• Current students
      • Student centre
        Enrol on a course/exam
        My enrolments
        Exam results
        Mock exams
      • Course information
        Students FAQs
        Student induction
        Course enrolment information
        Key dates
        Book distribution
        Timetables
        FAE elective information
        CPA Ireland student
      • Exams
        CAP1 exam
        CAP2 exam
        FAE exam
        Access support/reasonable accommodation
        E-Assessment information
        Exam and appeals regulations/exam rules
        Timetables for exams & interim assessments
        Sample papers
        Practice papers
        Extenuating circumstances
        PEC/FAEC reports
        Information and appeals scheme
        Certified statements of results
        JIEB: NI Insolvency Qualification
      • CA Diary resources
        Mentors: Getting started on the CA Diary
        CA Diary for Flexible Route FAQs
      • Admission to membership
        Joining as a reciprocal member
        Admission to Membership Ceremonies
        Admissions FAQs
      • Support & services
        Recruitment to and transferring of training contracts
        CASSI
        Student supports and wellbeing
        Audit qualification
        Diversity and Inclusion Committee
    • Students

      View all the services available for students of the Institute

      Read More
  • Becoming a student
      • About Chartered Accountancy
        The Chartered difference
        Student benefits
        Study in Northern Ireland
        Events
        Hear from past students
        Become a Chartered Accountant podcast series
      • Entry routes
        College
        Working
        Accounting Technicians
        School leavers
        Member of another body
        CPA student
        International student
        Flexible Route
        Training Contract
      • Course description
        CAP1
        CAP2
        FAE
        Our education offering
      • Apply
        How to apply
        Exemptions guide
        Fees & payment options
        External students
      • Training vacancies
        Training vacancies search
        Training firms list
        Large training firms
        Milkround
        Recruitment to and transferring of training contract
      • Support & services
        Becoming a student FAQs
        School Bootcamp
        Register for a school visit
        Third Level Hub
        Who to contact for employers
    • Becoming a
      student

      Study with us

      Read More
  • Members
      • Members Hub
        My account
        Member subscriptions
        Newly admitted members
        Annual returns
        Application forms
        CPD/events
        Member services A-Z
        District societies
        Professional Standards
        ACA Professionals
        Careers development
        Recruitment service
        Diversity and Inclusion Committee
      • Members in practice
        Going into practice
        Managing your practice FAQs
        Practice compliance FAQs
        Toolkits and resources
        Audit FAQs
        Practice Consulting services
        Practice News/Practice Matters
        Practice Link
      • In business
        Networking and special interest groups
        Articles
      • Overseas members
        Home
        Key supports
        Tax for returning Irish members
        Networks and people
      • Public sector
        Public sector presentations
      • Member benefits
        Member benefits
      • Support & services
        Letters of good standing form
        Member FAQs
        AML confidential disclosure form
        Institute Technical content
        TaxSource Total
        The Educational Requirements for the Audit Qualification
        Pocket diaries
        Thrive Hub
    • Members

      View member services

      Read More
  • Employers
      • Training organisations
        Authorise to train
        Training in business
        Manage my students
        Incentive Scheme
        Recruitment to and transferring of training contracts
        Securing and retaining the best talent
        Tips on writing a job specification
      • Training
        In-house training
        Training tickets
      • Recruitment services
        Hire a qualified Chartered Accountant
        Hire a trainee student
      • Non executive directors recruitment service
      • Support & services
        Hire members: log a job vacancy
        Firm/employers FAQs
        Training ticket FAQs
        Authorisations
        Hire a room
        Who to contact for employers
    • Employers

      Services to support your business

      Read More
☰
  • Find a firm
  • Jobs
  • Login
☰
  • Home
  • Knowledge centre
  • Professional development
  • About us
  • Shop
  • News
Search
View Cart 0 Item
uk autumn budget-min
Tax UK
(?)

