As expected, the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, resisted pressure to reduce taxes in any significant way, and the majority of his announced changes were already in the public domain. According to the Chancellor, the UK economy is on track to grow in the coming year with inflation halving.

We have listed any new variations in the UK tax rates, allowances, reliefs and other matters of interest in the update set out below.

Impact on personal finances

Increase in pensions’ tax support
The present £40,000 cap on annual pension contributions that qualify for Income Tax relief is being increased to £60,000 from 6 April 2023.

The present Lifetime Allowance is being abolished.

Both of these changes are intended to incentivise older employees to continue in work whilst continuing to build additional pension savings.

In addition, the Money Purchase Annual Allowance will increase from £4,000 to £10,000 and the minimum Tapered Annual Allowance will increase from £4,000 to £10,000 from 6 April 2023. 

The adjusted income threshold for the Tapered Annual Allowance will also be increased from £240,000 to £260,000 from 6 April 2023.

Childcare support increased 
Childcare support in England is being expanded to include children over the age of 9 months. The announcement confirmed 30-hours of free childcare for every child over the age of 9 months, with support being phased in until every single eligible working parent of under 5s gets this support from September 2025.

The changes will be introduced in phases, with 15-hours of free childcare for working parents of 2-year-olds coming into effect in April 2024 and 15 hours of free childcare for working parents of children from 9 months from September 2024.

Parents receiving Universal Credits as well as being in employment will receive financial support to include upfront payment of childcare costs. The maximum they can claim will also be boosted to £951 for one child and £.1,630 for two children – an increase of around 50%

Extension of Energy Price Guarantee
It was announced that the Energy Price Guarantee cap of £2,500 would be extended for the next three months until 30 June 2023. From 1 July 2023 (rather than 1 April 2023 as previously announced), this guarantee will change so that the typical household will pay on average £3,000 a year (an increase of £500). 

Also, from 1 July 2023, the government will adjust the Energy Price Guarantee premium that over 4 million households pay for their prepayment meter. This will bring their charges into line with comparable customers who pay by direct debit.

Duties on fuel frozen
The proposed 11p rise in fuel duty will be cancelled thus maintaining last year’s 5p cut for another 12-months.

Draught Relief
Draught Relief has also been significantly extended from 5% to 9.2%, so that the duty on an average draught pint of beer served in a pub, from 1 August 2023, will be up to 11 pence lower than the duty in supermarkets. The commitment to duty on a pub pint being lower than the supermarket has been termed the “Brexit Pubs Guarantee” by the Chancellor, and this change will also be enjoyed by every pub in Northern Ireland thanks to the Windsor Framework.

Access to employment reforms
Major set of reforms to support people into work, removing barriers that stop those on benefits, older workers, and those with health conditions who want to work.

Impact on UK businesses

Full expensing
The major announcement affecting business investment, and to reduce the impact of the forthcoming increase in Corporation Tax from April 2023, is the ability of companies to “fully expense” the purchase of qualifying plant and other equipment. 

This will include spending on, but is not limited to, warehousing equipment such as forklift trucks, tools such as ladders and drills, construction equipment such as bulldozers and excavators, machines such as computers and printers, vehicles such as tractors, lorries and vans, office equipment such as chairs and desks, and some fixtures such as kitchen and bathroom fittings and fire alarm systems.
Effectively, qualifying purchases can be written off completely against company taxable profits.

The ‘full expensing’ policy will be introduced from 1 April 2023 until 31 March 2026.

The 50% First Year Allowance (FYA)
This current allowance lets taxpayers deduct 50% of the cost of other plant and machinery, known as special rate assets, from their profits during the year of purchase. This includes long life assets such as solar panels and thermal insulation on buildings.

The 50% FYA was introduced alongside the super-deduction and was due to end on 31 March 2023. It will now be extended by three years to 31 March 2026. For each year following the first year, 6% of the remaining cost will be written off via Writing Down Allowances (WDAs).

The 50% FYA allows for faster relief than under the default WDAs-only regime, which is worth 6% each year, including year one.

As part of his commitment to maintain a stable economy, the Chancellor’s long-term ambition is to make the 50% FYA permanent.

Simplifying tax system
Changes to simplify the tax system of the UK were underlined by a number of changes to positively impact the lives of small business owners. They are:

• Changes to the Enterprise Management Incentives (EMI) scheme from April 2023 to simplify the process to grant options and reduce the administrative burden on participating companies. This includes, from 6 April 2023, removing requirements to sign a working time declaration and setting out details of share restrictions in option agreements.
• Delivery of IT systems to enable tax agents to payroll benefits in kind on behalf of their clients – allowing agents to better support their clients and reducing burdens on employers.
• The government will extend the Help to Save scheme by 18-months, on its current terms, until April 2025. A consultation will also be launched on longer terms options for the scheme. 
• Measures to simplify the customs import and export processes, including improvements to the Simplified Customs Declaration Process, and the Modernising Authorisations project.

R&D tax credits
A £500 million per year package of support for 20,000 research and development (R&D) intensive businesses through changes to R&D tax credits was announced. In full, the Chancellor’s announced changes in this important area are:

• The scheme is targeted specifically at loss making R&D intensive SMEs. Focusing support towards those most impacted by the rate changes introduced at Autumn Statement 2022.
• A company is considered R&D intensive where its qualifying R&D expenditure is worth 40% or more of its total expenditure.
• Eligible loss-making companies will be able to claim £27 from HMRC for every £100 of R&D investment, instead of £18.60 for non-R&D intensive loss makers.
• Around 1,000 claiming companies will come from the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry. This will support the development of life saving medicines.
• Around 4,000 digital SMEs will be from the computer programming, consultancy, and related activities sector. This will support the development of AI, machine learning and other digital based technologies.
• Around 3,000 other manufacturing firms, and another 3,000 professional, scientific, and technical activities firms will also qualify for the enhanced support.
• This builds on previously announced changes to support modern research methods by expanding the scope of qualifying expenditure for R&D reliefs to include data & cloud computing costs.
• The permanent increase from 13% to 20% for the R&D Expenditure Credit rate announced at Autumn Statement 2022 also means the UK now has the joint highest uncapped headline rate of tax relief in the G7 for large companies.

