HMRC’s major 2026 letter update affecting 37m taxpayers | Personal Finance | Finance
Brits may soon start receiving fewer letters from HMRC as part of a major update to the national tax system. Distinctive brown letters may be a thing of the past for millions of people.
The government body responsible for raising the money that funds public services first outlined the plans earlier this year. Recently the Budget confirmed that the switch to digital letters will begin from April 2026.
The move is planned to lead to major changes An estimated 37.4 million Britons pay tax each year. Digitizing the service will claw back the estimated £50 million HMRC spends on printing and postage costs.
A spokesperson for HMRC said: “Customers will be notified immediately when new correspondence is available in their digital tax account, helping them stay informed and take action in a timely manner. This reduces the risk of missing important updates, simplifies record keeping and allows customers to manage their tax affairs with greater confidence and control.”
Historically, the tax office has been hesitant to use email to communicate with Britons due to data security concerns. But he now claims that digital communication will make it simpler and faster for people to manage their tax affairs.
When will these digital letters start arriving?
The letter-based system between HMRC and taxpayers will switch to a ‘digital by default’ model from April 2026. As part of this, HMRC customers will find ‘digital letters’ uploaded directly to their HMRC account rather than receiving physical letters sent by post.
Spokesperson for consumer watchdog group Which? He wrote: “Once the rollout begins, HMRC will ask you to confirm your contact details when you log in. Once approved, paper letters will stop. HMRC will never ask you to provide this information by phone, text or email.”
Letters can be read on the HMRC app as well as on desktop, laptop and mobile browsers. More than 5.6 million people used this service HMRC Application since April 2025. People can download the app from: Google Play or Apple’s App Store.
Can I opt out of this digital service?
The first groups affected will be people who currently use the HMRC app, online Personal Tax Account (PTA) or Business Tax Account (BTA). HMRC has confirmed that anyone who prefers paper will not be forced to switch to digital services.
Posting on
The digital system may not be suitable for everyone and HMRC is allowing people the option to continue receiving physical mail. To opt out, do not provide or confirm your electronic contact details when asked by HMRC.
