More than 20,000 people in financial poverty got their tax problems sorted last year by a single charity that’s just been named the best not-for-profit in UK tax.
It picked up the 2025-2026 Tolley’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to Taxation by a Not-for-profit Organisation, as demand for free tax help in the UK in 2026 rises alongside major changes at HMRC.
The numbers that matter:
- TaxAid cut its clients’ tax liability by over £1.44 million in the past year, according to the charity.
- TaxAid and Tax Help for Older People completed their merger on 1 July 2025, now running as one organisation under the TaxAid name.
- More than 200,000 unrepresented taxpayers fall under Making Tax Digital for Income Tax from April 2026, according to HMRC figures cited by LITRG.
- HMRC has committed £5.5 million (£1.8m a year, 2024 to 2027) to voluntary sector partners helping vulnerable taxpayers.
Behind those numbers are people for whom a single tax problem can mean a penalty they can’t pay or a refund they don’t know they’re owed. For someone on a low income, free advice can be the difference between a manageable bill and a debt that spirals.
Why this award matters now
Tolley’s Taxation Awards are the tax profession’s best-known recognition. Winning the not-for-profit category puts TaxAid alongside past winners like LITRG and signals something simple: demand for free help is surging, and the people meeting it are stretched.
That’s the real story here.
The charity has reported a sharp rise in people seeking help over recent years. The Tax Help for Older People merger was designed to keep that lifeline intact.
Each charity used to serve a different group — working-age and self-employed people on one side, the over-60s on the other. They’re now one service.
The combined helpline is 0345 120 3779. It’s aimed at people on low incomes, generally under £28,000, or those whose personal circumstances make getting tax help difficult.
Free tax help UK 2026: who offers it
Free tax help in the UK in 2026 isn’t one service — it’s a patchwork, and knowing which door to knock on saves time. TaxAid covers tax bills and penalties, Self Assessment, late filing penalties, and tax returns for low-paid self-employment including CIS workers.
It doesn’t cover corporation tax, VAT, tax planning, tax credits, benefits or council tax.
LITRG, an initiative of the Chartered Institute of Taxation, takes a different role. It can’t advise individuals one-to-one, but LITRG free tax guidance online is widely trusted across the free tax advice UK landscape.
It launched a dedicated Making Tax Digital information hub in 2026 for unrepresented taxpayers — people without an accountant who now face quarterly digital reporting.
HMRC has stepped in on the education side too. Its free Tax Confident website, launched in March 2026, explains tax in plain terms around real-life situations. This HMRC Tax Confident website is currently aimed at pensioners and small business owners, with short videos and worked examples.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, said on the launch: “We know that tax can feel confusing at times, especially when you are not sure where to start. HMRC’s Tax Confident website is here to help people get to grips with the basics, covering everything from the tax essentials for new businesses to the need-to-knows for retirement. Tax Confident is designed to help you feel informed, capable and in control when it comes to managing your tax.”
There’s a catch worth flagging. Tax Confident is built around understanding compliance, not claiming reliefs or refunds. GOV.UK remains the place for detailed guidance.
Why 2026 makes this urgent
Several changes land together this year. Making Tax Digital for Income Tax went live in April 2026, pulling over 200,000 unrepresented taxpayers into quarterly digital reporting.
At the same time, HMRC is replacing many postal communications with digital notifications — a real risk for anyone digitally excluded who could miss an important notice.
Getting things wrong costs more now. Late payment interest runs at 8% a year. HMRC no longer automatically refunds PAYE overpayments, so taxpayers have to actively claim what they’re owed.
Frozen tax thresholds, held until 2031, are quietly dragging more pensioners and lower earners into tax or into higher-rate bands. Many won’t realise until a bill or a coding notice arrives. If you think any of this affects you, the practical steps below are where to start.
How to get free tax help
There’s no need to pay for advice if your situation is straightforward and money is tight. Knowing where to get free tax help is half the battle, and the right route depends on who you are and what’s gone wrong.
Steps to take now:
- Check whether you qualify for TaxAid — generally a low income (often under £28,000) or difficult personal circumstances. The TaxAid helpline number is 0345 120 3779.
- If you have a health condition, bereavement or other vulnerability, ask the standard HMRC helpline to transfer you to the HMRC Extra Support Team, who spend more time and join things up for you.
- For Making Tax Digital questions, read the free LITRG MTD hub before buying any software, so you know what’s actually required.
- Use the free GOV.UK “Check your Income Tax” tool or the HMRC app to check your tax code and claim a PAYE refund you may be owed.
- If tax debt is the problem, National Debtline on 0808 808 4000 gives free advice on Time to Pay arrangements.
Could you be owed a rebate?
Many people who could reclaim overpaid income tax don’t, because the refund no longer lands automatically. Pensioners on multiple income sources and people who’ve changed jobs mid-year are among those most likely to be sitting on money they could claim back.
The free routes above are the safest first stop, especially if your income is low.
HMRC values that voluntary sector role.
Angela MacDonald, HMRC’s Deputy Chief Executive and Second Permanent Secretary, said of the grant funding: “We know that customers really value the trusted tax advice they receive from our voluntary and community sector partners. The funding programme is an important part in our commitment to support our hardest to reach customers.”
Want to understand how the tax charities work before you call? This guide to what TaxAid does from Tax Rebate Services sets out the eligibility rules and the problems the charity can take on.
Key Takeaways
- TaxAid won the 2025-2026 Tolley’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to Taxation by a Not-for-profit Organisation.
- It helped over 20,000 people in poverty last year and cut their tax liability by more than £1.44 million, according to the charity.
- TaxAid and Tax Help for Older People merged on 1 July 2025; the combined helpline is 0345 120 3779.
- Free help also comes from LITRG’s online guidance, HMRC’s Tax Confident site and Extra Support Team, and National Debtline for tax debt.
- Making Tax Digital, digital-by-default contact and 8% late payment interest make free, trusted help more valuable in 2026.