Creative sector tax concessions
Newly announced reforms to tax reliefs for the creative sectors will ensure theatres, orchestras, museums and galleries are protected against ongoing economic pressures and will continue to guarantee that more world-class productions are made in the UK.

UK AI research support
£900 million of funding was committed for an AI Research Resource and an exascale computer – making the UK one of only a handful of countries to have one – and a commitment to £2.5 billion ten-year quantum research and innovation programme through the government’s new Quantum Strategy.

Levelling up
The following measures were announced to help level-up growth across the UK:

• Greater responsibility for local leaders to grow their local economy.
• Over £200 million for high quality local regeneration projects in areas of need, from the transformation of Ashington Town Centre to a skills and education campus in Blackburn.
• Over £400 million for new Levelling Up Partnerships for twenty areas in England, such as Rochdale and Mansfield.
• Business rates retention expanded to more areas in the next Parliament.
• Delivering trailblazer devolution deals for the West Midlands and Greater Manchester Combined Authorities that include single multi-year settlements for the next Spending Review, alongside a commitment to negotiate further devolution deals in England.
• 12 Investment Zones across the UK including 4 across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• £8.8 billion over the next five-year funding period for a second round of the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements.

Many of the Budget decisions on tax and spending apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. As a result of decisions that do not apply UK-wide, the Scottish Government will receive around an additional £320 million over 2023-24 and 2024-25, the Welsh Government will receive £180 million, and the Northern Ireland Executive will receive £130 million.

Previously agreed changes effective from April 2023
Changes to personal or business finances (from April 2023) that were agreed or announced prior to the Budget presentation by Jeremy Hunt on 15 March are listed below:

• £900 Cost of Living Payment for households on means-tested benefits in 2023-24
• £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment in 2023-24
• £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment in 2023-24
• Business Rates: freezing the multiplier in 2023-24 
• Business Rates: 75% relief for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure sectors in 2023-24, up to £110,000 cash cap
• Business Rates: three-year transitional relief to limit bill increases at the revaluation
• Business Rates: three-year supporting small businesses scheme for properties losing Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rates Relief
• Business Rates: delay improvement relief by one year to April 2024
• Business Rates: relief for property improvements from 2024-25
• Income Tax and National Insurance: maintain thresholds at 2023-24 levels until April 2028
• Inheritance Tax: maintain thresholds at current level until April 2028
• Income Tax: reduce the dividend allowance from £2,000 to £1,000 from April 2023 and then £500 from April 2024
• Income Tax: reduce the additional rate threshold from £150,000 to £125,140 from April 2023
• Capital Gains Tax: reduce the annual exempt amount from £12,300 to £6,000 from April 2023 then £3,000 from April 2024
• Vehicle Excise Duty: equalise treatment of electric and internal combustion engine vehicles from April 2025
• National Insurance: maintain the secondary threshold for employer contributions at current level from April 2023 until April 2028
• R&D tax reliefs: rebalance generosity of reliefs from 1 April 2023
• VAT: maintain registration threshold at current level, £85,000 to 31 March 2026
• Van benefit charge: uprate with CPI in 2023-24
• Car fuel benefit charge: uprate with CPI in 2023-24
• First Year Allowance for electric vehicle charge points: extend for a further two years until April 2025
• Pension Credit: uprate Standard Minimum Guarantee by CPI in 2023-24
• Benefit cap levels: uprate by CPI in 2023-24
• Capital Gains Tax: extend the period for no gain/no loss transfers to three years for couples that separate or divorce
• Annual Investment Allowance: permanently set at £1m from April 2023
• Income Tax: basis periods reform for the self-employed from April 2024 with transition year in 2023-24
• Corporation Tax: 19% rate for profits up to £50,000, tapering to main rate of 25% for profits over £250,000, from April 2023

OUR SUMMARY

One thing is for sure, our tax code and the supporting business regulations are becoming more complex in spite of the promoted changes towards simplifying matters. 

We encourage readers who are concerned or interested in more information on any of the announcements described in this short update, to pick up the phone to discuss how you may be affected.

The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has delivered his Spring Statement to the House of Commons against a backdrop of a growing cost of living crisis. The Chancellor also stressed that, apart from the untold human suffering, the Russian invasion of Ukraine is creating further uncertainty in the domestic and global economy, particularly in relation to energy markets and the food supply-chain.

On the morning of the Spring Statement, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) announced that the rate of Consumer Price Index inflation increased to 6.2% in February putting further pressure on the Chancellor to act. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) also expects average inflation to rise to 7.4% this year.

We have highlighted below the main tax measures that were announced:

National Insurance contributions (NICs)

The Chancellor did not remove the 1.25% increase in NICs due to come into effect from this April to help fund the NHS and Social Care. However, he did try to soften the blow by announcing a significant increase in the National Insurance Threshold from £9,880 to £12,570. This increase will see the alignment of the Primary Threshold (PT) for Class 1 NICs and Lower Profits Limit (LPL) for Class 4 NICs with the personal allowance of £12,570 from 6 July 2022. It has also been confirmed that the thresholds will remain aligned going forward. According to government figures this means that around 70% of employees will pay less NICs, even accounting for the introduction of the Health and Social Care Levy.

The PT and LPL will be £9,880 (as previously announced) from 6 April 2022 – 5 July 2022. It is unusual for tax rates to change during a tax year, but the Chancellor was facing pressure to make changes and the short period before the new tax year starts left him with no choice but to delay the increase for 3 months. July is the earliest date that will allow all payroll software developers and employers to update their systems and implement the necessary changes. This means the LPL will be £11,908 for the 2022-23 tax year which is equivalent to 13 weeks of the threshold at £9,880 and 39 weeks at £12,570.

