Alcohol Duty Reform

IN March 2025 HMRC plan to launch a new digital service simplifying and modernising the Alcohol Duty approval, return, and payment processes for UK producers.

This delivers on HMRC’s commitment to offer greater digital options to give customers the digital experience they expect from a modern tax and customs authority. Using the digital service will make it simpler, quicker and easier to manage Alcohol Duty processes, across all types of alcoholic products subject to the duty. It will also help customers pay the Alcohol Duty they owe in full and on time, without needing to contact HMRC.

HMRC will share further details on the new digital service closer to its launch date, including details on how to access it.

What you need to do in the meantime
All customers need to continue to accurately account for Alcohol Duty. Before submitting an Alcohol Duty return, customers need to apply the new Alcohol Duty rates and check if they can take advantage of the two reliefs – which could reduce their tax bill.

More information
To find more information on Alcohol Duty, please read the guidance in English or in Welsh, or watch the recorded webinars on GOV‌‌‌.UK.

Small producers of alcoholic products can also use the Small Producer Relief calculator to help them work out how much duty they need to pay.