The Autumn Budget is confirmed for Wednesday 28 October 2026, the first under Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Chancellor John Healey. Burnham has already said people may need to pay a little more tax to fund a planned overhaul of social care, though no mechanism has been announced yet. With roughly seven weeks left before the Budget lands, it is worth separating what is already locked in from what is still speculation, and looking at what, if anything, is worth acting on now.
What Is Already Confirmed, Budget or Not
A few policies are already set to take effect around the Budget period regardless of what Healey announces on the day:
- VAT is being removed from domestic electricity bills from October 2026
- A £2 cap on single bus fares in England starts January 2027
- Business rates are being reduced for pubs, social clubs, and live music venues
- Fuel duty is rising in stages: 1p from 1 September 2026, a further 2p from 1 December 2026, and another 2p from 1 March 2027
- The personal allowance freeze, already extended to April 2031 at the last Budget, continues regardless
What Might Change on 28 October
Two things are worth watching closely, though neither is confirmed:
- Tax rises to fund social care reform: Burnham has signalled this is likely but has not specified how, whether through income tax, National Insurance, or another route
- Further changes to Capital Gains Tax, dividend tax, or pension reliefs are possible, though nothing specific has been announced ahead of the Budget
- Savings income tax rates are already set to rise by two percentage points from 2027/28, confirmed at the previous Budget, so this is locked in rather than speculative
- Stamp Duty Land Tax reform or abolition has reportedly been ruled out for this Budget
What Is Actually Worth Doing Before 28 October
Reacting to Budget speculation with major financial decisions rarely pays off, since announcements often differ from predictions. That said, a few genuinely time-sensitive checks are worth making now rather than after the Budget:
Pension contributions: if you are close to the personal allowance taper or additional rate threshold, review pension contributions before the tax year moves further along, since this is a planning window rather than a Budget-day decision. See our High Net Worth Individuals service.
Salary and dividend timing: company directors weighing salary against dividends should model both under current rates rather than waiting to see if rates change. See our Ltd Companies and Corporation Tax services.
Property and share disposals already under consideration: if a disposal was already planned for other reasons, current Capital Gains Tax rates are known, future ones are not.
Nothing SDLT-related needs rushing: since reform has reportedly been ruled out for this Budget, there is no need to accelerate a property purchase purely to beat a change that is not currently expected.
Our Approach
We do not recommend making significant financial decisions purely on Budget speculation. What we do recommend is knowing where you stand now, so that whatever is announced on 28 October, you can react from an informed position rather than a standing start. If you want a review of your position before the Budget, get in touch
FAQ
Q: When is the Autumn Budget 2026?
A: Wednesday 28 October 2026, the first Budget delivered by Chancellor John Healey under Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
Q: Will income tax rates go up in this Budget?
A: It is considered unlikely that headline income tax rates will rise, due to an existing manifesto pledge, though the frozen personal allowance already increases the effective tax take without a rate change.
Q: Should I bring forward a property sale before the Budget?
A: Only if the sale was already planned for other reasons. Stamp Duty Land Tax reform has reportedly been ruled out for this Budget, so there is no specific pressure to act early on that basis.
Q: Is the savings tax rate increase part of this Budget?
A: No, the two percentage point rise in savings income tax was already confirmed at the previous Budget and takes effect from the 2027/28 tax year, independent of what is announced on 28 October.