Reducing Class 2 NICs payments for low earners

From April 2022, the self-employed will see Class 2 NICs liabilities reduced to nil on profits between the Small Profits Threshold (SPT) and LPL. This will ensure that no one earning between the SPT and LPL will pay any Class 2 NICs, while allowing individuals to be able to continue to build up National Insurance credits. This change represents a tax cut for around 500,000 self-employed people worth up to £165 per year.

Employment Allowance

In his speech, the Chancellor confirmed that the government would increase the Employment Allowance by £1,000 to £5,000 from April 2022. This represents a tax boost for around 495,000 small businesses who can claim an increased reduction in their NIC liabilities or even reduce their bills to zero.

In total, this means that from April 2022, 670,000 businesses will not pay NICs and the Health and Social Care Levy due to the Employment Allowance. The Employment Allowance is only available to employers with employer NIC liabilities of under £100,000 in the previous tax year. Connected employers or those with multiple PAYE schemes will have their contributions aggregated to assess eligibility for the allowance. 

Fuel duty cut

The Chancellor announced a temporary UK-wide 5p per litre cut in fuel duty on petrol and diesel from 6pm on 23 March 2022 for 12 months. This is a saving worth around £100 for the average car driver, £200 for the average van driver, and £1500 for the average haulier in the coming year. This represents total savings for households and businesses worth around £2.4 billion in 2022-23 and is only the second cut in fuel duty over the last 20 years.

VAT

The government will expand the scope of VAT relief available for energy saving materials (ESMs) by reducing VAT from 5% to 0% from 1 April 2022 until 31 March 2027. This will ensure that households having energy saving materials installed like solar panels, heat pumps, or insulation will pay no VAT.

The government will also include additional technologies and remove the complex eligibility conditions, reversing a Court of Justice of the European Union ruling that unnecessarily restricted the application of the relief. A typical family having roof top solar panels installed will save more than £1,000 in total on installation, and then £300 annually on their energy bills. 

The VAT rate cannot immediately be reduced to 0% in Northern Ireland due to the Northern Ireland Protocol. However, the Northern Ireland Executive will receive a Barnett share of the value of the relief until it can be introduced UK-wide.

Household Support Fund

The government launched a £500 million package of support for vulnerable households in October 2021. The Household Support Fund is used to help support millions of vulnerable households in England and monies is distributed by councils. This means that local councils can use the funding to provide discretionary support to vulnerable households. This could include using small grants to meet daily needs such as food, clothing, and utilities. 

The Chancellor announced as part of his Spring Statement measures that the government will provide an additional £500 million for the Household Support Fund from April 2022. The Barnett formula will apply in the usual way to additional funding for the devolved administrations.

R&D tax relief reform

It has been confirmed that from April 2023, all cloud computing costs associated with R&D, including storage, will qualify for relief. This change will boost sectors where the UK is a world-leader, including AI, robotics, manufacturing, and design. Further changes to the relief may also be announced as part of the Budget later this year.

Income Tax basic rate

Whilst no immediate changes were announced, the Chancellor confirmed that the government will reduce the basic rate of Income Tax to 19% from April 2024.

This will apply to the basic rate of non-savings, non-dividend income for taxpayers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and to the savings basic rate which applies to savings income for taxpayers across the UK. 

The reduction in the basic rate for non-savings-non-dividend income will not apply for Scottish taxpayers because the power to set these rates is devolved to the Scottish Government. However, the Scottish government will receive additional funding which they can use as they see fit, including on reducing Income Tax or other taxes, or increased spending.

As with the Spring Budget 2021, much of the detail for the Autumn Budget had been leaked to the press prior to the official report to parliament, 27th October 2021. 

But we now have all the details and, as usual, there is much to consider. The following Budget summary is split into two sections:

1. Taxation changes
2. Other announcements

Please call if you need to discuss how these changes may affect your business or tax affairs in the coming months.

Taxation changes

Income Tax 2022-23 to 2025-26

No increase in rates and the higher rate threshold is frozen at £37,700 through to April 2026. For the same period, the personal tax allowance is also frozen at £12,570 (£12,570 2021-22) and will apply to all regions of the UK.

In what many commentators consider to be a “stealth tax”, wage earners benefitting from annual increases in their earnings up to April 2026 will find themselves paying tax on the full value of any increases. This is because, with personal allowances and the higher rate thresholds frozen until April 2026, any increases in earnings will be taxed and, in some cases, this may push earnings into the higher rate tax bands.

Regional variations to Income Tax rates may apply in Wales and Scotland.

Income Tax and dividend income

The current £2,000 dividend tax-free allowance is unchanged.

As announced 7 September 2021, the tax rates payable on dividend income will increase in line with the 1.25% increase in certain NIC contributions. The rates that will apply in all regions of the UK from 6 April 2022 are:

• Dividends that form part of the basic rate band – 8.75% (7.5% 2021-22)
• Dividends that form part of the higher rate band – 33.75% (32.5% 2021-22)
• Dividends that form part of the additional rate band – 39.35% (38.1% 2021-22)

Starting rate for savings

The band of savings income that is subject to the 0% starting rate will remain at £5,000 for 2022-23.

Reform of Basis Periods for self-employed and partners

The basis on which profits are taxed in a tax year are to be changed from the account’s year ending in a tax year to the actual profits arising in a tax year. Self-employed sole traders and partners who already have a year end at the end of the tax year will experience no change in their basis of taxation. 

For affected traders with year ends other than the end of March or 5 April, there will be a transition to an actual basis during 2023-24 and the new rules will come into force from 6 April 2024.

The reform will include greater flexibility on the use of overlap relief in the transition year and provisions to reduce the impact of transition profits on allowances and profits.

