HMRC Strategic Approach to Third-Party Software

UK HMRC Publications & Guidance

Published March 26th, 2026

Detected March 26th, 2026

Summary

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has published its long-term strategic approach to working with third-party software providers. The document outlines HMRC's commitment to fostering an innovative market that simplifies tax responsibilities for customers and builds on two decades of collaboration.

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What changed

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has released a policy paper detailing its strategic approach to third-party software that connects to the UK's tax and customs systems. This document outlines how HMRC intends to collaborate with software providers, advisers, and user groups to support a dynamic market that helps customers meet their tax obligations through existing tools. It emphasizes HMRC's role in market stewardship, the guiding principles for engagement, and specific actions to enhance partnerships, improve predictability, and ensure the delivery of reliable, high-quality software products.

This guidance is primarily for third-party software providers and intermediaries that connect to HMRC systems. While it does not impose new direct compliance obligations, it signals HMRC's strategic direction and commitment to market collaboration. Compliance officers should familiarize themselves with HMRC's stated principles and planned actions to understand potential future developments or expectations regarding software integration and data reporting.

What to do next

Review HMRC's strategic approach to third-party software integration.
Understand HMRC's principles for market engagement and partnership.

Source document (simplified)

Policy paper

HMRC’s Strategic Approach to Third-Party Software

This document sets out HMRC’s long‑term approach to working with third‑party software and supporting a thriving, innovative market that makes it simpler for customers to fulfil their tax responsibilities.

From: HM Revenue & Customs Published 26 March 2026 Get emails about this page

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Strategic approach to third party software

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Details

This document sets out HMRC’s strategic approach to the third‑party software that connects to the tax and customs systems. It explains how HMRC will work with providers, advisers and user groups to support a thriving market that helps customers meet their obligations through the tools they already use. The approach builds on two decades of collaboration between HMRC and the software sector and responds to growing reliance on integrated software across the tax and customs system. It describes HMRC’s role in stewarding the market, the principles that guide engagement and the actions HMRC will take to strengthen partnership, improve predictability and support reliable, high‑quality products for customers and intermediaries.