Autumn Budget 2026 – What Could Be on the Horizon?

Before the Summer Parliamentary Recess, newly appointed Chancellor John Healey confirmed that the next Budget will take place on Wednesday 28 October 2026.

In his announcement, the Chancellor said the Budget would move “money and power out of Westminster” and into communities across Britain. He also emphasised that it would be built around fiscal discipline, while aiming to provide businesses and families with greater stability to plan for the future.

I certainly agree that everyone loves stability, so we wait with bated breath for the detail. But with Budget Day now approaching, what should individuals and businesses be keeping an eye on?

While nothing is confirmed until the Chancellor delivers his speech, there is already plenty of discussion around the measures that could feature.

Personal tax

One area under scrutiny is the personal allowance and income tax thresholds. The Government has maintained its commitment not to increase income tax rates, but the personal allowance is expected to be reviewed as part of the Budget.

Any changes to allowances or thresholds could have a direct impact on household finances, so this will undoubtedly be one of the announcements many people will be watching closely.

Capital Gains Tax

There has also been discussion around potential reform of Capital Gains Tax (CGT), including whether the way gains are taxed should be brought more closely in line with income tax.

Changes to CGT could have implications for investors, business owners and individuals planning to sell or transfer assets, making this another important area to watch.

Property and local taxation

The Government has already indicated that greater financial powers will be transferred from Westminster to local leaders, including allowing English strategic authorities to retain some locally generated revenues.

There has also been speculation surrounding the High Value Council Tax Surcharge, including whether the threshold at which the charge applies could be reduced.

For property owners, landlords and investors, the detail announced on 28 October could therefore be particularly significant.

Businesses will be looking for certainty

For businesses, perhaps the most important word used by the Chancellor is stability.

After several years of changing costs, tax rules and wider economic uncertainty, businesses need to be able to plan ahead with confidence.

The Government has already signalled a focus on supporting regional growth and giving local areas greater control over investment, skills and infrastructure. The Budget should provide considerably more detail on what that means in practice.

Whether there are further changes affecting business taxation, investment or employment costs will also be closely watched.

Don’t make decisions based on speculation

As always in the weeks leading up to a Budget, rumours will continue to circulate.

It is important to remember that speculation is exactly that. Until the Chancellor stands up on 28 October, we won’t know the final details or how any changes will operate in practice.

Once the Budget has been delivered, we’ll be looking carefully at the announcements and what they could mean for individuals and businesses.

Until then, we wait with bated breath – and hope that the promised stability really does give businesses and families the confidence to plan for the future.