National Insurance

Boris Johnson announced – earlier this year – a 1.25% increase in certain NIC contributions from April 2022. This is ring-fenced to provide funding for health and social care. From April 2023, this NIC increase will be withdrawn and replaced by a new Health and Social Care Levy at the same rate.

The government will use the September Consumer Prices Index figure of 3.1% as the basis for uprating National Insurance limits and thresholds, and the rates of Class 2 and 3 National Insurance contributions, for 2022-23.

This excludes the Upper Earnings Limit and Upper Profits Limit which will be maintained at 2021-22 levels, in line with the higher rate threshold for Income Tax.

Lifetime Allowance for pension pots

From April 2021 to April 2026 the pensions lifetime allowance will remain frozen at £1,073,100.

Capital Gains Tax

Any attempt to align CGT rates with Income Tax rates seems to be off the table for the time being. Apart from anti-avoidance changes, there are two changes worth mentioning:

• Capping the annual exempt amount. This was fixed at £12,300 from April 2021 to April 2026 for individuals, personal representatives, and some types of trusts for disabled people; and £6,150 for trustees of most settlements, and
• The deadline for reporting chargeable residential property sales – not a main residence, this covers sales of second homes or buy-to-let properties – is increased from 30 days to 60 days. This change applies to disposals that complete on or after 27 October 2021. 

The second change is welcomed as the 30 days reporting window was a tight reporting timeline in which to gather all the relevant data to make a submission to HMRC and to pay any taxes due.

Corporation Tax

No change in Corporation Tax rates until April 2023. For the financial year beginning 1 April 2022, the rate will remain at 19%.

As announced earlier this year, from 1 April 2023, there will be two rates of CT.

• Taxable profits up £50,000 will continue to be taxed at 19%
• Taxable profits more than £250,000 will be taxed at 25%
• Profits between £50,000 and £250,000 will be subject to a marginal tapering relief. This would be reduced for the number of associated companies and for short accounting periods.

Corporation Tax and banking companies

From 1 April 2023, the rate of surcharge on banking companies will be 3% and the surcharge allowance increased from £25m to £100m.

Corporate Tax – R&D Relief

R&D tax reliefs will be reformed to support modern research methods by expanding qualifying expenditure to include data and cloud costs. This will effectively capture the benefits of R&D funded by the reliefs through refocusing support towards innovation in the UK, and target abuse and improve compliance. These changes will be legislated for in Finance Bill 2022-23 and take effect from April 2023.

Museums and Galleries Exhibition Tax Relief

The sunset clause in this relief is extended for a further two years until 31 March 2024.

Cultural Relief changes

Theatre Tax Relief and Museums and Galleries Tax Relief

Rates will increase from 20% (for non-touring productions) and 25% (for touring productions) to 45% and 50% respectively from 27 October 2021.

From 1 April 2023, the rates will fall to 30% and 35%, with a return to 20% and 25% on 1 April 2024. As mentioned above, the Museums and Galleries Tax Relief will expire after 31 March 2024.

Orchestra Tax Relief

From 27 October 2021, the relief will increase from 25% to 50%, reducing to 35% from 1 April 2023, and returning to 25% from 1 April 2024.

Reliefs for investments in qualifying assets

Super-deduction

The temporary “Super-deduction” and a 50% first year allowance – that were introduced April 2021 – will continue to apply to qualifying expenditure up to 31 March 2023. 

The super-deduction allows businesses to remove 130% of qualifying expenditure as a deduction from taxable profits.

Annual Investment Allowance

The existing Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) was due to reduce to £200,000 (from the present £1m) from 1 January 2022. This date has been changed. The £1m of AIA relief will now revert to £200,000 from 1 April 2023.

Business owners thinking about high-value investments in qualifying assets will now have more time to consider their timing of capital acquisitions.

Reform of loss relief rules for Corporation Tax

The government will legislate in the Finance Bill 2021-22 to amend the loss relief rules to ensure that the legislation continues to work as intended for companies adopting International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 16. The changes will have retrospective effect from 1 January 2019. 

Van and car benefit changes

This measure increases the van benefit charge and the car and van fuel benefit charges by the Consumer Price Index from 6 April 2022. The flat-rate van benefit charge will increase to £3,600; the multiplier for the car fuel benefit will increase to £25,300; and the flat-rate van fuel benefit charge will increase to £688.

Inheritance Tax

No changes to present rates and allowances. These are all frozen at current levels until April 2026.

This means the nil-rate band will continue to be £325,000 and the residence nil-rate band at £175,000, for this period. 

VAT

There will be no changes to the 20% rate. The £85,000 registration limit and the £83,000 deregistration limit will remain at these levels until 31 March 2024.

The temporary reduced rate of 5% for hospitality, holiday accommodation and attractions was increased to 12.5% from 1 October 2021. This rate will remain until 31 March 2022 when it will revert to 20%. This acknowledges the disruption and financial hardship suffered by this sector during the COVID pandemic.

VAT rules in Freeports

From 3 November 2021, the government will introduce new elements into the VAT free zone model for Freeports.  They are:

• implement a free zone exit charge to ensure businesses do not gain an unintended tax advantage from the zero-rate in the free zone model,
• make amendments to existing VAT law to ensure free zone rules and warehousing rules are mutually exclusive,
• amend some parts of historic free zone legislation which are incompatible with the new free zone VAT rules.

Other announcements

Increasing the normal minimum pension age

The earliest age at which pension savers can access their pensions without incurring an unauthorised payments tax charge is changing.

From 6 April 2028, the normal minimum pension age is increasing from 55 to 57.

Universal Credits

To compensate for the recent withdrawal of the £20 a week UC payment, the government is to decrease the amount it reduces UC payments when a claimant works more hours. Presently, for every £1 earned UC payments decrease by 63p. From 1 December 2021 at the latest, this will be lowered to 55p for every £1 earned.

