Hands outstretched together over a laptop, palms up, with a virtual globe appearing within the cupped hands
Call for Evidence: Business Systems Integration

Digitalisation is reshaping how businesses operate. Most businesses already use software and business bank accounts to manage finances and taxes, alongside other digital tools for sales and purchases, such as:

  • card machines 
  • Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) machines. 
  • e-commerce and booking platforms 
  • bank feeds
  • payment services providers 
  • Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems. 

Business systems integration simply means connecting these systems with accounting software so they “talk” to each other automatically. For example, instead of manually entering daily sales into accounting software, an integrated system can transfer the data automatically from an e-commerce platform or EPOS machine. This helps keep records up to date and accurate, saves time, cuts down on administrative work and the risk of human error, gives a clearer view of finances, and makes tax compliance easier.

What is the call for evidence about? 

HMRC and the Department for Business and Trade have launched a call for evidence, open until 4 June 2026, to understand how small and medium sized businesses use digital systems for record keeping. They want to know: 

  • how businesses currently keep records 
  • whether businesses have integrated any of their systems 
  • how much time businesses spend on record keeping, and whether integration helps 
  • what challenges businesses face when setting up or using integrated systems 
  • what would make integration easier and more useful

The call for evidence forms part of a broader government effort to boost economic growth, improve productivity, help businesses manage cashflow, and reduce errors in tax reporting. It is also informed by initiatives such as e-invoicing. The integrations in scope are those within a business’s own systems and do not involve data being shared with HMRC.

This is not about introducing new rules or requirements for businesses to integrate their systems. Instead, the aim is to gather feedback to help Government and industry develop better digital systems for businesses, particularly by improving the uptake and availability of integrations between the systems they already use.

Why should employers consider responding? 

The call for evidence aims to gather insight into practical experiences of digital record keeping and integrating software and/or business accounts, including:

  • how much time you spend on record keeping 
  • what software or systems you currently use to manage your finances and transactions 
  • whether you have integrated any of your systems, or considered doing so 
  • how easy or difficult you have found integration in practice 
  • whether your systems work well together 
  • any benefits you have seen, such as time savings or improved accuracy 
  • any challenges or barriers you have faced (for example cost, technical issues or lack of support) 
  • how confident you feel about integrating systems in the future 
  • what frustrates you about record keeping, and what would make things easier

By responding, you can help influence future support for businesses and highlight practical challenges that the Government and software developers might not otherwise be aware of. 

What is the ATT focussing on in its response?

As a professional body, the ATT will be responding to Questions 27 to 33 of the call for evidence.

These questions focus on:

  • behavioural factors that might discourage integration (e.g. concerns about complexity, change or data security) 
  • technical challenges (e.g. systems not being compatible or concerns about accuracy) 
  • financial barriers (e.g. cost of software or implementation) 
  • whether there are integrations that would benefit businesses that are not currently available 
  • what could be done to improve business systems integration for small businesses 
  • any other comments or experiences our members are contributors would like to share about integrating systems 

If you have experience, whether positive or negative, your insights can help shape the ATT’s response. Please send your comments by 15 May 2026 to: [email protected]

 

This article reflects the position at the date of publication. If you are reading this at a later date you are advised to check that that position has not changed in the time since.   

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