A Hampshire accountancy firm has promoted a long-standing specialist as it gears up for an expected rise in tax-related enquiries from this April.

Chandler’s Ford-based HWB has made Lyndon Howes an Assistant Tax Compliance Manager, the latest step on an in-house career that began straight from college in 2011. The promotion comes as HMRC prepares to extend its Making Tax Digital (MTD) scheme to cover self-employed and private rental income from April 2026.

Southampton-born Lyndon, who was previously a Tax Senior, said the forthcoming MTD changes will impact individuals who are self-employed or rely on proceeds from private rent and have a qualifying income over £50,000.

Lyndon Howes commented:

“We anticipate quite a few clients will be affected. They will have to make sure they are registered for MTD and start reporting income on electronic quarterly returns with a final end-of-year submission after the fourth quarter. The aim of MTD is to give HMRC more of a real-time view of tax liability with those registered being required to use compatible software.”

Lyndon joined HWB straight from Southampton’s Taunton’s College, since renamed Richard Taunton Sixth Form College, and initially worked in both tax and payroll.

He is now a full-time member of the eleven-strong tax department which handles a variety of compliance and advisory activities for clients including individuals, trusts, partnerships and limited companies.

On his promotion, Lyndon said:

“It’s great news, lovely to be recognised and have the career progression. As always, I aim to play my part and help the team flourish.”

Lyndon reports to Tax Compliance Manager Martin Back, who said:

“Lyndon deserves the recognition for his hard work. He is an experienced tax professional and well-liked by our clients and team. Part of his new role will include responding to new client queries and helping to oversee the MTD for IT process, which I know he will do excellently.”

As well as Lyndon’s promotion, the team is celebrating career success for colleagues George Vass and Danny Hockin who have both passed recent exams set by the Association of Taxation Technicians. The pair are now progressing to achieve the coveted status of Chartered Tax Adviser, the UK’s highest tax qualification, via the Chartered Institute of Taxation.

Chartered accountants HWB, based at Chandler’s Ford, near Southampton, provides business and tax advice.

Photo: Members of HWB’s tax compliance team, from left: Lyndon Howes, George Vass and Danny Hockin.