Autumn Budget 2025 - “We are Rebuilding our Economy”

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves delivered her second Budget on 26 November, declaring “We are rebuilding our economy.” The fiscal update includes a series of new tax and spending measures – some of which had been announced or trailed prior to Budget day – described as “the right choices for a fairer, a stronger and a more secure Britain.” In total, the Budget will raise £26bn in taxes by 2029/30.

Economic forecasts

Ms Reeves began her statement by acknowledging the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR’s) technical error in releasing its Economic and Fiscal Outlook earlier than planned. The document’s accidental release effectively detailed the Budget’s key contents before the Chancellor stood at the dispatch box to deliver her statement, a move Ms Reeves described as “deeply disappointing.”

The Chancellor then confirmed that the Budget will see an expansion of the buffer for meeting the government’s fiscal targets, with the amount of headroom more than doubling from last year’s figure of £9.9bn to £21.7bn. During her speech, Ms Reeves also noted that the Budget kept “every single one” of Labour’s manifesto pledges on tax, with both her fiscal rules maintained without the need for “austerity” or “reckless borrowing.”

While the Chancellor noted that the OBR’s economic growth forecast for this year had been increased from 1.0% to 1.5%, growth is expected to be 1.4% in 2026, and 1.5% across each of the following four years. In terms of consumer prices, the Chancellor noted that OBR calculations show “inflation is coming down faster” and, “as a direct result of this Budget,” will be “a full 0.4 percentage points lower next year.” The OBR predict CPI inflation of 3.5% this year and 2.5% in 2026.

Personal Taxation, Savings, Wages and Pensions

Income Tax, National Insurance and Thresholds

The Chancellor confirmed there are to be no changes to the basic, higher or additional rates of Income Tax, employee National Insurance contributions (NICs) or VAT
The government is maintaining the Income Tax Personal Allowance at £12,570 and higher rate threshold at £50,270, for an additional three years to April 2031. National Insurance thresholds are also frozen until 2031

Property and Inheritance Tax

Separate rates of Income Tax will apply for property income. From April 2027, the property basic rate will be 22%, the property higher rate will be 42% and the property additional rate will be 47%
Inheritance Tax thresholds (IHT) – The IHT nil-rate bands are already set at current levels until April 2030 and will stay fixed at these levels for a further year until April 2031. The forthcoming combined allowance for the 100% rate of agricultural property relief and business property relief will also be fixed at £1m for a further year until 5 April 2031. This will be legislated for in Finance Bill 2025/26 and take effect from 6 April 2030
A High Value Council Tax Surcharge on owners of residential property in England worth £2m or more will start in 2028/29, with local authorities collecting revenue on behalf of central government. The charge will start at £2,500 a year and rise to £7,500 for properties valued above £5m

Savings and Investments

The starting rate of Income Tax for savings will be retained at £5,000 for 2026/27 and will stay at this level until 5 April 2031. The tax rate on savings income will increase by two percentage points across all bands from April 2027 but current £1,000/£500 Personal Savings Allowances continue
The ordinary and upper rates of tax on dividend income will increase by two percentage points from April 2026. There is no change to the dividend additional rate or the £500 annual (non-ISA) Dividend Allowance
From 6 April 2027 the annual Individual Savings Account (ISA) cash limit will be reduced from £20,000 to £12,000. Annual subscription limits will remain at £20,000 for ISAs until 2031, meaning you can invest the full amount in a Stocks & Shares ISA, or you can invest £12,000 in a Cash ISA, plus £8,000 in a Stocks & Shares ISA. Savers over the age of 65 will be able to save up to £20,000 in a cash ISA each year
Annual subscription limits remain at £4,000 for Lifetime ISAs and £9,000 for Junior ISAs and Child Trust Funds until 5 April 2031
To reform the Lifetime ISA, the government will publish a consultation in early 2026 on the implementation of a new, simpler ISA product to support first time buyers to buy a home. Once available, this new product will be offered in place of the Lifetime ISA
The Help to Save scheme is to be made permanent
The Venture Capital Trust (VCT) and Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) investment limits are increasing to £10m and £20m for Knowledge Intensive Companies (KICs) and the lifetime company investment limit is increasing to £24m and £40m for KICs. The VCT Income Tax relief will decrease to 20%. These changes will be legislated in Finance Bill 2025/26

