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We are pleased to announce the inaugural CenTax Residential Conference, to be held on 23– 24 April 2026 at the University of Warwick.
The conference will bring together tax professionals, think tanks, the civil service and academia for two days of discussion on the tax gap in the UK.
HMRC’s figures show a long-term reduction in the tax gap as a proportion of theoretical total tax liabilities. However, since 2018 the published tax gap has remained stuck at around 5% and represents over £45bn of lost revenue in 2023-24.
Our speakers and sessions will discuss closing that gap as well as broadening the scope of the debate about the tax gap by incorporating fresh angles and perspectives on this enduring topic. To do this we will draw on international experience and links beyond tax, alongside the latest insights from familiar experts in this field. Our full programme will be published in January.
Tickets will include on-site accommodation and meals at Warwick Conferences, with a lakeside drinks reception and conference dinner at the Slate restaurant. Located on the University of Warwick campus near Coventry, the venue is easily accessible from across the UK.
Key themes
The programme will address a series of questions central to understanding and closing the tax gap, reflecting on the roles of the tax authority, other government agencies, researchers and tax professionals, as well as taxpayers themselves.
We will start by examining what current tax gap estimates do, and do not, reveal about the nature and extent of non-compliance. This will provide a platform for focused discussions on key aspects of tax administration and enforcement, including:
- the administrative factors that shape compliance outcomes, such as HMRC’s capacity and service levels, reporting processes, and the role of other departments in supporting efforts to close the gap;
- how compliance challenges vary across different taxpayer groups, recognising that the drivers of non-compliance are not uniform; and
- the growing role of data and technology in tax compliance. As third-party data, digital reporting systems, and AI-enabled tools become increasingly important, the conference will examine how they affect risk identification and how taxpayers and agents interact with the system.
Programme highlights
Keynote sessions from leading decision makers in the UK government alongside innovative perspectives from abroad.
Plenary panel discussions, including:
- Where We Stand: The UK Tax Gap in 2026
- Breaking Down the 60%: Understanding SMEs, Micro-Businesses and the Hidden Economy
- Data, Digitalisation and Tax Compliance
- The Long Game – Building a Roadmap to Close the Tax Gap
Chatham House–style breakout sessions allowing in-depth roundtable discussions drawing on participants’ direct experience. Session topics will include conversations on regulating tax agents, HMRC’s capacity and service standards, and the contribution of other government agencies and third-party data to closing the tax gap.
How to book
Tickets will go on sale in January 2026, with an early-booking rate available for the first six weeks. To support balanced and diverse discussion, we will allocate ticket quotas across key categories of participant. We expect high demand from tax professionals in particular, so early booking is advised.
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