Institute meets HMRC to discuss the Autumn Budget 2024

Last week the Institute met with HMRC to discuss the 2024 Autumn Budget. We expressed concern and shared our views on the impact of a range of changes including increased employment costs as a result of the National Minimum Wage and employer National Insurance Contribution changes from April 2025. We also highlighted the damaging impact that the 2026 changes to key inheritance tax reliefs (agricultural property relief and business property relief) will have, particularly for Northern Ireland family-owned businesses and farms. The Institute recommended to HMRC that the Government consult more widely on these particular changes and we highligted the need for any anti-forestalling legislation to be fair. These changes should not impact retrospectively on lifetime gifts already made in the seven years prior to 6 April 2026. The changes need to be properly considered before implementation given the impact they will have on both indigenous businesses and investors in the UK. Other issues discussed were the fuel duty dilemma, tax simplification, the taxation of electric vehicles, the practical impact of the in-year capital gains tax rate changes, the extension in this Parliament of Making Tax Digital for income tax to the £20,000 - £30,000 turnover population and regulation of the UK tax agent market.  

Nov 18, 2024
READ MORE
Tax UK
(?)

UK Finance Bill 2024/25

Finance Bill 2024/25 was published last week on 7 November. Explanatory notes to the Bill were also published. The Bill’s first reading in the House of Commons took place last week; second reading has not yet been scheduled.

Nov 11, 2024
READ MORE
Tax UK
(?)