Wages, Benefits and State Pension

As recently announced, the government will increase the National Living Wage by 4.1% for individuals to £12.71 an hour. The National Minimum Wage for 18 to 20-year-olds will also increase by 8.5% to £10.85 per hour and for 16 to 17-year-olds and apprentices by 6.0% to £8.00 per hour
Working age benefits will be uprated in line with the September CPI inflation of 3.8% from April 2026
As previously announced, the government has committed to maintain the State Pension Triple Lock for the duration of this Parliament, meaning that the basic and new State Pensions will increase by 4.8% in April 2026, in line with earnings growth. This means £241.30 a week for the full, new flat-rate State Pension (for those who reached State Pension age after April 2016) and £184.90 a week for the full, old basic State Pension (for those who reached State Pension age before April 2016)

Pension Contributions

There are to be changes to salary sacrifice arrangements for pension contributions, with the amount that can be sacrificed without paying NICs capped at £2,000 per employee from 2029
Members of the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) and Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) will be protected against the impact of inflation by introducing CPI-linked increases, capped at 2.5% a year, on pre-1997 pension accruals where their original schemes provided this benefit, from January 2027.

Business Measures

In her speech, Ms Reeves said, “We are sending a simple message to the world: If you build here, Britain will back you,” before making the following announcements:

A new UK Listing Relief will provide a three-year exemption from Stamp Duty Reserve Tax for companies listing in the UK
Visa reforms to help UK businesses access global talent
The British Business Bank’s (BBB’s) new five-year plan will invest at least £5bn in growth-stage funds and scale-up companies. The BBB will launch VentureLink to help pension funds invest in venture capital
Company eligibility limits for the Enterprise Management Incentives scheme will rise, giving more scale-ups the chance to join tax-advantaged share schemes
Business rates in England to be updated from April 2026, including permanently lower multipliers for retail, hospitality and leisure
The government has published a Call for Evidence (to close on 28 Feb 2026) seeking views on how the UK can provide better support to entrepreneurs
More than £1.5bn invested through the Youth Guarantee and Growth and Skills Levy to strengthen the pipeline of skilled labour, including fully funded SME apprenticeships for under-25s.

Housing and Infrastructure

£1.3bn from the National Housing Delivery Fund devolved to major combined authorities to unlock housing, regenerate sites and support local growth
Planning reforms, including changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), alongside skills reform and pensions reform expected to unlock £50bn for business and infrastructure
New infrastructure projects including £890m for the Lower Thames Crossing.

Education and the NHS

Ms Reeves then turned her attention to education, noting, “this is a government on the side of our kids, who will back their potential.” Pledges include:

Ms Reeves also announced 250 new Neighbourhood Health Centres delivered through public investment and a new public-private partnership model, as well as £300m in digital technology upgrades to improve NHS productivity and enhance patient outcomes.

Other Key Points

Removal of the two-child limit in Universal Credit (UC) Child Element – from April 2026
Changes to taxation of electric vehicles – including a new Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) of 3p per mile for electric cars and 1.5p per mile for plug-in hybrid cars, with effect from April 2028
Tobacco Duty rates – to increase by RPI inflation +two percentage points from 6pm on Budget day
Alcohol Duty rates – will increase in line with RPI inflation from 1 Feb 2026
Remote Gaming Duty – will increase from 21% to 40% from April 2026 and a new Remote Betting Rate at 25% within General Betting Duty will be introduced from April 2027
Student Loans – the Plan 2 repayment threshold will be frozen for three years from April 2027
Air Passenger Duty (APD) rates – uprated in line with RPI from 1 April 2027
Devolved government funding – Scottish government to receive £820m, the Welsh government £505m and the Northern Ireland Executive £370m
Defence spending – the UK to spend 2.6% of GDP on defence in 2027
Rail fares freeze – applicable to all regulated rail fares in England for one year starting from March 2026 (announced previously)
Energy prices – a package of measures to reduce average household energy bills by £150 across Great Britain from April 2026
Prescription costs – NHS prescription in England frozen at £9.90.

Closing Comments

Rachel Reeves signed off her Budget saying, “In the face of challenges on our productivity, I will grow our economy through stability, investment and reform. I’ve met my fiscal rules and built our economic resilience for the future. I have asked everyone to contribute… for the security of our country and the brightness of its future, but I have kept that contribution as low as possible by reforming our tax system… making it fairer and stronger for the future.”

It is important to take professional advice before making any decision relating to your personal finances. Information within this document is based on our current understanding and can be subject to change without notice and the accuracy and completeness of the information cannot be guaranteed. It does not provide individual tailored investment advice and is for guidance only. Some rules may vary in different parts of the UK. Tax treatment varies according to individual circumstances and is subject to change. Advice on Cash on Deposit, National Savings Products, Inheritance Tax

Planning and Tax Planning are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

All details are believed to be correct at the time of writing (26 November 2025)

Approver Quilter Financial Limited and Quilter Financial Services Limited 27/11/2025