On 30 October 2024, Chancellor Rachel Reeves presented her first budget to parliament. This was a budget intended to restore stability to our economy and to begin a decade of national renewal. Investment will be funded by revised debt rules to facilitate additional borrowing and a hefty £40 billion of tax rises.

Headlines included:

• Immediate increases to capital gains tax rates with further uplifts in relation to some business disposals from both April 2025 and April 2026.
• Immediate increases to Stamp Duty Land Tax, including for those buying residential property when they already own at least one dwelling.
• Confirmation that 20% VAT will apply to private school fees for the school term beginning in January 2025.
• Increased costs for many employers from April 2025 through both increases to the national minimum wage and significant reforms to employers’ national insurance contributions.
• Another change in approach for businesses utilising double-cab pick up vehicles, coming into effect in April 2025.
• Plans to restrict inheritance tax agricultural and business property reliefs from April 2026.
• Plans to include an individual’s undrawn pension fund in their inheritance tax estate from April 2027.

Below, we talk more about the Budget and what it means for you.