Closing the Tax Gap – Autumn Budget 2024

Over the next five years, the Government is expanding HMRC’s capacity with the objective of closing the tax gap and bringing in an additional £6.5 billion per year by 2029/30. A range of announcements featured in this area including anti-avoidance legislation, and a commitment to overhaul HMRC’s IT systems and improve debt management by ensuring tax debt is settled faster. However, no information was provided on any specific additional investment to improve HMRC’s phone and post services. And finally, the expected consultation on e-invoicing will not be launched until early 2025. Investment in HMRC The HMRC settlement provides total funding of £6.7 billion in 2025/26. According to the Budget publications, the increased funding, together with the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury becoming Chair of HMRC’s Board, marks a step change in the Government’s efforts to “close the tax gap, improve service levels, and modernise and reform HMRC”. Plans also continue to transform HMRC into a “digital‑first organisation”, with a Digital Transformation Roadmap to be published in Spring 2025. 180 new counter-fraud staff will be used to target increasing HMRC’s capability to better tackle fraud and error in child benefit and tax-free childcare via an expected gross saving of £95 million by 2029/30. As announced in July, £1.4 billion will be invested over the next five years to recruit an additional 5,000 HMRC compliance staff in order to raise £2.7 billion per year in additional revenue by 2029/30. The first 200 are set to join this month. £262 million will be invested over the same period to fund 1,800 HMRC debt management staff, with the aim of raising £2 billion per year in additional revenue by 2029/30. £154 million will be invested to modernise HMRC’s debt management case system and a £12 million investment will be used to acquire further credit reference agency data to enable HMRC to better target their debt collection activities. £16 million is to be invested to modernise HMRC’s app to allow income tax self-assessment taxpayers to make voluntary advance payments in instalments. The Government also confirmed that the use of payroll software to report and pay tax on benefits in kind (payrolling of BIKs) will become mandatory as previously announced. This will take place in phases, from April 2026 and will apply to income tax and Class 1A National Insurance Contributions. Tax agents £36 million is being invested in order to modernise HMRC’s tax adviser registration services from April 2026 and tax advisers who interact with HMRC on behalf of clients will need to be registered with HMRC. This will be legislated for in a future Finance Bill. From 6 April 2025, tax advisers will be required to provide an advanced electronic signature when making specified income tax repayment claims on behalf of clients. A consultation will also be published in early 2025 on options to enhance HMRC’s powers and sanctions to take swifter and stronger action against tax advisers who facilitate non-compliance. Umbrella company market To tackle “the significant levels of tax avoidance and fraud in the umbrella company market”, recruitment agencies will become responsible for accounting for PAYE on payments made to workers that are supplied via umbrella companies. Where there is no agency, this responsibility will fall to the end client business. This will take effect from April 2026. A policy paper was published alongside the Budget providing further information on this measure. Late payment interest rates on unpaid tax From 6 April 2025, the late payment interest rate charged by HMRC on unpaid tax liabilities will increase by 1.5 percent points so that it will be set at 4 percent above base rate. Should the current Bank of England base rate remain unchanged between now and then, the interest rate will therefore increase from 7.25 percent to 8.75 percent. Digital reporting for Individual Savings Account managers This will be mandatory from 6 April 2027; hence draft legislation will be published for a technical consultation in 2025. Car ownership schemes Draft legislation will be published to deal with loopholes in car ownership arrangements. This aims to target arrangements through which an employer/third party sells a car to an employee, often via a loan with no repayment terms and negligible interest, then buys it back after a short period. This will take effect from 6 April 2026. Charity compliance Legislation will be introduced to ensure that only the intended tax relief is given to charities. These changes will take effect from April 2026 to give charities time to adjust to the new rules. Liquidations of limited liability partnerships The way capital gains are taxed when a limited liability partnership is liquidated, and assets are disposed of to a contributing member or person connected to them, changed from 30 October 2024 and will be legislated for in Finance Bill 2024/25. Close company loans to participators The Government will ensure that shareholders cannot extract funds untaxed from close companies by legislating to remove opportunities to side-step the anti-avoidance rules attached to the loans to participators regime. This change applies from 30 October 2024. Reducing tax-free overseas transfers of tax relieved UK pensions The Government removed the exclusion from the overseas transfer charge for transfers to qualifying recognised overseas pension schemes in the European Economic Area or Gibraltar from 30 October 2024 to address the risk of individuals receiving double tax-free allowances. Rogue company directors Collaboration between HMRC, Companies House, and the Insolvency Service will be increased to tackle those using contrived corporate insolvencies and dissolutions, often referred to as “phoenixism”, to evade tax. Deterring tax fraud and rewards for informants HMRC’s counter-fraud capability will be expanded to address “high value and high harm tax” and its scheme for rewarding informants will be strengthened in order to encourage reporting of high value tax fraud and avoidance. Tackling promoters of marketed tax avoidance A consultation will be published in early 2025 on a package of measures to tackle promoters of marketed tax avoidance. Offshore tax compliance The Government committed additional resources to scale up compliance activity in order to tackle serious offshore non-compliance such as fraud by wealthy taxpayers and intermediaries, corporates they control and other connected entities. Simplification of taxation of offshore interest A consultation has been launched to tackle challenges arising from the mismatch of information on offshore interest being provided on a calendar year basis rather than a UK tax year basis. The consultation is seeking views on options to address this mismatch, including changes to the rules so that individuals are taxed on the non-UK interest arising in the year ended 31 December that ends in the tax year. Cryptoasset Reporting Framework and amendments to the Common Reporting Standard A summary of responses to the consultation on the implementation of the Cryptoasset Reporting Framework (CARF) and amendments to Common Reporting Standard was published. This includes a decision to extend the CARF’s reporting requirements to UK users. This will be legislated for in Finance Bill 2024/25, although draft regulations to implement the revised rules have already been published for consultation. Employee ownership trusts and employee benefit trusts A package of reforms to the taxation of employee ownership trusts and employee benefit trusts were introduced to prevent opportunities for abuse and ensure that the regimes remain focused on encouraging employee ownership and rewarding employees. These changes took effect from 30 October 2024. Hidden economy: expanding tax conditionality to new sectors and consultation on HMRC correction powers A consultation has been published on whether to make the renewal of further public sector licences conditional on applicants demonstrating they are appropriately registered for tax. The Government has also published a consultation on reforming HMRC’s correction powers, exploring changes to HMRC’s existing powers and processes, and a potential new power to require taxpayers to correct mistakes themselves. A response to the call for evidence on HMRC powers, penalties, and safeguards has also been published. Making better use of third-party data The Government will publish a consultation in early 2025 on modernising how HMRC acquires and uses third-party data. Requirements for European Economic Area overseas pension schemes The Government will bring in line the conditions of overseas pension schemes (OPS) and recognised overseas pension schemes (ROPS) established in the EEA with OPS and ROPS established in the rest of the world from 6 April 2025. UK resident pension scheme administrators The Government will require scheme administrators of registered pension schemes to be UK resident from 6 April 2026.  

