The Emergency Budget and Mini Budget was announced today 23rd September by Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng. His announcements come amid the Government’s growth plan vowing to break the ‘cycle of stagnation’
The ‘Emergency Budget’ and Mini Budget has seen the biggest assault on the tax burden since 1972.
Emergency Budget and Mini Budget In Summary:
Freeze on Energy Bills
Stamp Duty Cut
Income Tax Cuts
National Insurance Increase reversed
Dividend Tax Reversal
Cancelling corporation Tax Increases on Businesses. Beer, wine and cider duty rises are being cancelled
VAT Free shopping for tourists
Investments zones to bolster business and the economy
Cap on Bankers’ bonuses scrapped
The Chancellor said during the mini budget and emergency budget that this is part of a long-term challenge.
‘Growth is not as high as it should be,’ he said. ‘We are determined to break that cycle. We need a new approach for a new era.’
The changes are not technically a Budget, but a ‘fiscal event’
Worth noting, the Bank of England pushed up interest rates by 0.5 percentage points to 2.5 per cent yesterday, the highest level since 2008. But it surprised many by stopping short of a bigger increase, suggesting that UK plc is already in recession.
Freeze Energy Bills
As we covered in last months newsletter, bills at a typical household will be £2,500. The government is determined to help with the cost-of-living crisis – but the chancellor admitted the price tag will be £60billion just for the first six months.
The two-year freeze on energy bills for households and businesses announced earlier this month could cost more than £150billion by itself, while the tax cuts could add a further £50billion to the tab
The new chancellor shared further details on how much it will cost to deliver October’s cap on energy prices.
Prime minister Liz Truss has said unit rates and standing charges on default tariffs will be frozen from 1 October for two years. This means a household will pay an average of £2,500 a year for energy usage until 2024.
The previously planned cap had been set to cost households an average of £3,500 for an annual energy bill, so the freeze will save them about £1,000 each year.
Starting today the government has announced a permanent reduction in Stamp Duty; the amount of tax you pay when buying property or land in England and Northern Ireland.
The government hopes that cutting stamp duty will stimulate the housing market by encouraging people to buy property.
The Stamp Duty Cut:
You no longer have to pay stamp duty on the first £250,000 of a property (up from £125,000).
First time buyers will no longer have to pay stamp duty on the first £425,000 of a property (up from £300,000). The value of the property on which first-time buyers can claim this relief has also increased from £500,000 to £625,000.
A temporary stamp duty holiday had been introduced during the pandemic and house prices soared. Prime minister Liz Truss has previously said that reducing this tax is “critical” to economic growth.
The Chancellor said:
‘We’re going to increase the value of the property on which first-time buyers can claim relief, from £500,000 to £625,000.
‘The steps we’ve taken today mean 200,000 more people will be taken out of paying stamp duty altogether. This is a permanent cut to stamp duty, effective from today.’
According to the most recent Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures, the average UK house price leapt by 15.5 per cent annually in July, marking the biggest increase in 19 years.
Income tax cuts
The chancellor announced two major changes to income tax bands during the Emergency Budget and Mini Budget:
The government will bring forward its cut to the basic rate of income tax by a year. This means it will reduce to 19p in every £1 in April 2023 (up from 20p in every £1).
He will also scrap the additional rate of income tax, which will benefit workers on the highest salaries. This means the top tax band of 45% will be removed.
It means there are now just two rates of income tax, the basic 20p rate and the single higher rate paid by those earning more than £50,000.
The Treasury says the average basic rate taxpayers will be £130 better off, and higher rate taxpayers will be £360 better off. But the former top rate taxpayers will save around £10,000.
That means a tax cut for over 31 million people in just a few months’ time.
‘From April 2023 we will have a single higher rate of income tax of 40 per cent,’ the Chancellor said.
‘This will simplify the tax system and make Britain more competitive. It will reward enterprise and work. It will incentivise growth. It will benefit the whole economy and the whole country.
Someone earning a £500,000 salary set for £23,592.88 boost, according to figures from wealth management firm Quilter.
