Collection

Tax agents and advisers: detailed information

Guidance, services, forms and manuals for tax agents and advisers. Including how to register as an agent, getting client authorisation, and compliance checks.

• From: HM Revenue & Customs and HM Treasury
• Published: 5 February 2024
• Last updated: 1 November 2024 — See all updates

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HMRC are trialling a new tax agents handbook as an alternative to this page.

Tax agent handbook

• Tax agents handbook
  • 2 July 2025

Registering as an agent

• Steps you need to take before registering as a professional tax agent
  • 15 July 2022
  • Guidance
• Find out how to register as a professional tax agent with HMRC
  • 28 November 2024
  • Guidance
• Register with HMRC for an agent services account
  • 7 May 2025
  • Guidance
• Create an agent services account
  • 7 February 2025
  • Guidance
• Sign in or enrol a tax service onto your HMRC online services for agents account
  • 24 October 2024
  • Guidance

Getting client authorisation

• How to get authorised to act as a tax agent on behalf of your clients
  • 11 December 2024
  • Guidance
• How to use the digital handshake to get authorised as a tax agent
  • 7 September 2022
  • Guidance
• How to use the Online Agent Authorisation to get authorised as a tax agent
  • 18 January 2024
  • Guidance
• Authorise an agent for taxes that use the digital handshake
  • 2 November 2023
  • Guidance
• Authorising an agent to deal with your tax affairs
  • 20 June 2025
  • Guidance

Transacting with HMRC

• HMRC service availability and issues
  • 30 December 2024
  • Collection
• HMRC's online security information for agents
  • 28 November 2011
  • Guidance
• How to register your client for a tax service as an agent
  • 25 November 2022
  • Guidance
• What to do if your tax agent business is changing
  • 15 April 2025
  • Guidance

Compliance checks

• HMRC compliance checks: help and support
  • 20 October 2023
  • Guidance
• Agent authorisation: dealing with HMRC for compliance checks
  • 16 December 2015
  • Guidance
• HMRC compliance checks factsheets
  • 13 November 2020
  • Collection

News and communications

• Agent Updates
  • 12 June 2019
  • Collection

Appeals and penalties

• Appeals and tribunals: an overview for agents and advisers
  • 1 January 2014
  • Guidance
• Penalties: an overview for agents and advisers
  • 13 January 2023
  • Guidance

Forms, manuals and reference material

• HMRC forms
  • 1 January 2014
  • Collection
• HMRC manuals
  • 13 May 2025
  • Collection
• HMRC standard for agents
  • 17 May 2024
  • Guidance
• Agents Strategy: an overview
  • 1 January 2014
  • Guidance

Help and support

• HMRC email updates, videos and webinars for tax agents and advisers
  • 7 July 2025
  • Guidance
• Tax agent toolkits
  • 1 January 2014
  • Collection
• Dedicated helplines and contacts for tax agents
  • 7 October 2024
  • Guidance

Published 5 February 2024

Last updated 1 November 2024 + show all updates

1. 1 November 2024

   Included link to the new tax agents handbook format for feedback.

2. 5 February 2024

   First published.