Nov 11, 2024
READ MORE
Tax UK
(?)

Capital allowances – Autumn Budget 2024

A range of measures featured in this area including the announcement that the 100 percent first year allowance (FYA) for qualifying expenditure on certain green assets, including plant or machinery for electric vehicle charge points, will be extended, a recommendation of the Institute in its pre-budget submission. Green FYA The Government will extend for a further year the 100 percent FYA for qualifying expenditure on zero-emission cars and the 100 percent FYA for qualifying expenditure on plant or machinery for electric vehicle charge points to 31 March 2026 for corporation tax and 5 April 2026 for income tax. Leased assets and full expensing Extending full expensing to assets bought for leasing or hiring will be explored when fiscal conditions allow. What qualifies for capital allowances HMRC will continue to work with stakeholders to improve and clarify guidance on areas of uncertainty within the capital allowances system. Tax treatment of predevelopment costs A consultation will be launched in the coming months that explores the tax treatment of predevelopment costs.

Nov 11, 2024
READ MORE
Tax UK
(?)

Tax policy making and simplification – Autumn Budget 2024

The Government will engage with stakeholders over the coming months to understand their views on where the tax policy making process works well, and what could be improved. In its pre-budget submission, the Institute highlighted the need to examine the current tax policy making process. The Government is also committed to a single major fiscal event per year. According to the Budget publications, the Government will simplify the tax system and will take this forward as part of its three strategic priorities for HMRC. It plans to engage with stakeholders before introducing a set of measures to simplify tax administration and improve taxpayer experience in Spring 2025. This will focus on reducing burdens on small businesses. The Government will meet stakeholders to understand the priorities for administration and simplification, ensuring that this work is driven by the views of taxpayers.

Nov 11, 2024
READ MORE
Tax UK
(?)