Reversal of National Insurance Increase
Yesterday the government confirmed plans to reverse the 1.25% rise in national insurance contributions.
In April, national insurance contributions increased by 1.25% for both employees and employers. But this will be scrapped on 6 November.
This means 28 million workers will have more money in their pockets. On average, each worker will get an extra £330 in take-home pay over a year.
The increase in the national insurance threshold, which came into force in July, will remain the same.
Dividend tax reversal
The Government announced as part of the Emergency Budget and Mini Budget that they are reversing the 1.25 percentage point increase in dividend tax rates applying UK-wide from 6 April 2023, according to the growth plan document.
Alongside the reversal of the Health and Social Care Levy, the ordinary and upper rates of dividend tax will be reduced to 2021-22 levels of 7.5% and 32.5% respectively.
CANCELLING CORPORATION TAX INCREASE FOR BUSINESSES
One of the announcements of the mini budget is the cancelling of a planned increase in Corporation Tax.
In last year’s Budget, former Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that the profits levy would increase by six percentage points to 25 per cent in 2023.
The Chancellor said that the increase would now not go ahead, saving firms £19billion and giving the UK the lowest rate in the G20.
The Chancellor told the Commons:
‘The interests of businesses are not separate from the interest of individuals and families. In fact, it is businesses that employ most people in this country. It is businesses that invest in the products and services we rely on.’
INVESTMENT ZONES
The Chancellor confirmed during the Mini Budget and Emergency Budget that the creation of low-tax, low-regulation investment zones in up to 38 areas of the UK, with new startups enjoying breaks such as exemption from business rates.
The Government is in talks with dozens of local authorities in England to set up zones in order to speed up the rate of building.
Planning rules will be liberalised, and the sites will get tax breaks to encourage firms into setting up.
More details on how areas can bid to take part will be set out by the Department for Levelling Up.
The 38 areas in discussion to become an investment zone are:
Emergency Budget and Mini Budget
The Emergency Budget and Mini Budget was announced today 23rd September by Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng. His announcements come amid the Government’s growth plan vowing to break the ‘cycle of stagnation’
The ‘Emergency Budget’ and Mini Budget has seen the biggest assault on the tax burden since 1972.
Emergency Budget and Mini Budget In Summary:
The Chancellor said during the mini budget and emergency budget that this is part of a long-term challenge.
‘Growth is not as high as it should be,’ he said. ‘We are determined to break that cycle. We need a new approach for a new era.’
The changes are not technically a Budget, but a ‘fiscal event’
Worth noting, the Bank of England pushed up interest rates by 0.5 percentage points to 2.5 per cent yesterday, the highest level since 2008. But it surprised many by stopping short of a bigger increase, suggesting that UK plc is already in recession.
Freeze Energy Bills
As we covered in last months newsletter, bills at a typical household will be £2,500. The government is determined to help with the cost-of-living crisis – but the chancellor admitted the price tag will be £60billion just for the first six months.
The two-year freeze on energy bills for households and businesses announced earlier this month could cost more than £150billion by itself, while the tax cuts could add a further £50billion to the tab
The new chancellor shared further details on how much it will cost to deliver October’s cap on energy prices.
Prime minister Liz Truss has said unit rates and standing charges on default tariffs will be frozen from 1 October for two years. This means a household will pay an average of £2,500 a year for energy usage until 2024.
The previously planned cap had been set to cost households an average of £3,500 for an annual energy bill, so the freeze will save them about £1,000 each year.
We have more detail on the energy price freeze.
Stamp Duty Cut
Starting today the government has announced a permanent reduction in Stamp Duty; the amount of tax you pay when buying property or land in England and Northern Ireland.
The government hopes that cutting stamp duty will stimulate the housing market by encouraging people to buy property.
The Stamp Duty Cut:
A temporary stamp duty holiday had been introduced during the pandemic and house prices soared. Prime minister Liz Truss has previously said that reducing this tax is “critical” to economic growth.
The Chancellor said:
‘We’re going to increase the value of the property on which first-time buyers can claim relief, from £500,000 to £625,000.
‘The steps we’ve taken today mean 200,000 more people will be taken out of paying stamp duty altogether. This is a permanent cut to stamp duty, effective from today.’
