Tax & Economic Crime Offences Update 2026

Introduction

Tax and economic crime enforcement continues to evolve rapidly. While the legal distinction between tax avoidance (lawful) and tax evasion (criminal) remains fundamental, recent legislative and enforcement developments have significantly expanded corporate exposure and accountability.

Since the introduction of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA), alongside earlier frameworks such as the Bribery Act 2010 and the Criminal Finances Act 2017, UK authorities have demonstrated a renewed focus on corporate responsibility and individual dishonesty in tax-related offences.

High-profile investigations and prosecutions - including the R v Ecclestone decision - underline HMRC’s increasingly assertive stance and the blurring line between civil tax disputes and criminal proceedings. Organisations must now review and adapt their compliance systems to meet higher expectations of transparency, governance, and prevention.

This webinar provides an update on the latest developments, case law, and enforcement trends shaping the UK’s tax and corporate crime landscape. It is intended for compliance, finance, and legal professionals seeking to ensure their organisations remain aligned with the current regulatory and enforcement environment.

What You Will Learn

This webinar will cover the following:

• Legislative and case law developments - recent statutory changes and judicial interpretations of dishonesty and attribution
• HMRC’s current enforcement approach - evolving strategies distinguishing avoidance, evasion, and fraud, with insights from R v Ecclestone and subsequent cases
• Expansion of ‘failure to prevent’ offences - practical implications of ECCTA 2023 s.199 and lessons from earlier Bribery Act and CFA enforcement
• Corporate attribution in practice - how liability is now being assessed under the senior manager test
• Enhancing compliance frameworks - updated best practices for prevention, detection, and reporting of tax and economic crime risks
• Future outlook - emerging themes and upcoming areas of reform for 2026 and beyond

This pre-recorded webinar will be available to view from Friday 16th January 2026

Alternatively, you can gain access to this webinar and 1,900+ others via the MBL Webinar Subscription. Please email webinarsubscription@mblseminars.com for more details.