New campaign 17 September 2026 · Simple Assessment
Bank and building society interest: HMRC says a Simple Assessment for 2025 to 2026 may be followed by a second one for the same year.
HMRC's Agent Update 147, for tax agents, was published on 17 September 2026. It says that from late September 2026 HMRC will start to issue P800 calculations or PA302 Simple Assessment notices for tax owed on bank and building society interest earned between April 2025 and April 2026. Someone who already had a Simple Assessment for 2025 to 2026 without that interest may get a second one.
Last reviewed 10 October 2026 · How Tax Letters checks its facts
- Who gets it
- People with tax owed on bank or building society interest earned between April 2025 and April 2026.
- How it arrives
- A P800 calculation or PA302 Simple Assessment notice, or a second Simple Assessment for the same year.
- HMRC's dates
- From late September 2026, as HMRC states it. The article gives no end date.
- Clock fixed by law?
- Yes: 60 days from the date of the letter to query a Simple Assessment (Taxes Management Act 1970, section 31AA(3); longer if HMRC allows).
What it asks
A Simple Assessment explains how much you owe and why. A second notice shows the total tax owed for the year, including the first notice's amount even if it has been paid; HMRC's article says to deduct anything already paid.
What to check
- Check the year: interest earned between April 2025 and April 2026, or a second Simple Assessment for the same year.
- Compare the figures: a second notice shows the total for the year.
- If you think it is wrong, HMRC says to call or write within 60 days from the date of the letter.
Does it match HMRC's description?
It matches HMRC's description if it is a Simple Assessment or P800 for bank or building society interest earned between April 2025 and April 2026 and explains how much is owed and why. This entry cannot check any one letter.
HMRC's own words
From late September 2026, HMRC will start to issue P800 tax calculations or PA302 Simple Assessment notices for any tax owed on bank and building society interest earned between April 2025 and April 2026.
GOV.UK: Agent update, issue 147, read 10 October 2026Some customers may have already received a Simple Assessment for the 2025 to 2026 tax year that did not include either their bank or building society interest. If HMRC subsequently receives information about interest, these customers may receive a second Simple Assessment notice for the same tax year which takes this into account.
GOV.UK: Agent update, issue 147, read 10 October 2026the second notice will show the total tax owed for the year. This includes the amount from the first notice even if it has been paid. To work out what they owe, your clients should deduct anything they have already paid from the amount in the second notice.
GOV.UK: Agent update, issue 147, read 10 October 2026If HMRC cannot collect this tax through PAYE, or the amount owed is more than £3,000, they will receive a Simple Assessment notice which will explain how much they owe and why.
GOV.UK: Agent update, issue 147, read 10 October 2026If they think their Simple Assessment is wrong, they must call or write within 60 days from the date of the letter to formally query the assessment.
GOV.UK: Agent update, issue 147, read 10 October 2026
- GOV.UK: Agent update, issue 147, read 10 October 2026
- GOV.UK: Agent update: issue 147 (publication page), read 10 October 2026
Checked against the sources above on the dates shown. Information, not advice.