The Autumn Budget 2026 will take place on Wednesday, 28 October, with Chancellor John Healey presenting the government’s fiscal plans. For UK limited company directors, landlords and business owners, the statement could influence investment decisions, operating costs and future tax planning.
HM Treasury has confirmed the date, and the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will publish updated economic and fiscal forecasts alongside the budget. However, many possible tax changes remain speculative. Understanding what is already law, what the government has announced and what remains uncertain can help businesses prepare without making premature financial decisions.
Key Takeaways
The Autumn Budget 2026 date is Wednesday, 28 October 2026. HM Treasury announced the date on 31 July 2026, and the Chancellor formally commissioned the OBR to prepare an economic and fiscal forecast for publication that day.
The budget will set out the government’s fiscal priorities, while the accompanying forecast will examine economic growth, inflation, public borrowing and debt.
The government has also announced its intention to use the budget to advance fiscal devolution, transferring more financial responsibility and decision-making towards regional authorities.
The exact tax measures, their commencement dates and any transitional arrangements must be assessed against the official budget documents once published.
The government’s borrowing position limits the flexibility available for tax reductions and additional spending. Recent official statistics show pressure on public finances before the October statement.
According to the Office for National Statistics, published on 21 October 2026:
These figures help explain why tax revenues, public expenditure and fiscal discipline are central considerations ahead of the budget.
However, higher borrowing does not establish which taxes the Chancellor will change. The OBR’s updated forecasts will provide a clearer basis for assessing the government’s fiscal position.
Several tax changes and policy announcements predate the October budget. They should not be presented as newly confirmed budget 2026 measures.
The Finance Act 2026 establishes the Corporation Tax rates for financial year 2027.
The main autumn budget 2026 predictions concern the possibility of changes to existing taxes, sector-specific measures and business support. None of these possibilities should be treated as a confirmed budget announcement without an official government publication.
Business owners considering a sale should review the current Capital Gains Tax rules rather than assume rates will change on budget day.
For 2026/27, the main CGT rates for individuals are 18% and 24%, depending on their tax position. Qualifying gains under Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR) are charged at 18% for disposals from 6 April 2026.
As of October, there is no verified new CGT rate arising from the October budget. Directors planning a business disposal should consider qualifying conditions, transaction timing and existing reliefs before changing their plans.
Inheritance Tax is another area relevant to business succession planning.
From 6 April 2026, the combined allowance for 100% Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief became £2.5 million per person, with qualifying value above that limit generally receiving 50% relief. Unused allowance can be transferred between spouses or civil partners. These are existing reforms, not proposals awaiting the October budget.
Property owners should distinguish proposed reforms from existing liabilities.
The government has announced a high-value council tax surcharge for residential properties in England valued at £2 million or more, intended to commence in April 2028. Its implementation remains separate from existing Stamp Duty Land Tax rules.
No new stamp duty rate or threshold change has been confirmed through the budget as of this article’s review date.
Property investors should continue using current legislation when assessing purchases or disposals.
Bank taxation is another possible area of fiscal policy change, although no new rate has been confirmed for the October budget.
The current bank corporation tax surcharge is 3% on qualifying chargeable profits above the applicable £100 million allowance.
Any future changes to banking taxation would need to be assessed against the budget’s published proposals and subsequent legislation.
The autumn budget for businesses could include announcements affecting investment reliefs or corporate taxation, but the existing Corporation Tax rates remain the starting point for financial planning.
For the financial year beginning 1 April 2026, the standard Corporation Tax structure is:
These thresholds assume a 12-month accounting period and no associated companies requiring adjustments. Short accounting periods and associated companies can reduce the thresholds.
The 25% main rate and 19% small profits rate have also been legislated for financial year 2027.
Businesses planning substantial expenditure should also consider the current £1 million Annual Investment Allowance and the availability of full expensing for qualifying new plant and machinery purchased by companies.
Neither relief applies indiscriminately to every asset. Business cars, for example, are excluded from AIA and full expensing.
Apex Accountants provides corporation tax planning and compliance services to help companies assess reliefs, forecast tax liabilities and manage year-end decisions.
Company directors should assess salary, dividend income and pension contributions against the confirmed 2026/27 tax rules.
For the current tax year:
The Personal Allowance reduces by £1 for every £2 of adjusted net income above £100,000.
Directors should remember that dividends generally come from profits available for distribution after Corporation Tax. A salary and dividend calculation must therefore consider both company-level and personal tax implications.
For further guidance, see our article on taking money out of your company.
VAT changes remain relevant to online retailers, digital businesses and companies trading through marketplaces.
The current UK standard VAT rate is 20%, with a VAT registration threshold of £90,000 in taxable turnover over the relevant rolling 12-month period.