According to the most recent Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures, the average UK house price leapt by 15.5 per cent annually in July, marking the biggest increase in 19 years.
Income tax cuts
The chancellor announced two major changes to income tax bands during the Emergency Budget and Mini Budget:
It means there are now just two rates of income tax, the basic 20p rate and the single higher rate paid by those earning more than £50,000.
The Treasury says the average basic rate taxpayers will be £130 better off, and higher rate taxpayers will be £360 better off. But the former top rate taxpayers will save around £10,000.
That means a tax cut for over 31 million people in just a few months’ time.
‘From April 2023 we will have a single higher rate of income tax of 40 per cent,’ the Chancellor said.
‘This will simplify the tax system and make Britain more competitive. It will reward enterprise and work. It will incentivise growth. It will benefit the whole economy and the whole country.
Someone earning a £500,000 salary set for £23,592.88 boost, according to figures from wealth management firm Quilter.
Reversal of National Insurance Increase
Yesterday the government confirmed plans to reverse the 1.25% rise in national insurance contributions.
In April, national insurance contributions increased by 1.25% for both employees and employers. But this will be scrapped on 6 November.
This means 28 million workers will have more money in their pockets. On average, each worker will get an extra £330 in take-home pay over a year.
The increase in the national insurance threshold, which came into force in July, will remain the same.
Dividend tax reversal
The Government announced as part of the Emergency Budget and Mini Budget that they are reversing the 1.25 percentage point increase in dividend tax rates applying UK-wide from 6 April 2023, according to the growth plan document.
Alongside the reversal of the Health and Social Care Levy, the ordinary and upper rates of dividend tax will be reduced to 2021-22 levels of 7.5% and 32.5% respectively.
CANCELLING CORPORATION TAX INCREASE FOR BUSINESSES
One of the announcements of the mini budget is the cancelling of a planned increase in Corporation Tax.
In last year’s Budget, former Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that the profits levy would increase by six percentage points to 25 per cent in 2023.
The Chancellor said that the increase would now not go ahead, saving firms £19billion and giving the UK the lowest rate in the G20.
The Chancellor told the Commons:
‘The interests of businesses are not separate from the interest of individuals and families. In fact, it is businesses that employ most people in this country. It is businesses that invest in the products and services we rely on.’
INVESTMENT ZONES
The Chancellor confirmed during the Mini Budget and Emergency Budget that the creation of low-tax, low-regulation investment zones in up to 38 areas of the UK, with new startups enjoying breaks such as exemption from business rates.
The Government is in talks with dozens of local authorities in England to set up zones in order to speed up the rate of building.
Planning rules will be liberalised, and the sites will get tax breaks to encourage firms into setting up.
More details on how areas can bid to take part will be set out by the Department for Levelling Up.
The 38 areas in discussion to become an investment zone are:
– Blackpool Council
– Bedford Borough Council
– Central Bedfordshire Council
– Cheshire West and Chester Council
– Cornwall Council
– Cumbria County Council
– Derbyshire County Council
– Dorset Council
– East Riding of Yorkshire Council
– Essex County Council
– Greater London Authority
– Gloucestershire County Council
– Greater Manchester Combined Authority
– Hull City Council
– Kent County Council
– Lancashire County Council
– Leicestershire County Council
– Liverpool City Region
– North East Lincolnshire Council
– North Lincolnshire Council
– Norfolk County Council
– North of Tyne Combined Authority
– North Yorkshire County Council
– Nottinghamshire County Council
– Plymouth City Council
– Somerset County Council
– Southampton City Council
– Southend-on-Sea City Council
– Staffordshire County Council
– Stoke-on-Trent City Council
– Suffolk County Council
– Sunderland City Council
– South Yorkshire Combined Authority
– Tees Valley Combined Authority
– Warwickshire County Council
– West of England Combined Authority
– West Midlands Combined Authority
– West Yorkshire Combined Authority
If you have any questions or would like to speak to the Robinsons team on how the above changes announced during the Emergency Budget and Mini Budget affect you and you business – Contact us
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