VAT and various duties – Autumn Budget 2024

As previously announced VAT on private school fees will proceed as planned from 1 January 2025. On the duty side, the expected increase in fuel duty has been shelved, as recommended by the Institute in its pre-budget submission. VAT on private school fees From 1 January 2025, all education services and vocational training provided by a private school in the UK for a charge will be subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20 percent This will also apply to boarding services provided by private schools. The Government has now published a response to its recent technical consultation on this policy. To protect pupils with special educational needs that can only be met in a private school, local authorities and devolved Government’s that fund these places will be compensated for the VAT they are charged on those pupils’ fees. VAT treatment of private hire vehicles The Government is considering the responses to the consultation on the VAT treatment of private hire vehicle services, and the impact of a recent Court of Appeal judgment and will respond to the consultation in due course. Fuel duty The Government is freezing fuel duty and extending the temporary 5p cut for one year, at a cost of £3 billion. This will save the average car driver £59 in 2025/26. Alcohol duty The Government recognises the economic and cultural importance of British pubs and is committed to supporting smaller brewers. The Budget therefore reduced duty on qualifying draught products from 1 February 2025, which represent approximately 60 percent of alcoholic drinks sold in pubs, cutting duty on an average strength pint by a penny. However, alcohol duty on non-draught products will increase in line with Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation from the same date. The current temporary wine easement will end as planned on 1 February 2025. To support small producers, the Government will make the small producer relief more valuable and will also consult on ways to encourage small brewers to retain and expand their access to UK pubs, maximising drinkers’ choice and local economies, including through provisions to enable more ‘guest beers’. The Government also announced the end of mandatory duty stamps for spirits and will consult with industry to establish how it can better support the delivery of the spirit drinks verification scheme, which allows spirit producers to verify the geographic origin of their products. This will include the Government making an investment of up to £5 million “to support and look to reduce bureaucracy for existing and prospective producers who may wish to join”. Air passenger duty To ensure Air Passenger Duty (APD) revenues remain sustainable, all APD rates will increase in 2026/27. This equates to £1 more for those taking domestic flights in economy class, £2 more for those flying to short-haul destinations in economy class, £12 for long-haul destinations, and relatively more for premium economy and business class passengers. The higher rate, which currently applies to larger private jets, will rise by a further 50 percent in 2026/27. From 2027/28 onwards, all rates will be uprated by forecast RPI and rounded to the nearest penny. The Government is also consulting on extending the scope of the APD higher rate to capture all passengers travelling in private jets already within the APD regime. Vehicle excise duty To help drive the transition to electric vehicles (EVs), the Government is strengthening incentives to purchase EVs by widening the differentials in vehicle excise duty (VED) first year rates between EVs and hybrids/internal combustion engine cars. The Government recognises the disproportionate impact of the current VED expensive car supplement threshold for those purchasing zero emission cars and will consider raising the threshold for zero emission cars only at a future fiscal event, to make it easier to buy electric cars. Heavy goods vehicle (HGV) VED rates will increase in line with RPI from 1 April 2025 as will the HGV levy. Smoking duty The tobacco duty escalator of RPI +2 percent is being retained for the remainder of this Parliament and will increase duty by a further 10 percent on hand-rolling tobacco this year. These changes apply from 6pm on 30 October 2024. A new vaping products duty will be introduced from 1 October 2026 at a flat rate of £2.20 per 10ml vaping liquid, accompanied by an equivalent further one-off increase in tobacco duty to maintain the financial incentive to switch from tobacco to vaping. Soft drinks levy The soft drinks levy will increase so that it maintains the incentive for soft drinks manufacturers to reduce their sugar content. Rates will be announced in the preceding autumn fiscal event. Both the lower and higher rates of the Levy will increase each year over the next five years to reflect the 27 percent Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase between 2018 and 2024, in addition to an increase in line with the CPI each year from 1 April 2025. The Government will also review the current sugar thresholds and the exemption for milk-based drinks. Gaming duty The gross gaming yield bandings for gaming duty will be frozen from 1 April 2025 until 31 March 2026. The Government will also consult in 2025 on proposals to bring remote gambling (meaning gambling offered over the internet, telephone, TV and radio) into a single tax, rather than taxing it through a three-tax structure. This will aim to simplify, future-proof and close loopholes in the system.  

Nov 11, 2024
READ MORE
Tax UK
(?)

