HMRC Plan to Strengthen Third-Party Software Integration Standards
Summary
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has published a plan to strengthen standards for third-party software that integrates with its tax and customs systems. The plan outlines proposed themes for enhanced standards, including product integrity, data accountability, and error management, and details a timeline for engagement and implementation through 2026 to 2027.
What changed
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has released a policy paper detailing its plan to introduce strengthened standards for third-party software that integrates with its tax and customs systems. This initiative aims to enhance product integrity, data accountability, error management, and fraud prevention, complementing existing requirements like the Developer Hub Terms of Use. The document clarifies the distinction between provider-level and product-level standards and outlines how HMRC will govern and uphold these new standards.
Third-party software providers integrating with HMRC systems will be affected by these upcoming strengthened standards. While this document outlines the proposed direction and themes, specific implementation details and engagement phases are planned through 2026 and 2027. Compliance officers should monitor future communications from HMRC regarding the precise requirements, testing phases, and the eventual implementation timeline to ensure their integrated software solutions meet the new criteria.
What to do next
- Review HMRC's plan for strengthened third-party software integration standards.
- Monitor future HMRC communications regarding engagement, testing, and implementation timelines.
- Assess current third-party software integrations against proposed themes of product integrity, data accountability, and error management.
Source document (simplified)
Policy paper
HMRC’s Plan to Strengthen Standards for Third-Party Software
This document outlines HMRC’s plan for strengthening standards for third-party integrated software and how we will collaborate with industry to develop these standards together.
From: HM Revenue & Customs Published 26 March 2026 Get emails about this page
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Strengthening standards for software that integrates with HMRC
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Details
This document sets out HMRC’s proposed direction for strengthening standards for third‑party software that integrates with the tax and customs system. It defines who will be in scope for strengthened standards and explains how they will complement existing requirements such as in the Developer Hub Terms of Use. It outlines the themes where standards will be strengthened, including product integrity, supporting correct outcomes, data accountability, error management, and, misuse and fraud prevention. It also clarifies the distinction between provider‑level and product‑level standards. Finally, the document sets out how HMRC will define a clear and workable approach to how strengthened standards will be governed and upheld and provides a high‑level timeline for engagement, testing, and implementation through 2026 to 2027.
Updates to this page
Published 26 March 2026
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