HMRC has also consulted on extending online marketplace VAT liability to transactions involving UK-based sellers whose goods are located in the UK at the point of sale.
That consultation closed on 18 August 2026. It has not itself changed the law.
Any resulting reform will require further government action before businesses can determine the precise legal obligations.
For eligible household electricity supplies, a separate temporary VAT zero rate applies in Great Britain from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027. This should not be confused with a general reduction in VAT on business electricity.
Fuel duty could remain an important cost consideration for transport businesses, couriers and companies operating vehicle fleets.
The existing government timetable reverses the temporary 5p-per-litre reduction in stages:
These are the published changes before Budget day, not forecasts of what the Chancellor might announce.
For example, a business purchasing 12,000 litres of fuel monthly would face an additional £240 in duty-related cost from a further 2p-per-litre increase, assuming the full increase is passed through and fuel consumption remains constant. This excludes any separate VAT effects or changes in underlying fuel prices.
Fleet operators should reflect the existing timetable in cash-flow forecasts while checking whether the budget amends it.
Making Tax Digital and payroll modernisation have their own implementation schedules, regardless of whether the October Budget announces further changes.
MTD for income tax is being introduced according to qualifying gross income from self-employment and property.
Directors do not enter MTD for Income Tax merely because they receive a company salary or dividends. However, separate qualifying self-employment or property income can bring them within scope.
Affected taxpayers generally need compatible software, digital records and quarterly updates.
See our Making Tax Digital for Income Tax 2026 guide.
From April 2027, the first phase of mandatory payrolling is planned for certain benefits in kind, including company cars, car fuel, vans, van fuel and employer-provided medical benefits.
HMRC also plans mandatory e-invoicing for business-to-business and business-to-government transactions from April 2029. Detailed implementation guidance is still being developed.
Employers should check payroll software capability and review their existing benefits records.
Rather than acting on unverified budget predictions October 2026, directors should focus on the following preparations:
Businesses needing additional financial visibility can use our budgets and forecasting services to assess cash requirements and plan for alternative scenarios.
Businesses should review the official announcements and distinguish immediate changes from future legislation.
Focus on the following questions:
The most reliable documents will include HM Treasury’s Budget publications, HMRC policy papers and the OBR’s latest Economic and Fiscal Outlook.
No new CGT rate increase for Budget 2026 had been officially confirmed. The current main rates for individuals are 18% and 24%, with a separate 18% rate for qualifying Business Asset Disposal Relief gains. Business owners should check the published budget measures before changing asset disposal plans.
Not automatically. Companies can already claim qualifying capital allowances, including AIA of up to £1 million and full expensing for certain new plant and machinery. Purchase timing should reflect commercial needs, the company’s accounting period, cash flow and the relevant relief conditions.
Being a director does not automatically bring someone into MTD for income tax. The rules concern qualifying self-employment and property income rather than salary and dividend income alone. Directors with separate qualifying income must check the relevant thresholds and implementation dates.
Yes, some tax measures can take effect on budget day or another announced date, depending on their legal basis and implementation arrangements. Others require legislation before becoming law. Businesses should check the official commencement provisions rather than assume that every announcement applies immediately.
The announced 20% reduction from April 2027 specifically concerns qualifying pubs, social clubs and live music venues in England. Business rates arrangements differ across the UK’s nations, and detailed eligibility requirements should be checked before forecasting savings.
At Apex Accountants, we help limited companies, directors and business owners review their tax position and plan for legislative changes.
Our tax planning services cover corporation tax, dividend planning, capital allowances, VAT compliance and wider financial forecasting.
Whether you need to understand existing tax liabilities or assess announcements following the Autumn Budget 2026, our accountants can help identify the practical implications for your business.
Electric vehicles (EVs) can offer significant tax advantages for UK limited companies, particularly those purchasing company cars or providing electric...
A small business spends £2,000 on Google Ads, social media campaigns and printed promotional materials. When preparing its tax return,...
The VAT threshold for UK businesses in 2026/27 is £90,000 in taxable turnover over a rolling 12-month period. Businesses must...
The benefits of a tax advisor include legitimate tax savings, improved cash flow, reduced compliance risks and better financial decisions....
Founders’ Relief is a proposed new capital gains tax relief for founders and significant early investors in high-growth UK companies....
Business rates relief 2027 raises the small business rates relief threshold to £18,000 of rateable value for retail, hospitality and...
Making Tax Digital (MTD) is a UK government plan to make tax simpler. It’s all about using digital tools to...
The events and entertainment industry is fast-paced, diverse, and financially complex. From music festivals to trade shows and celebrity agencies...
The trading allowance 2027 rules lift the tax-free limit for side hustle income from £1,000 to £3,000, starting on 6...
Electronic invoicing (e-invoicing) is moving from a digital option to a legal requirement in the UK. Following extensive consultation with...