Miscellaneous measures and other taxes – Autumn Budget 2024

A range of other measures also featured, included increases in certain stamp duty land tax rates from 31 October 2024. Stamp duty land tax (SDLT) The SDLT surcharge on acquisition of an additional dwelling increased from 3 percent to 5 percent from 31 October 2024. The 15 percent rate of SDLT that is charged on the purchase of dwellings costing more than £500,000 by corporate bodies increased by 2 percentage points to 17 percent from the same date. Those who exchanged contracts prior to 31 October 2024 are not affected by these rate increases. Van fuel and benefit charge and car fuel benefit Both of these will increase by the CPI from 6 April 2025. Plastic packaging tax To incentivise businesses to use recycled instead of new plastic in packaging, the Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) rate for 2025/26 will increase in line with CPI inflation. To support the use of and investment in advanced chemical recycling technologies, businesses will be permitted to use a mass balance approach to evidence recycled content in chemically recycled plastic for the PPT. Landfill tax rates The previously announced adjustment to landfill tax rates from 1 April 2025, which maintains the incentive to manage waste more sustainably, will be implemented in order to maintain the real-terms value of landfill tax rates. To ensure they reflect up-to-date market and economic conditions, the Government will announce future landfill tax rates at the fiscal event immediately before, so that those applicable from 1 April 2026 will be announced at Budget 2025. Land remediation relief A consultation will be launched in Spring 2025 to review the effectiveness of land remediation relief and will consider whether the relief is still meeting its objectives and is good value for money. Rollover of 2021 business tariff suspensions Following feedback from businesses, the Government will maintain tariff-free imports to avoid unnecessary costs for UK businesses. This measure will extend, until June 2026, tariff suspensions on goods ranging from aluminium frames used by UK bicycle manufacturers to ingredients used by UK food producers. Alternative finance tax rules  Alternative finance tax rules will be amended to put certain tax consequences of alternative and conventional financing arrangements on a level playing field. This follows a consultation on tax simplification for alternative finance which the previous Government published a summary of responses to earlier in 2024. The changes apply UK-wide from 30 October 2024 and will be legislated for in Finance Bill 2024/25. Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED) The annual chargeable amounts for the ATED will increase by the September 2024 CPI figure of 1.7 percent in 2025/2026. This will be implemented via a Treasury Order. Private intermittent securities and capital exchange system - stamp taxes exemption The Government is committed to delivering the private intermittent securities and capital exchange system (PISCES), a new innovative market for trading private company shares. In line with that commitment, the Government announced that PISCES transactions will be exempt from Stamp Duty and Stamp Duty Reserve Tax. This exemption will be introduced via a similar timeline to the legislation which will establish the PISCES regulatory framework. Energy profits levy From 1 November 2024, the Energy Profits Levy (EPL) increased by 3 percentage points to 38 percent, the investment allowance was abolished, and the rate of the decarbonisation allowance was set at 66 percent, so that its cash value is maintained. To provide certainty and to support a stable energy transition, the Government will make no additional changes to tax relief available within the EPL regime and the levy will end on 31 March 2030. The Government will legislate for these measures in Finance Bill 2024/25. To support long-term stability and predictability in the oil and gas fiscal regime, the Government also plans to publish a consultation in early 2025 on how the taxation of oil and gas profits will respond to price shocks after the EPL ends. It will also continue to have regular engagement with the sector to understand the evolving context of oil and gas investment, supported by bi-annual fiscal forums. Relief for payments made into a carbon capture usage and storage decommissioning fund The Government will legislate in Finance Bill 2024/25 to provide relief for payments oil and gas companies make into decommissioning funds in relation to assets sold for use in carbon capture usage and storage, maintaining the tax treatment had these assets instead been decommissioned. This legislation will also remove receipts from the sale of these assets from the scope of the EPL. Consultation on scope 3 emissions The Government is consulting on new environmental guidance for assessing end use emissions related to oil and gas projects. This consultation seeks to provide stability for the oil and gas industry, support investment, protect jobs and ensure a fair, orderly and prosperous transition in the North Sea in line with climate and legal obligations. Climate change levy 2026/27  The main rates of the climate change levy (CCL) for gas, electricity, and solid fuels will increase in line with the Retail Price Index in 2026/27. The main rate for liquefied petroleum gas will continue to be frozen and the reduced rates of the CCL will remain at an unchanged fixed percentage of the main rates. Carbon price support 2026/27  Carbon price support rates in Great Britain will remain at a level equivalent to £18 per tonne of CO2 in 2026/27. Advance tax certainty for major projects A consultation will be launched in Spring 2025 to develop a new process that will give investors in major projects increased tax certainty in advance.  

Nov 11, 2024
READ MORE
Tax UK
(?)

