The government announced that it is capping the headline rate of corporation tax at 25 percent, the lowest across the G7. It has committed to maintaining the capital allowances system, preserving the R&D tax relief, and developing a new process for increasing tax certainty in advance of major investments. In our letter to the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury ahead of today’s Budget, we raised the importance of certainty and stability for the R&D tax relief, given the myriad changes in recent years. As such, it is welcome to see a commitment to preserving the R&D tax relief.
Offshore trusts
The government announced that transitional arrangements will be introduced to tackle offshore trusts which are used to shelter assets from inheritance tax (IHT). The details of how these measures will operate will be discussed in due course once those details become available.
Carried interest
The tax treatment of carried interest will be reformed by increasing the capital gains tax (CGT) rate on such interest to 32 percent. From April 2026, a revised regime will apply which will have bespoke rules reflecting the characteristics of the relevant reward.
VAT on private schools
The government has maintained its commitment to introduce VAT on education and boarding services provided by private schools. From 1 January 2025, VAT of 20 percent will apply to charges for services provided by private schools in this regard.