Autumn Budget 2026

Banks face the biggest impact in a Budget focused on the cost of living and “breathing space” for the public and high street. Landlords and savers will see income tax rises, but a cancellation of the planned cut to the cash ISA limit is a positive move.
Sw Group Autumn Budget 2026

Key announcements from the 2026 Autumn Budget:

The Chancellor, John Healey, has delivered his first Budget. We have analysed the announcements, and the impact on individuals and businesses, on our Budget hub. You can read more below and hear more at our post-Budget webinar.

Here are our key takeaways:

  • The bank corporation tax surcharge will rise from 3% to 6% for 15 months from January 2027. Bank shares rose on the news, with the increase to 6% lower than expected

  • An increase in the threshold for small business rate relief for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses from £12,000 to £18,000, taking 70,000 businesses out of business rates entirely from April 2027

  • Another extra 2p tax on property and savings income from April 2027, on top of the extra 2p announced last year, will increase the basic, higher and additional rates for property and savings income to 24%, 44% and 49%. The new savings income rates will apply across the UK. The new property income rates will apply in England, Wales and Northern Ireland

  • The lifetime limit for business asset disposal relief (BADR) is cut from £1 million to £500,000 for qualifying disposals from April 2027

  • The main rate of writing down allowances will reduce by two percentage points, taking the rate to 12% from April 2027, while the first year allowance rises to 50% from January 2027

  • The government will introduce a new Founders’ Relief: a 10% CGT rate on up to £10 million of lifetime gains for qualifying founders of high-growth, innovative companies from 6 April 2027. A technical consultation on the detailed design launched at the Budget, but the criteria look strict, with few likely to benefit

  • Former Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ plan to cut the cash ISA allowance to £12,000 from next April is scrapped. The allowance will stay at £20,000

  • “The greatest act of devolution in a decade” will see 20% of business rates retained by mayors from next year, with a goal of reaching 100% by the end of the decade. Mayors will gain a share of income tax from 2028 to provide funding for infrastructure

More detailed Budget analysis to come soon from our sector and industry experts.

Personal taxes

Explore our analysis of the announcements, in relation to personal taxes, and how these could affect you and your family.

Personal Taxes

Corporate taxes and reporting

We take a deep dive into the Chancellor's announcements on corporate taxes and the effects on businesses.

Corporate Taxes

Payroll and employee incentives

We look at what has changed for payroll and employee incentives in the Budget, and the implications on employers and employees.

Payroll Employee Incentives

VAT, environmental and other indirect taxes

We examine in-depth the Chancellor's announcements in the Budget on VAT and other indirect taxes.

VAT Environmental Taxes

Sector analysis

Landed estates and rural businesses

Budget 2026 may look benign for the rural sector, but higher property taxes, BADR changes and investment measures could affect cash flow and growth.

Private markets and fast growth

From founders' relief and EMI 2.0 to AI investment and regional growth funding, our experts assess what the Budget means for scale-ups.

International individuals

After recent upheavals following the abolition of the non dom regime it was a quieter Budget for the internationally mobile, but with several important developments.

Financial services

Beyond the banking surcharge - what the Budget means for the financial services sector.

Private wealth and family office

While major tax reforms were absent, wealthy families should prepare for increased HMRC scrutiny and review succession planning arrangements.

Real estate

The Budget brings support for housing and data centres while delivering tax and business rates changes that will shape the real estate sector.

Entrepreneurs and business owners

From founders' relief to further restrictions on BADR, we assess the good, the bad and the uncertain for entrepreneurs and business owners.

Our Autumn Budget webinars

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Event

Family businesses: What you need to know ahead of the Autumn Budget

Laura Hayward Emma Queen (1) Fiona

Multiple Speakers

Laura Hayward, Emma Queen, Fiona Graham

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Event

In conversation: The Autumn Budget 2026 and what it means for you, your family and your business

Claire Burden Toby Tallon Schellion Horn Ben Sharpe

Multiple Speakers

Claire Burden, Toby Tallon, Schellion Horn, Ben Sharpe

Our pre-Budget insights

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A stronger forecast from the IMF, but not a blank cheque for the Budget

The UK economy has proved more resilient than expected, according to the International Monetary Foundation’s (IMF) latest forecast ahead of the Budget. However, will the Chancellor take stock or choose to ignore the data?

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Autumn Budget 2026 predictions and speculation

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Striking a balance: Financial services and the Budget

Chancellor Jon Healey’s meeting with UK lending banks ahead of the 2026 Budget has led to widespread speculation about how the financial services sector will be impacted and to what extent. The government must decide whether it sees the sector as a cash cow or partner for growth.

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Hoping for a boring Budget at the Industry Leaders Conference

S&W experts on the first day of our two-day conference in London explained why the Chancellor delivering a fiscal non-event might be the best we can hope for from the Autumn Budget – and why it may not be an option.

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The Budget and rural business

Ahead of this year’s Budget, rural businesses and landowners will be hoping for one overriding theme: long-term certainty that allows them to invest, plan succession and remain commercially viable.

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Capital gains tax at the Autumn Budget: Too much, too soon?

Amid increasing expectations of CGT rises, record receipts ahead of Rachel Reeves last Budget illustrate the problems the new Chancellor faces in squeezing additional revenue from the tax.

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The manifesto that continues to tie the Chancellor

The commitment to 2024’s promises may prevent the Autumn Budget from making the changes needed if the government wants to deliver on its priorities and get the country growing.

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When is the Autumn Budget 2026? Date and Budget process explained

Learn how the budget process works, the UK’s economic policy calendar and why many think John Healey’s debut Budget as Chancellor on 28 October will, unfortunately, be more of the same.

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Death and taxes: Inheritance tax reform and the 2026 Budget

Recent inheritance tax revenue commentary from HMRC sheds light on who would be the biggest winners and losers from proposals for a flat 10% death duty. It’s a tax rise that would work for the wealthy.

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The Budget 2026: Where the Chancellor should look

We have a new Prime Minister and Chancellor, but they face some old problems at the Budget. Will they make the same mistakes?

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What a Burnham government could do for employers

With Andy Burnham taking office, there’s an opportunity for change that has eluded Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves. Here’s what we think he should do on employment.

Explore previous budget commentary

Access our coverage of the Autumn Budget 2025, including expert insight into the announcements, tax changes and business implications discussed at the time.

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