Autumn Budget 2024: businesses bear the burden as Government seeks to restore UK’s finances

Last week’s Autumn Budget and the first for new Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves featured £40 billion in tax rises and was announced with the objective of repairing public finances because of £22 billion of “in-year pressures” whilst at the same time establishing a robust foundation for economic growth. However, the April 2025 changes in employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) will increase the cost of employment for many businesses when combined with the increase in the national minimum and living wage. Smaller employers will be somewhat protected as a result of changes from the same date to the employer NICs employment allowance. The rates of capital gains tax were also increased from Budget Day with the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) estimating that this will raise an additional £2.5 billion. And buried in the Budget publications was the news that Making Tax Digital (MTD) for income tax will be extended to unincorporated businesses and landlords with turnover over £20,000 by the end of the current Parliament the precise timing for which will be set out at a future fiscal event. Chartered Accountants Ireland will be challenging the Government on this reduction in the MTD exemption limit. A range of changes to inheritance tax (IHT) were also announced with the aim of ensuring that the wealthiest estates will bear the greatest burden with the scope of agricultural and business property relief to be limited and the news that unused pension funds and death benefits payable from a pension into a person’s estate will be within the scope of IHT in future. The rate of stamp duty land tax on acquisitions of certain residential property in England and Northern Ireland was also increased from 31 October 2024. On the business side, the publication of the previously announced Corporate Tax Roadmap should provide businesses with more certainty and once again confirms that no changes will be made to the current rates of corporation tax, amongst other business taxes areas. The UK’s CT rate is currently the lowest in the G7. A response was also published to the consultation on potential regulation of tax advisers which the Institute responded to earlier this year. The consultation response sets out that from April 2026 the Government will mandate registration of tax advisers who interact with HMRC on behalf of clients. A further consultation will also be published on tackling rogue tax advisers. However, the consultation response is silent on any new measures to regulate the UK tax agent market. HMRC has sent a more detailed email setting out information on the consultation response and is planning a round table meeting later this month to discuss the way forward in more detail. Chartered Accountants Ireland will be in attendance. And finally, the Northern Ireland Executive will receive an additional £1.5 billion in funding in 2025/26 through the operation of the Barnett formula. Read the Institute’s Press Release reacting to the Autumn Budget 2024. The analysis herein is based on the publications of HMRC and HM Treasury. A more detailed analysis of the tax announcements features in the remainder of today’s UK section and will continue in next Monday’s edition of Chartered Accountants Tax News. The Institute’s UK Autumn Budget 2024 page also contains a range of resources. HMRC has also sent an email on the Budget announcements and one specifically for agents. An overview of all the tax legislation and rates announced has also been published.

Nov 04, 2024
READ MORE
Tax
(?)

