This week's opinion: 23 January 2025

Making tax digital – it will go ahead says minister

It really does seem that making tax digital (MTD) will actually happen. I thought it was telling that the exchequer secretary (and HMRC chair) James Murray in his recent appearance before the Treasury Committee stressed he had not immediately confirmed the existing timetable for the programme when he took office. He said that he had spent some time testing the plans including the contingencies for what happened if there were problems before making a public statement supporting the timetable. No minister wants to backtrack on what they have said so one can only assume/hope that his confidence is well placed.

We have also seen a few other developments which show that some – albeit limited – progress is at last being made. Some new guidance has been issued although frustratingly it is...