Duties and Miscellaneous taxes 

• Tobacco Duty will be increased by agreed rates above the Retail Prices Index (RPI) from 6pm on 27 October 2021.
• Alcohol duty rates will be frozen.
• Landfill Tax will increase in line with RPI increases. The increase will be effective from April 2022.
• Aggregates Levy – the government will freeze the Levy rates in 2022-23. 
• Gaming Duty will increase in line with RPI changes. The increase will be effective from April 2022.
• VED rates for cars, vans and motorcycles will increase in line with RPI changes. Change will be effective from April 2022.
• VED rates for HGVs. The government will continue to freeze HGV VED for 2022-23. It will also suspend the HGV Levy for a further year from 1 August 2022.
• Fuel Duty rates for 2022-23 will remain frozen.
• Air Passenger Duty rates for flights within the UK will be reduced from April 2023 when new bandings are introduced. Rates for short and long-haul flights will increase in line with the RPI and a new ultra-long-haul band will be introduced.

ISA investment limits for 2022-23

The limits set for 2022-23 are:

• Adult ISAs the limit remains at £20,000
• Junior ISA limit remains at £9,000
• Child Trust Funds remain unchanged at £9,000

National Living Wage increases

The NLW will increase to £9.50 per hour (previously £8.91) from 1 April 2022.

The full changes to the National Minimum Wage rates from 1 April 2022 are as follows:

• The 21 to 22 year-old rate will be £9.18 per hour
• The 18 to 20 year-old rate will be £6.83 per hour
• The 16 to 17 year-old rate will be £4.81 per hour
• The apprentice rate will be £4.81 per hour

More has been disclosed, leaked, of this year’s Budget announcements than in previous years. But we now have the details and there is a lot to consider. The following Budget summary is split into four sections:

1. COVID-19 related support measures for UK businesses
2. Support for the UK housing market
3. Taxation changes
4. Other announcements

Please call if you need to discuss how these changes may affect your business or tax affairs in the coming months.

COVID-19 related support measures for UK businesses

The Treasury is to continue the two existing major support schemes in an attempt to hold back a significant increase in unemployment rates as business owners grapple with the effects of COVID-19 disruption. Details are set out below.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme 

This scheme, nicknamed the Furlough Scheme, was due to end 30 April 2021. It is now being extended to 30 September 2021.

The judgement must be that there will be enough control over COVID by autumn 2021 to stimulate demand and give employers more confidence to retain staff. The Chancellor has obviously crunched the numbers and considers employment support in this way a more attractive strategy than increasing unemployment costs.

In more detail:

• For employees, there will be no change to the terms – they will continue to receive up to 80% of their salary, for hours not worked, until the scheme ends.
• Employers will be asked to contribute 10% towards wages for hours not worked from July 2021, rising to 20% in August and September 2021.

Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS)

There has been much criticism of this scheme as it has not been possible for self-employed businesses that commenced trading during 2019-20 to claim.

To counter this, the following changes to SEISS have been announced.

1. All qualifying self-employed businesses can continue to claim SEISS grants if they continue to be adversely affected by COVID lockdown measures. The present scheme was due to end 30 April 2021. This has now been extended to 30 September 2021.
2. Businesses previously excluded from claims because they commenced during the 2019-20 tax year will now be eligible to claim the fourth and fifth SEISS grants as long as their tax return for 2019-20 was filed by midnight 2 March 2021.
3. For the fifth grant claims can be made from July 2021. Self-employed persons whose turnover has fallen by more than 30% will continue to qualify for the 80% grant. Those with decreases in turnover of less than 30% will be restricted to a 30% claim.

Restart grants

£5bn of funding is being allocated for these grants. They will support businesses obliged to close during much of lockdown. The grants will consist of:

• A one-off grant of up to £18,000 for hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym businesses in England. 
• Non-essential retail that have tended to open first, can apply for a one-off £6,000 grant.

Business rates holiday continued

This year, government will continue with the 100% business rates holiday for the first three months of the 2021-22 financial year, in other words, through to the end of June 2021 for the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors.

For the remaining nine months of the year, to 31 March 2022, business rates will still be discounted by two thirds, up to a value of £2 million for closed businesses, with a lower cap for those who have been able to stay open.

Exemption for COVID-19 related home office expenses

The temporary Income Tax exemption and Class 1 National Insurance Contributions disregard for employer reimbursed expenses that cover the cost of relevant home office equipment is extended and will have effect until 5 April 2022.

Exemption for reimbursement of antigen test costs

The government will legislate in Finance Bill 2021 to introduce a retrospective Income Tax exemption for payments that an employer makes to an employee to reimburse for the cost of a relevant coronavirus antigen test for the tax year 2020-21.

A new Recovery Loan Scheme

The Recovery Loan Scheme ensures businesses of any size can continue to access loans and other kinds of finance between £25,000 and up to £10 million per business once the existing COVID-19 loan schemes close. This will provide further support as businesses recover and grow following the disruption of the pandemic and the end of the transition period.

Once received, the finance can be used for any legitimate business purpose, including growth and investment.

The government guarantees 80% of the finance to the lender to ensure they continue to have the confidence to lend to businesses.

The scheme launches on 6 April 2021 and is open until 31 December 2021, subject to review. Loans will be available through a network of accredited lenders.

Reduced rate of VAT

The temporary reduced rate of 5% for hospitality, holiday accommodation and attractions will be extended until 30 September 2021. This is a welcome bonus for this sector badly affected by COVID lockdown restrictions.

This will be followed by the introduction of a new reduced rate of 12.5% from 1 October 2021 that will be in effect until 31 March 2022 at which point it will revert to the 20% standard rate.

Other support measures

Other measures outlined in the Budget include:

• Extension of the apprenticeship hiring incentive in England to September 2021 and an increase of payment to £3,000.
• £7 million for a new “flexi-job” apprenticeship programme in England, that will enable apprentices to work with a number of employers in one sector.
• Additional £126 million for 40,000 more traineeships in England, funding high quality work placements and training for 16-24 year olds in 2021-22 academic year.