Capital taxes measures - 2024 UK Autumn Budget

Some capital gains tax (CGT) rates were increased from Budget Day and the rate of both Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR), and Investors’ Relief (IR) will be increased in two stages starting from April 2025. A range of significant changes will also be made to inheritance tax (IHT) which will see IHT extended to death benefits payable from a pension into a deceased’s estate, in addition to changes to both business property relief (BPR) and agricultural property relief (APR). Previously announced changes, including the abolition of the CGT and income tax non-domicile regime from 6 April 2025 which will be replaced with a new residence-based regime, were also confirmed.  The territoriality of IHT will also move to a residence-based regime as planned. CGT rate increases For disposals made on or after 30 October 2024, the lower rate of CGT increased from 10 percent to 18 percent, whilst the higher rate increased from 20 percent to 24 percent.  These new rates align with the residential property CGT rates which remain unchanged. Carried interest is a performance-related reward received by a small population of fund management executives. From April 2026, carried interest will be taxed fully within the income tax framework, with bespoke rules to reflect its unique characteristics and a 72.5 percent multiplier applied to qualifying carried interest that is brought within charge. As an interim step, the two CGT rates for carried interest will both increase to 32 percent from 6 April 2025. The Government will also consult on introducing further conditions of access into the regime. CGT BADR and IR As a result of the newly increased rates of CGT, BADR and IR will both increase from 10 percent to 14 percent from 6 April 2025 and to 18 percent from 6 April 2026 to allow business owners time to adjust to the changes. The lifetime limit (LL) for BADR will remain at £1 million. In contrast, the LL for IR reduced from £10 million to £1 million for all qualifying disposals made on or after 30 October 2024. Chartered Accountants Ireland has previously questioned the policy need for IR and its high lifetime limit. The Government has also stated that it is committed to creating a positive environment for entrepreneurship and will work with leading entrepreneurs and venture capital firms on how policy supports that, including the role of existing tax schemes. A commitment was also made to make it easier for start‑ups and scale‑ups to access external sources of financial support. This includes, as already legislated for, extending the Enterprise Investment Scheme and Venture Capital Trust schemes to 2035. Non-UK domiciled status As previously announced, the non-UK domiciled regime, and thus the remittance basis of taxation for CGT and income tax, is being abolished from 6 April 2025. The remittance basis will be replaced with a residence-based regime. Individuals who opt-in to the regime will not pay UK tax on foreign income and gains (FIG) for the first four years of tax residence. Current and past remittance basis users will be able to rebase personally held foreign assets to the assets 5 April 2017 market value on a disposal, subject to certain conditions. Overseas Workday Relief will be retained and reformed, with the relief extended to a four-year period and the need to keep the income offshore removed. The amount claimed annually will be limited to the lower of £300,000 or 30 percent of the employee’s net employment income. The Temporary Repatriation Facility (TRF) is being extended from two to three years until 5 April 2028, expanding the scope to offshore structures, and simplifying the mixed fund rules to encourage individuals to spend and invest their FIG in the UK. The TRF will enable the individual to designate and remit at a reduced rate of tax any foreign income and gains which arose prior to 6 April 2025. This includes unattributed foreign income and gains held within trust structures IHT measures and reliefs IHT thresholds (£325,000 nil rate band, £175,000 residence nil rate band, and the £2 million residence nil rate band taper) will remain frozen at their current levels for a further two years beyond April 2028 until April 2030. Significant reforms to both APR and BPR were also announced. From April 2026, the first £1 million of combined qualifying agricultural and business assets will be entitled to 100 percent relief from IHT with the rate of relief reduced to 50 percent for amounts in excess of £1 million. The rate of BPR will also be reduced to 50 percent for shares designated as “not listed” on the markets of a recognised stock exchange, such as AIM. However, from 6 April 2025 the scope of APR will be extended to land managed under an environmental agreement with, or on behalf of, the UK government, devolved governments, public bodies, local authorities, or approved responsible bodies. As previously announced, the new IHT residence-based regime will commence from 6 April 2025. This includes ending the use of offshore trusts to shelter assets from IHT and scrapping the planned 50 percent tax reduction for foreign income in the first year of the new regime. From 6 April 2027 unused pension funds and death benefits payable from a pension into a person’s estate will be subject to IHT purposes. In doing so the Government aims to restore the principle that pensions should not be a vehicle for the accumulation of capital sums for the purposes of inheritance. £52 million is also being invested to digitalise the IHT service from 2027/28 with the aim of providing a modern, easy-to-use system for making returns and paying IHT.

Nov 04, 2024
READ MORE
123
back to 2024 UK autumn budget

The latest news to your inbox

Please enter a valid email address You have entered an invalid email address.

Useful links

  • Current students
  • Becoming a student
  • Knowledge centre
  • Shop
  • District societies

Get in touch

Dublin HQ

Chartered Accountants
House, 47-49 Pearse St,
Dublin 2, D02 YN40, Ireland

TEL: +353 1 637 7200
Belfast HQ

The Linenhall
32-38 Linenhall Street, Belfast,
Antrim, BT2 8BG, United Kingdom

TEL: +44 28 9043 5840

Connect with us

Something wrong?

Is the website not looking right/working right for you?
Browser support
CAW Footer Logo-min
GAA Footer Logo-min
CCAB-I Footer Logo-min
ABN_Logo-min

© Copyright Chartered Accountants Ireland 2020. All Rights Reserved.

☰
  • Terms & conditions
  • Privacy statement
  • Event privacy notice
  • Sitemap
LOADING...

Please wait while the page loads.