What To Expect From The Autumn Budget

Rishi Sunak is soon set to reveal his Autumn Budget, but with a 1.25% National Insurance hike having already been announced - the biggest rise in personal taxes in two decades - it's unclear yet whether further belt tightening will be imposed. The Chancellor is due to deliver his statement to Parliament from the Despatch Box on October 27, with the national debt now at its highest since 1963. In the past few weeks, the £20 a week Universal Credit lifeline has been revoked, furlough shut down and the National Insurance rise set to raise £12bn for social care and the NHS introduced. That's as well as country facing a ‘cost of living’ crisis, energy shortages - and inflation set to top 4% by the end of the year. Here’s what we might expect from the Budget:

Business Rates

Despite it having been scheduled to publish in the autumn, Mr Sunak is not expected to reveal the full recommendations from the fundamental review of business rates. But analysts, including those from Deloitte, expect to see details of a move to three-year revaluations from the current five.

Capital Gains Tax

Despite freezing capital gains tax until 2026, many expect Mr Sunak to hike the levy from its current £12,300 rate.

Incentives for Business

It's expected that further measures to help businesses grow - such as March's capital allowances super deduction - will be announced by the Chancellor this time around. According to BDO's Autumn Budget predictions, it is possible there will be more sector-based schemes announced in the Budget like the funding for 2,000 AI scholarships unveiled at the Conservative Party conference.

State pension

The Government has already confirmed the state pension 'triple lock' will be suspended for a year due to a skewed increase in average earnings during Covid. The triple lock guarantees that the state pension will increase every year by inflation, average wage earnings growth, or 2.5% (whichever is highest).

Energy price reform

Soaring energy prices are the biggest concern facing most households this winter – and are rapidly becoming one of the biggest problems the government needs to tackle too. With many families facing the choice between heating and eating after wholesale gas prices rose 250%, the Government may offer a lifeline.