Support for the UK housing market

Support will include a mortgage guarantee scheme that will help home buyers purchase properties up to £600,000, and an extension to the existing stamp duty holiday that was due to end 31 March 2021.

The detail:

Mortgage guarantee scheme

The government will underwrite 95% of the risk of default. It will apply to home acquisitions up to £600,000 and set deposits required to 5%.

Stamp duty holiday

The present £500,000 threshold for paying Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) was increased on a temporary basis and was due to end 31 March 2021. 

The nil rate band will continue to be £500,000 for the period 8 July 2020 to 30 June 2021. From 1 July 2021 until 30 September 2021, the nil rate band will be £250,000. The nil rate band will return to the standard amount of £125,000 from 1 October 2021. This applies to England and Northern Ireland only. The devolved administrations have not announced any further extension beyond 31 March 2021 when this summary was written on Budget Day.

Non-resident SDLT

A 2% SDLT surcharge, above existing rates, for non-UK residents purchasing residential property in England and Northern Ireland is to be introduced from 1 April 2021. 

Taxation changes

Many of the tax changes announced are for a fixed period, generally, from April 2021 to April 2026. This does provide welcome certainty for businesses. Announcements made include:

Income Tax 2021-22 to 2025-26

The basic rate threshold is increasing to £37,700 for 2021-22 (2020-21: £37,500) and then frozen until April 2026. For the same period, the personal tax allowance is set at £12,570 (2020-21: £12,500) and will apply to all regions of the UK.

Taxpayers who will benefit from annual increases in their earnings up to April 2026 may find themselves paying tax at the higher rates if these increases breach the £37,700 annual basic rate limit.

Regional variations to Income Tax rates apply in Scotland and may apply in Wales.

National Insurance

NIC Upper Earnings limits and Upper Profits limits will also remain at a fixed amount until April 2026 and will be based on the Income Tax higher rate threshold of £50,270.

Starting rate for savings

The band of savings income that is subject to the 0% starting rate will remain at £5,000 for 2021-22.

Lifetime Allowance for pension pots

From April 2021 to April 2026 the pensions lifetime allowance will be frozen at £1,073,100.

Cycle to work scheme change

The government will legislate in Finance Bill 2021 to introduce a time-limited easement to the employer-provided cycle exemption to disapply the condition which states that employer-provided cycles must be used mainly for journeys to, from, or during work. The easement will be available to employees who have joined a scheme and have been provided with a cycle or cycling equipment on or before 20 December 2020.

The change will have effect on and after Royal Assent of Finance Bill 2021 and be in place until 5 April 2022, after which the normal rules of the exemption will apply.

Van benefits for zero carbon emissions

The government will legislate in Finance Bill 2021 to reduce the van benefit charge to zero for vans that produce zero carbon emissions. The change will have effect on and after 6 April 2021.

Capital Gains Tax

Any attempt to align CGT rates with Income Tax rates seems to be off the table for the time being. Apart from anti-avoidance changes, the only announcement on this tax that has general relevance is capping the annual exempt amount. This will be fixed at £12,300 from April 2021 to April 2026 for individuals, personal representatives and some types of trusts for disabled people; and £6,150 for trustees of most settlements.

Corporation Tax

As expected, there will be increases in Corporation Tax, but not yet and only for larger companies. Company owners will be relieved that there are no imminent increases in CT rates until April 2023.

From 1 April 2023, there will be two rates of CT.

• Taxable profits up £50,000 will continue to be taxed at 19% under the new Small Business Profits Rate
• Taxable profits in excess of £250,000 will be taxed at 25%
• Profits between £50,000 and £250,000 will be subject to a marginal tapering relief. This would be reduced for the number of associated companies and for short accounting periods.

Carry back of trading losses

The present provisions that restrict the carry back of tax losses is being relaxed, temporarily, extending the period over which incorporated and unincorporated businesses may carry-back trading losses from one year to three years.

This extension will apply to a maximum £2,000,000 of unused trading losses made in each of the tax years 2020-21 and 2021-22 by unincorporated businesses. The £2,000,000 maximum applies separately to unused trading losses made by incorporated companies, after carry-back to the preceding year, in relevant accounting periods ending between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021 and a separate maximum of £2,000,000 for periods ending between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022.

The £2,000,000 cap will be subject to a group-level limit, requiring groups with companies that have capacity to carry back losses in excess of £200,000 to apportion the cap between its companies. Further detail on the group limit will be published in due course.

R&D tax credit cap to be introduced

For accounting periods beginning on or after 1 April 2021, the amount of SME payable R&D tax credit that a company can receive in any one year will be capped at £20,000 plus three times the company’s total PAYE and National Insurance contributions liability, in order to deter abuse.

Enterprise Management Incentives

As announced on 21 July 2020, the government will legislate in Finance Bill 2021 to extend the time-limited exception that ensures that employees who are furloughed or working reduced hours because of coronavirus (COVID-19) continue to meet the working time requirements for EMI schemes.

The change will apply to existing participants of EMI schemes and it also allows employers to issue new EMI options to employees who do not meet the working time requirement as a result of COVID-19. This measure will have effect until 5 April 2022.

Major new investment reliefs

A new “super-deduction” and a 50% first year allowance are to be introduced that will allow businesses to increase the tax relief they can claim for qualifying investments in plant and other equipment. It will apply to expenditure between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2023.

The super-deduction will mean that assets will qualify for tax relief based on 130% of the actual cost of expenditure incurred. 

Assets that qualify for the special rate relief will qualify for the 50% first year allowance.

The existing Annual Investment Allowance £1m limit will continue to be available until 31 December 2021. 

Freeports

In an attempt to reposition the UK as a global player a raft of tax incentives are to be provided to the eight freeport locations in England announced in the Budget. They will include enhanced structures and buildings allowances.  

