Issue 1: Plain-English AI help and the November MTD deadline

Hello

Welcome to the very first SI Books, and thank you for signing up. Each week brings one quick thing to try, a step-by-step how-to and the UK dates worth knowing. This week: plain-English answers from Google, clearer client emails and Saturday's MTD deadline.

Clara Hayes, Editor of SI Books

Five-minute win

Google Search: get a plain-English explanation, with links

Go to google.com/ai to open AI Mode. In the "Ask anything" bar, type a question such as: "Explain the difference between cash and accrual accounting in plain English, with one simple example." Then open the links under the answer.

What to check: Google says AI Mode "doesn't always get it right", so confirm anything that matters on an official or professional body's website. Leave client names and figures out.

You'll need: a web browser. Google lists AI Mode as available in the UK.

Source: Google Search Help, checked 22 October 2026.

This week's how-to: let AI draft your document requests

Copilot in Outlook ("Draft with Copilot") and Gemini in Gmail ("Help me write") can both draft an email from a short instruction.

With year-end paperwork to chase, a clear first draft helps every client request read the same way.

In Outlook, start a new email, select the Copilot icon in the toolbar, then Draft (or "Draft with Copilot"). In Gmail, click Compose, then "Help me write".

Type a prompt with no client details, such as: "Write a short, friendly email asking a client to send their bank statements and receipts for [period] by [date], as a bulleted list."

Select Generate (Outlook) or Create (Gmail). Ask for a different tone or length if needed.

Keep the draft, then add names, dates and amounts.

What to check: read every line before sending. Google says "Help me write" can draw on your other emails and Drive files, so click Sources and check nothing from another client has slipped in. Follow your practice's client data policy.

Availability: Outlook needs Copilot in your Microsoft 365 plan. In the UK, Gmail's "Help me write" needs a Google AI plan or an eligible Workspace plan.

In short: AI writes the first draft; you add the facts and press Send.

Quick tips

Summarise a long document in Word: open Copilot in Word and ask for a summary of a long guidance note or engagement letter. Microsoft says it doesn't always cite later parts of a document, so read the sections on fees, scope and deadlines yourself.

Prompt of the week: in a tool your practice has approved, try: "Explain [term] to a small business owner in three short sentences, without jargon. Then list two questions they might ask me." Use no client names or figures.

Tool spotlight: JAX in Xero

What it does: Xero's AI companion. Open JAX from the navigation bar and ask, for example, "Show my gross profit trend for the past year". Answers can include charts and tables.

Status: available to all Xero subscribers and users, currently at no additional charge, says Xero (checked 22 October 2026).

Worth trying if: you or your clients use Xero.

Check first: JAX only shows what each user's Xero permissions allow, and Xero says your data isn't used to train its AI models. Check answers against the reports.

Editorial pick: not paid for.

Your UK rules this week: MTD quarter two is due on Saturday

📅 Coming up: Saturday 7 November: second MTD for Income Tax quarterly update for 2026/27 (ICAEW).

Updates are cumulative, so this one covers 6 April to 5 October 2026 (or 1 April to 30 September for calendar quarters) and replaces quarter one. If a client's first update, due 7 August, is still outstanding, ICAEW says send it as soon as possible. HMRC's agent dedicated line won't be open on deadline day, though webchat (8am to 4pm) and the Self Assessment helpline (9am to 3pm) will be, so call earlier in the week. If your software suggests categories, review them before you submit. Next: Self Assessment returns on 31 January 2027, then quarter three on 7 February 2027.

From the regulators

HMRC (GOV.UK), 16 October 2026: updated its "Use Making Tax Digital for Income Tax" guide, adding sections on what to do after you've sent an update and on changing your update period. Worth a read before Saturday.

ICO, 8 October 2026: opened a call for evidence on applying data protection law to agentic AI. It closes on 20 November 2026.

Sources

Google, "Get AI-powered responses with AI Mode in Google Search" (Google Search Help): https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/16011537

Microsoft, "Draft an email message with Copilot in Outlook": https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/outlook/copilot-pages/draft-an-email-message-with-copilot-in-outlook

Google, "Draft emails with Gemini in Gmail" (Gmail Help): https://support.google.com/mail/answer/13955415?hl=en-GB

Google, "Learn about Gemini features in Gmail" (availability by country): https://support.google.com/mail/answer/16831098

Microsoft, "Create a summary of your document with Copilot in Word": https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/word/copilot/create-a-summary-of-your-document-with-copilot-in-word

Xero UK, "JAX: your AI business companion" (including FAQs): https://www.xero.com/uk/ai-in-accounting/jax/

ICAEW Insights, "How to get help ahead of the next MTD deadline on 7 November", published 20 October 2026: https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2026/oct-2026/how-to-get-help-ahead-of-the-next-mtd-deadline-on-7-november

GOV.UK, "Use Making Tax Digital for Income Tax", updates log (amendments published 16 October 2026): https://www.gov.uk/guidance/use-making-tax-digital-for-income-tax/updates

ICO, "Agentic AI call for evidence", 8 October to 20 November 2026: https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/ico-and-stakeholder-consultations/2026/10/agentic-ai-call-for-evidence

All links checked on 22 October 2026. Re-check them in the week of sending.

Thanks for reading. Reply any time with questions, however basic.

Best wishes,

Clara Hayes, Editor of SI Books

sibooks.co/uk

Information only, not professional advice. Check current HMRC guidance, or a qualified adviser, before acting.