Closes Tonight: HMRC Third-Party Data Consultation Ends 20 August 2026

HMRC’s technical consultation “Draft legislation: Better use of new and improved third-party data” closes at 11:59pm on 20 August 2026. As of 20 August, respondents have only tonight left. The pack covers draft secondary legislation under Schedule 23 Finance Act 2026, draft schemas for interest income and card sales, and draft notices on due diligence and data-holder notification.

From 6 April 2028, in-scope data holders would provide data on an ongoing basis without a fresh HMRC notice, report to set frequencies, collect and verify customer tax references, make reasonable efforts to obtain missing data, and notify HMRC before reporting. Tonight’s close shapes the draft rules — it is not the go-live date.

Who should still respond before midnight

Banks, building societies and other financial institutions, merchant acquirers, payment facilitators, industry bodies, and advisers who support those firms should treat tonight as the last structured window to flag schema field problems, due-diligence friction, or unrealistic reporting timelines.

Sole traders and limited companies that take card payments or hold material bank interest are not the primary consultation audience, but they should understand what will feed HMRC’s matching engines from 2028 — unexplained gaps between merchant settlements, interest certificates, and declared income will be harder to shrug off later.

Closing-night checklist

Email final responses to thirdpartydata@hmrc.gov.uk before 11:59pm tonight, stating whether you respond as a business, individual, or representative body.

Reference concrete operational examples — monthly card-sales packs versus quarterly or annual interest packs — rather than general support or opposition.

Diary 6 April 2028 for programme planning if the rules land as drafted, and keep Finance Bill draft-clause work (closing 7 September) on a separate track.

After tonight, watch for HMRC’s response summary; do not assume silence means the draft is unchanged.

How FinnAccountings helps SMEs watching the data shift

Clean sales and interest books make third-party matching less painful once richer feeds arrive. FinnAccountings helps Ireland and UK sole traders and limited companies prepare bookkeeping and tax packs with Chartered Accountant insight before you or your ICAEW/ACCA or Chartered Accountant (Ireland) adviser files. We prepare review-ready drafts — we do not file consultation responses or HMRC data-gathering returns for you.

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Related reading

After midnight, use the April 2028 prep playbook for SMEs and data holders.

After tonight’s close: prep toward April 2028 →

Yesterday’s final-day briefing still holds the fuller policy narrative for last-minute responders.

Third-party data: final day to 20 August →

After tonight, keep Finance Bill draft-clause themes on the September runway.

Finance Bill draft clauses: 18 days to 7 September →