Inheritance Tax

No changes in the present rates and allowances that are all frozen at current levels until April 2026.

This means the nil-rate band will be £325,000 and the residence nil-rate band at £175,000 for this period. 

VAT

There be no changes to the standard 20% rate. 

The £85,000 registration limit and the £83,000 deregistration limit will be frozen until 31 March 2024.

Other announcements

Universal Credits

The recent increase in benefits of £20 per week is to be extended for a further six months.

Working Tax Credit claimants will receive equivalent support via a £500 one off payment.

Duties

There will be no increases in duty on alcoholic drinks or fuel.

Vehicle excise duties will see a small increase in line with the Retail Prices Index (RPI).

Air Passenger Duty long haul rates will also increase in line with RPI as will gaming duty and Landfill Tax.

ISA investment limits for 2021-22

The limits set for 2021-22 are:

• Adult ISAs the limit remains at £20,000
• Junior ISA limit remains at £9,000
• Child Trust Funds remain unchanged at £9,000

National Living Wage increase

The NLW will increase to £8.91 per hour from 1 April 2021.

Visa reforms

There will also be new reforms to the immigration system that will help ambitious UK businesses entice top talent. These reforms will include a new unsponsored points-based visa to attract highly skilled migrants and a new, improved visa process for scale-ups and entrepreneurs.

Help to Grow schemes

Two new Help to Grow schemes are set to launch by the autumn to help support 130,000 small and medium sized businesses. The Help to Grow: Management scheme will help small and medium sized businesses get world-class management training with the government contributing 90% of the cost. 

In addition, the Help to Grow: Digital scheme will help small businesses develop digital skills by giving them free expert training and a 50% discount on new productivity-enhancing software, worth up to £5,000 each.

Single contactless payments

Our final comment on the Budget seems to anticipate a coming consumer spending bonanza. The legal limit for single, contactless payments is increasing from £45 to £100.

As the EU withdrawal transition period draws to an end (completes 31 December 2020) UK businesses face yet more adjustments in addition to those presented by COVID disruption.

Businesses that trade with the EU should by now have matters in hand to cope with cross-border trading from 1 January 2020. But what about businesses that move goods between the mainland and Northern Ireland? 

The government have issued instructions for traders moving goods from the mainland to Northern Ireland. If affected, you should be receiving a letter with details of a Trader Support Service and its benefits for UK businesses.

The service will:

• provide a free end-to-end support package to manage import and safety and security declarations on behalf of traders.
• educate businesses on what the protocol means for them, and the steps they need to take to comply with it. This will include online training sessions and webinars, with information being continually updated as we move closer to 1 January 2021
• be available to businesses moving goods into Northern Ireland under new processes in the Northern Ireland Protocol that start from 1 January 2021

It can help if you:

• are moving the goods yourself
• act on behalf of someone
• send parcels between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, or bring parcels into Northern Ireland from outside the UK

If your business trades with Northern Ireland you should consider signing up for the Trader Support Service. Google the service to sign up online.

In the face of Brexit uncertainties and the recent Coronavirus outbreak the new Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, was faced with falling economic indicators, the need to boost NHS services and was consequently limited in his options to spend on plans to improve business confidence and fund infrastructure projects.

Interestingly, there were a number of measures that will directly benefit those affected by the current COVID-19 outbreak and these are reported in this update.

Details of other changes for 2020-21 – for individuals and businesses – are set out in our Budget Summary below. 

Personal Tax and miscellaneous matters

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)

SSP will be temporarily payable from day 1 instead of day 4 for affected individuals and will include those infected and those self-isolating, who are not infected.

Those who cannot claim SSP, the self-employed for example, are to be provided with easier access to Universal Credits and the Contributory Employment and Support Allowance.

Local Authority Hardship Fund

Government is providing a new £500m Hardship Fund so local authorities can support economically vulnerable people and households.

Most of this funding will probably support the extension of council tax relief.

Personal Tax allowance

The personal Income Tax allowance for 2020-21 is maintained at £12,500 (2019-20 £12,500). 

Income Tax bands, rates and the dividend allowance

The Income Tax bands for 2020-21 have also been maintained at 2019-20 levels. They are:

• Basic rate band £37,500 (2019-20 £37,500)
• Higher rate band £37,501 to £150,000 (2019-20 £37,501 to £150,000)
• Additional rate, no change, applies to income of more than £150,000.

Consequently, the higher rate threshold will stay as £50,000 from April 2020. There is no change in Income Tax rates, and the tax rates applied to dividend income.

Changes to these Income Tax bands apply to England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Scottish parliament now set their own Income Tax bandings. 

Earlier payments of Capital Gains Tax (CGT)

As previously announced, from April 2020, UK residents will be required to make a payment on account for CGT due on a chargeable residential property sale. For example, the sale of a buy-to-let property. A formal computation of any gains and payment of CGT due on the disposal will have to be made within 30 days of the property disposal.

The changes have applied from April 2019 for non-UK residents.

Capital Gains Tax Private Residence Relief changes

From April 2020, the government is making two changes to the private residence relief:

1. The final exempt period will be reduced from 18 months to 9 months, with no change to the 36 months available for those disabled or in care homes, and
2. Lettings relief will be reformed so that it only applies in certain circumstances where the property owner is in shared occupancy with the tenant.

CGT Entrepreneurs’ relief

One of the significant announcements in the budget speech was the reduction of the lifetime allowance for this relief from £10m to £1m. This will apply to all relevant business disposals on or after 11 March 2020. The Chancellor has avoided the abolition of the relief but has restricted lifetime claims to £1m.

Special provisions may apply to disposals contracted for sale before 11 March 2020, but when the sale was not completed at that date.

Business owners and their advisors will need to consider other options to reduce CGT on business sales in excess of this £1m limit.

