The government has introduced GOV.UK Chat, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot available on the Gov.uk App, designed to help users find information more quickly. 

What is the Chatbot for?

According to the government press release, GOV.UK Chat is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot designed for people to ask questions in plain language and receive instant, clear and ‘reliable’ answers drawn from official government information. The aim is to reduce demand for helpline services and speed up searches for information on the GOV.UK website.

Users of the AI chatbot will be able to get answers on a range of subjects, including tax.

How can it help?

The chatbot can reputedly answer a range of tax-related questions, including: 

• Understanding Income Tax
• Calculating Stamp Duty
• Planning for retirement and the State Pension

Since its soft launch in March 2026, thousands of users have already used the tool, with tax queries proving especially popular.

Can you trust it?

We’d recommend a good dose of scepticism when using GOV.UK Chat; while it might be useful, as with all AI, it has limits.

It’s important to understand that: 

• It only uses published GOV.UK guidance.
• It does not access HMRC manuals or deeper technical sources.
• It is mainly suited to basic queries.

This means it may not be reliable for more complex tax situations. As with any AI tool, accuracy is not guaranteed. Responses can be incomplete or occasionally incorrect. These ‘hallucinations’ can present wrong information as fact.

Our advice would be to treat GOV.UK Chat only as a starting point, not a final answer. 

To reduce risk:

• Use it to locate guidance, not replace advice.
• Read the full response, including caveats.
• Make sure your question includes all relevant details.

Our opinion…

GOV.UK Chat may be helpful for quick answers but it is definitely isn’t a substitute for professional advice. If you’re unsure, always check with us or your own accountant before acting on anything the Chatbot tells you. Your situation will be unique to you, and even ignoring the risk of hallucinations from GOV.UK, omitting one small point from the question you ask could make a big difference to the outcome.