HMRC have added a new section to the all-important Tax Agent’s Handbook and we highlight this change.
On 02 September 2026, HMRC added a new section to the Tax Agent's Handbook. This is designed to make navigating Gov.UK guidance easier for agents but is not a replacement for The HMRC Standard for Agents which also need to be considered.
Within the section ‘online services for agents’, HMRC have added a sub-section ‘keeping your HMRC accounts safe’ which provides details on steps to take to reduce the risk of fraud and ways of reporting suspicious activity. It links to two sections that already exist on Gov.UK:
1. Keep your HMRC online security information safe as an agent; and
2. Report suspicious activity happening in an HMRC online account
For Bookkeepers
Note that the Handbook has been updated with links to guidance that already exists. However, as per its purpose, it now points to these, thereby making the Handbook more relevant for agents and the go-to document for agents using HMRC’s services.
Whilst it is not possible or practical to store the entire Handbook electronically, it is possible to store individual sections. Although best practice is to always refer to the latest version, the reason ICB highlight this new section.