooks that cover topics like property taxation, income tax rates, and capital gains.
Subscribers get access to an archive of articles and reports covering everything from inheritance tax planning to the practical side of Making Tax Digital. There are also monthly newsletters written in plain English - great if you want to stay informed without spending hours decoding legislation. Many advisers use Tax Insider’s webinars as part of their CPD too, which makes it a practical, ongoing resource rather than just something you read once and forget.
It’s the bridge between official rules and real-world application. While GOV.UK tells you what the law says, Tax Insider shows you what that means in practice — how to save time, avoid mistakes, and help clients stay compliant. For many professionals, it’s their go-to resource to stay sharp without having to wade through legislation every morning.
AccountingWeb (Tax Section)
AccountingWeb has been a fixture in the UK accounting scene for years. Its tax section covers everything from policy updates to opinion pieces and reader debates. The real value lies in the mix: official news blended with practitioner perspectives. It’s also one of the few places where you can read commentary on new Finance Acts and see what other advisers think about them.
If you enjoy discussion or like to sense-check your views before advising clients, AccountingWeb’s community threads are worth a look.
Professional Bodies & Institutions
Professional bodies give you credibility - and they’re also packed with resources if you know where to look.
ICAEW Tax Faculty
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) has a dedicated Tax Faculty that regularly publishes technical updates, guides, and webinars. These aren’t just for big firms; they’re useful for small practices too.
You’ll find commentary on policy changes, CPD opportunities, and summaries of key tax cases. Many professionals use the Faculty’s updates as a quick way to confirm they haven’t missed something important mid-year.
Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT)
If you’re serious about tax, you’ve heard of the CIOT. It’s the gold standard for professional insight. Members get access to Tax Adviser magazine, detailed technical papers, and training sessions that dig into real-world issues.
Both ICAEW and CIOT play active roles in shaping UK tax policy. They regularly respond to HMRC consultations, helping to refine draft legislation and flag issues that could affect advisers and taxpayers. Following their updates isn’t just about staying compliant - it’s about understanding how future rules are being written.
Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT)
The ATT is a fantastic organisation for anyone working in or moving into tax compliance. It offers learning materials, CPD events, and regular newsletters that cover practical updates for practitioners.
It’s also great for keeping your team sharp. If you’ve got junior staff or trainees, the ATT’s structured resources can help them grow without needing constant supervision.
Online Communities & Forums
Tax can be a lonely profession sometimes. That’s where online communities help — sharing real experiences, client challenges, and solutions that don’t always make it into the official guidance.
UK Business Forums (Tax Section)
It’s informal, yes, but the UK Business Forums are surprisingly useful if you work with small businesses. The tax section is full of questions from company owners, landlords, and freelancers. It’s a good window into what clients are actually worried about and that perspective can help you give better advice.
AccountingWeb Community
The AccountingWeb community deserves a mention of its own. The Q&A threads here are gold for real-time feedback. Whether you’re checking how others interpret new HMRC guidance or just need to sanity-check your own approach, it’s a reliable space to exchange ideas.
LinkedIn Groups
LinkedIn has a few strong professional groups for tax specialists - UK Tax Professionals Network being the best known. Members share articles, discuss policy changes, and occasionally help each other out with trickier issues. It’s informal networking that can actually teach you something.
Multimedia Resources
Learning doesn’t have to mean reading. Sometimes, listening or watching helps things stick better - especially when time’s short.
YouTube Channels
HMRC runs its own YouTube channel, which includes webinars, guidance clips, and explainer videos. It’s a useful way to stay current without sitting through dense PDFs.
There are also independent creators like Tax TV and a growing number of accounting YouTubers who break down topics such as self-assessment, dividend tax, and property income in plain English. It’s not all official, but it can be an easy way to keep your knowledge fresh.
Podcasts
If you prefer learning on the move, podcasts are great company. The ICAEW Tax Podcast covers recent developments, and there are others focused on property and business taxation. They’re ideal for keeping up to date while commuting or between client calls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which tax resources are most reliable for professionals?
Start with the official ones - HMRC, GOV.UK, and Legislation.gov.uk - and then layer on professional bodies like CIOT or ICAEW for interpretation and applied context. Combine that with practical insight from publications like Tax Insider, and you’ve got a balanced view of both law and practice.
Q: Are subscription-based resources like Tax Insider worth paying for?
For most professionals, yes. Free resources are great for headlines, but paid services like Tax Insider dig into application. You’ll find real examples, tax planning strategies, and commentary that can save you time (and occasionally a client dispute).
Q: Where can I find tax case law updates easily?
CIOT’s publications and ICAEW’s updates are good starting points. You can also check Tax Adviser magazine or the Tax Faculty news feed. Tax Insider regularly covers notable cases too — but with explanations you can actually use in client meetings.
Q: Which resources can count towards CPD?
Most professional bodies - CIOT, ICAEW, and ATT - offer CPD-accredited materials. Webinars, seminars, and eLearning modules all qualify. Tax Insider’s webinars also count towards CPD, giving you both learning value and compliance credit.
Q: I’m a new tax adviser - where should I start?
Start simple: HMRC for compliance, GOV.UK for policy changes, and Tax Insider for the “so what?” - the part that helps you apply those rules in practice. Add CIOT and ATT resources as your confidence grows. It’s a mix that works whether you’re self-employed, part of a firm, or just starting out.
Final Thoughts & CTA
Keeping up with tax changes can feel endless. One year it’s capital gains, the next it’s dividend allowances or income tax thresholds. There’s always something new to learn - and something you could easily miss.
Building a solid mix of resources makes the job easier. Official portals give you the facts, professional bodies add the context, and communities offer the lived experience. Together, they give you the full picture.
It helps to create a rhythm. Check GOV.UK at the start of the week for policy changes, scan your professional body updates midweek, and use Tax Insider’s newsletters or webinars to dive deeper when you have time. Build that habit, and staying compliant stops feeling like a full-time job.
If you’re ready to make that part of your routine, Tax Insider is a great place to start. Its monthly newsletters, webinars, and articles are all written by working tax professionals - people who know what clients ask and what advisers need to know.
Subscribe to the Tax Insider newsletter today ( https://www.taxinsider.co.uk/tax-insider) and get regular, practical insights to help you stay ahead of tax law changes and apply them with confidence.
