HMRC Is Ditching Brown Envelopes Forever — Here’s What It REALLY Means for Taxpayers

The brown envelope is officially on the endangered list.

In a move that signals one of the biggest communication shake-ups in its history, HMRC has announced that from March 2026, taxpayers will no longer automatically receive paper letters through the post. Instead, individuals will receive email alerts directing them to new messages in their Personal Tax Account or HMRC app. This shift forms part of HMRC’s fast-advancing Digital by Default programme, which aims for 90% of all HMRC interactions to be online by the 2029–30 tax year.

What was once a distant aspiration is now accelerating — and faster than many expected. Paper will become the exception rather than the rule, with only those who are digitally excluded or who actively opt out continuing to receive traditional letters. The transition will begin in April 2026, gradually sweeping more communications into a digital-only system as time goes on.

For taxpayers, this is not just a change in format — it’s a change in responsibility. HMRC will place far greater weight on taxpayers checking their accounts regularly, yet email alerts can be missed or filtered as spam, notifications ignored and login details forgotten. With fewer physical reminders landing on doormats, the potential for missed deadlines or overlooked correspondence inevitably rises, and with missed deadlines come penalties, interest and disputes.

For advisers, the risks shift as well. There may be increased reliance on clients forwarding digital notices, a greater likelihood of clients missing important updates and a growing need for robust internal reminder systems. Advisers may also find themselves spending more time discussing why something wasn’t seen, read or acted upon. Digital transformation is undoubtedly positive, but unmanaged digital transformation runs the risk of becoming chaos.

At The Tax Faculty, we welcome modernisation, but our warning is that HMRC’s digital leap must not outpace taxpayer reality. Digital channels can improve speed and efficiency, but only if they are reliable, accessible and communicated clearly. The real challenge will be ensuring taxpayers are not left behind in a system that takes for granted that all people are digitally confident and that their inboxes are always working!

The brown envelope may be fading, but the need for clear communication has never been more important; this has to be a priority for HMRC.

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Winning such an award is no small feat. It is a reflection of hard work, extensive knowledge, and an ability to navigate the intricacies of the UK tax system.

Read more about Charles and the award here.

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