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Taxation (UK) · The overall function and purpose of taxation in a modern economy

ACCA TX-UK Examinable Documents and the Finance Act Examined

Updated 11 October 2026 · Fact-checked

The TX-UK examinable documents say which law and articles ACCA can test. For exams from 1 June 2026 to 31 March 2027 and in June 2027, the Finance Act 2025 is examined. ACCA also gives you the tax rates and allowances in the exam, plus recommended Student Accountant articles.

Understand Examinable Documents and Finance Act Examined

TX-UK tests UK tax law. UK tax law changes every year. So ACCA publishes a document that fixes exactly which law is examinable for each set of exam sessions. Without it, you could study rules that are out of date or not yet in force.

The rule is simple. Exams falling in the period 1 June to 31 March generally examine the Finance Act passed in the previous year. Exams from 1 June 2026 to 31 March 2027, and in June 2027, examine the Finance Act 2025. That Act received Royal Assent on 20 March 2025.

There is a second rule on future law. Where a provision in the Finance Act only takes effect at some date in the future, it will not normally be examined until it actually takes effect. The same applies to provisions of an Act introduced by statutory instrument, which are judged by their effective date.

ACCA also publishes tax rates and allowances, which are reproduced in the exam. They include income tax bands, corporation tax rates, capital gains tax rates, inheritance tax bands, capital allowances, car benefit percentages and pension limits. You do not need to memorise the figures, but you must know how to apply them. The exam also gives supplementary instructions: calculations need only be to the nearest £, apportionments are to the nearest month, and all workings must be shown in Section C.

Finally, the document lists relevant Student Accountant articles. Some are updated each year for changes in the Finance Act. Treat them as part of your reading list.

Key rules to remember

Finance Act examined
Exams 1 June 2026 to 31 March 2027 and June 2027 → Finance Act 2025
Royal Assent was on 20 March 2025. Exams from 1 June to 31 March generally examine the Finance Act passed in the previous year.
Future legislation rule
Not examined until it actually takes effect
This applies to Finance Act provisions with a future start date and to Act provisions brought in by statutory instrument.
Supplementary instructions
Nearest £; apportion to nearest month; show all workings in Section C
These are reproduced in the exam. Follow them in every calculation.
Corporation tax marginal relief
(Upper limit − augmented profits) × standard fraction × taxable total profits ÷ augmented profits
Given in the rates and allowances. Upper limit £250,000, standard fraction 3/200.

How to solve Examinable Documents and Finance Act Examined questions

Questions on this topic are usually quick checks of which law applies. Use this method.

  1. 1Identify the exam date or session in the question.
  2. 2Check it falls between 1 June 2026 and 31 March 2027, or is June 2027. If so, the Finance Act 2025 applies.
  3. 3Ask whether the rule is already in force. If it only starts in the future, it is not normally examined.
  4. 4Find the figure you need (rate, band, allowance) in the tax rates and allowances provided, instead of recalling it.
  5. 5Apply the supplementary instructions: round to the nearest £ and apportion to the nearest month.
  6. 6In Section C, show every working so you can earn marks even if a figure is wrong.

Quickest way: Date, Act, in force, table

When to use it: Use this for any short objective question on which law or document applies.

  1. Date: note the exam session.
  2. Act: June 2026 to March 2027 and June 2027 mean Finance Act 2025.
  3. In force: reject rules that only start in future.
  4. Table: take figures from the rates and allowances given.

Common mistakes in Examinable Documents and Finance Act Examined

  • Studying material for the wrong Finance Act.

    Old notes and videos cover earlier years.

    Fix: Check that your materials state Finance Act 2025 and match the June 2026 to June 2027 period.

  • Assuming a new rule is examinable because it was announced.

    News of budget changes is easy to confuse with law in force.

    Fix: Remember future provisions are not normally examined until they take effect.

  • Memorising every rate and allowance.

    Students fear forgetting figures.

    Fix: The rates and allowances are given in the exam. Practise using the tables instead.

  • Ignoring the supplementary instructions.

    They look like routine exam text.

    Fix: Round to the nearest £, apportion to the nearest month, and show all workings in Section C.

  • Skipping the Student Accountant articles.

    Students rely only on a textbook.

    Fix: Read the listed articles, especially those updated each year for the Finance Act, such as those on VAT, chargeable gains and inheritance tax.

Worked examples

Example 1

A student sits TX-UK in December 2026. Which Finance Act is examined, and why?

Show the solution
  1. December 2026 falls within 1 June 2026 to 31 March 2027.
  2. Exams in the period 1 June to 31 March generally examine the Finance Act passed in the previous year.
  3. For this period, ACCA states the Finance Act 2025 is examined.

Answer: The Finance Act 2025, which received Royal Assent on 20 March 2025.

Example 2

A provision in the Finance Act 2025 is due to take effect only in a future tax year after your exam. Is it likely to be examined? A company has taxable total profits of £100,000 and no other profits, so augmented profits are £100,000. Which figures from the tables would you use for corporation tax marginal relief?

Show the solution
  1. Future provisions are not normally examined until they actually take effect, so the provision is unlikely to be examined.
  2. For marginal relief, the formula is (upper limit − augmented profits) × standard fraction × taxable total profits ÷ augmented profits.
  3. Upper limit £250,000, so £250,000 − £100,000 = £150,000.
  4. Multiply by 3/200: £150,000 × 3/200 = £2,250.
  5. Taxable total profits ÷ augmented profits = 1, so relief is £2,250.
  6. Check: £100,000 × 25% = £25,000, less £2,250 = £22,750.

Answer: The provision is unlikely to be examined. Marginal relief in the second part is £2,250, giving corporation tax of £22,750 (assuming a 12-month period and no associated companies).

Exam tips

  • Know the date rule: June 2026 to March 2027 and June 2027 mean Finance Act 2025.
  • Use the tax rates and allowances given in the exam. Learn how to apply them, not the numbers.
  • Follow the supplementary instructions in every calculation, and show all workings in Section C.
  • Do not bring in announced but not yet effective rules.
  • Read the Student Accountant articles, including the examiner's articles on objective test questions and adjustment of profit questions.

Practice questions from The overall function and purpose of taxation in a modern economy

Examinable Documents and Finance Act Examined in other exams

The same ground in other exams, if you are preparing for more than one or want another angle on it.

Examinable Documents and Finance Act Examined: frequently asked questions

Which Finance Act is examined in ACCA TX-UK from June 2026 to June 2027?

The Finance Act 2025 is examined. This covers exams from 1 June 2026 to 31 March 2027 and in June 2027. The Act received Royal Assent on 20 March 2025.

Will future legislation be examined in TX-UK?

Not normally. Provisions with a future start date are not examined until they take effect. The same applies to Act provisions introduced by statutory instrument.

Do I need to memorise tax rates for TX-UK?

No. ACCA reproduces the tax rates and allowances in the exam. You still need to know how and when to use each one.

Which Student Accountant articles should I read for TX-UK?

ACCA lists articles including the Finance Act 2025, the examiner's approach to TX-UK, adjustment of profit questions, objective test questions, higher skills and guides to examiner's reports and reflection for retake students. Some articles are updated yearly, such as inheritance tax, chargeable gains, VAT, groups, benefits and cars.