CGT annual allowance

The annual tax-free allowance is to be increased to £12,300 for 2020-21 (£12,000 2019-20).

The equivalent allowance for trustees is £6,150 (£6,000 2019-20).

Tax benefit charges for low CO2 vehicles

In an attempt to support new regulation in this area, the listed benefit rates will be cut by 2% for vehicles that qualify for the new standard (Worldwide harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) for all new cars registered from 6 April 2020).

Tobacco Duty Rates

All tobacco products will see an increase in duty by 2% above the current rate of inflation.

Hand-rolling tobacco will see an increase of 6% above the rate of inflation.

These changes will impact prices from 6pm, 11 March 2020.

Vehicle Excise Duty

Rates are due to be increased in line with the Retail Prices Index from April 2020.

Fuel Duty

Is frozen for another year.

Alcohol duty rates

Alcohol Duty rates remain unchanged for 2020-21. This will be welcome news for pubs and bars.

ISA limits 2020-21

Adult savings limits remain unchanged at £20,000.

Junior ISA limits are increased to £9,000.

Zero-rating of VAT for women’s sanitary products

This measure is to be introduced from 1 January 2021.

Bank support from mortgage lenders

Although not a budget announcement, a number of banks and other mortgage lenders are offering a moratorium on mortgage repayments to those directly affected by the Coronavirus. This is welcome support for individuals whose income may be diminished by absence from work. At least one High Street lender has committed to a three-month moratorium.

Banks are also considering increasing credit card limits and cash withdrawal limits.

Business Tax changes

National Insurance

It was confirmed that the tax threshold for National Insurance Contributions will rise to £9,500 from April 2020 (was £8,632). This should save £100 a year in National Insurance contributions for some 31 million people.

Relief for Statutory Sick Pay payments

Small and medium sized businesses, those with less than 250 employees at 28 February 2020, will be able to reclaim any approved SSP payments. The actual method for making a claim is yet to be agreed as current payroll processes cannot accommodate this type of refund.

Watch this space as this is a welcome cost saver for smaller businesses.

Business Rates Retail Discount Scheme

The government has already announced that, for one year from 1 April 2020, the business rates retail discount for properties with a rateable value below £51,000 in England will increase from one third to 50% and will be expanded to include cinemas and music venues. 

To support small businesses, in response to COVID-19, the retail discount will be increased to 100% and expanded to include hospitality and leisure businesses.

The government previously committed to introducing a £1,000 business rates discount for pubs with a rateable value below £100,000 in England for one year from 1 April 2020. To further support pubs, in response to COVID-19, the discount will be increased to £5,000. 

Affected businesses should receive amended rates bills for 2020-21 from their local authority. Regional variations may apply.

One-off grant for small businesses

The government is to provide a £3,000 grant to businesses that presently qualify for the Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rate Relief.

Businesses that think they may be eligible should contact their local authority.

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme 

The government will launch a new, temporary Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, delivered by the British Business Bank, to support businesses to access bank lending and overdrafts. 

Government will provide lenders with a guarantee of 80% on each loan (subject to a per lender cap on claims) to give lenders further confidence in continuing to provide finance to SMEs. The government will not charge businesses or banks for this guarantee, and the Scheme will support loans of up to £1.2 million in value. This new guarantee will initially support up to £1 billion of lending on top of current support offered through the British Business Bank.

HMRC’s Time To Pay Scheme

HMRC are expanding the number of operatives that manage calls from taxpayers that are unable to pay their taxes on time. If readers are concerned about meeting tax payments call the dedicated help-line 0800 0159 559.  

Corporation Tax

The previously announced reduction in Corporation Tax from 19% to 17% – from April 2020 – has been scrapped. Corporation Tax rates are to remain at 19% for the financial year beginning 1 April 2020.

Structures and Buildings allowance

The annual writing down rate is to be increased from 2% to 3% from April 2020.

Digital Services Tax

Despite opposition from various quarters it looks as if the new Digital Services Tax of 2% will be applied to digital businesses from April 2020.

This will be a major revenue raiser for HMRC.

Capital loss restriction from 1 April 2020

For accounting periods ending on or after 1 April 2020, companies making capital gains will only be able to offset up to 50% of those gains using carried-forward, allowable capital losses.

Employment Allowance

The present £3,000 relief that reduces employer’s NIC contributions is to be increased to £4,000 from April 2020. From 6 April 2020, you will only be able to claim if your Class 1 NIC bill was below £100,000 in the previous tax year.

Car and van benefits charges

Van benefit charges and car and van fuel benefit charges will be increased to account for inflation from April 2020.
    
R&D expenditure credit

This “Above the line” expenditure credit is currently 12% of qualifying R&D expenditure. This is to be increased to 13% from 1 April 2020.

Zero-rating of e-publications

From 1 December 2020, e-books, e-newspapers, e-magazines and academic e-journals will be zero-rated for VAT purposes.

VAT reverse-charge for the construction sector

A reminder that the domestic reverse charge process will apply to the construction sector from 1 October 2020.

Affected contractors that are still unsure of the changes they will need to make are invited to call so we can help you set up the relevant systems.

VAT registration threshold – no change

The present VAT registration limit (£85,000) and deregistration limit (£83,000) will continue to apply for a further two years; until 31 March 2022.

Clamp-down on tax evaders

As is usual, the budget includes a number of provisions to reduce the successful application of tax avoidance strategies.

Bank support for small businesses

In concert with the flexibility being offered to individuals, banks are looking at relaxing their criteria that would allow small businesses affected by Coronavirus disruption to obtain loans on favourable terms. 

Climate issues

The government will also invest in the natural environment: planting enough trees to cover an area the size of Birmingham, restoring peatlands and providing more funding to protect the UK’s unique plants and animals. 

The government will also go further to tackle the scourge of plastic waste by introducing a Plastic Packaging Tax, as well as providing further funding to encourage producers to make their packaging more recyclable.