Autumn Budget 2021: highlights

27th October 2021

The Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivered his Autumn Budget and Spending Review earlier this afternoon, setting out a new Charter for Budget Responsibility, alongside revised economic forecasts and spending plans.

The key tax announcements include:

  • Creative tax reliefs for theatres, orchestras, museums and galleries doubled until April 2023, with rates reducing to current levels by 2024
  • R&D Tax Relief:
    • Scope to be expanded to include cloud computing and data costs
    • Restricted to UK activity from April 2023
  • Tonnage tax for shipping: amendments to favour shipping carrying a UK flag
  • Air passenger duty:
    • A reduced rate for internal UK flights from April 2023
    • A new additional rate for long-haul flights
  • Annual Investment Allowance of £1m extended to April 2023
  • Business rates:
    • 50% discount for the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors for 12 months
    • Revaluations every three years
    • 12 months exemption for business property improvements
    • Investment relief for green investment
    • Multiplier frozen for 2022/23
  • Alcohol duty to be simplified and reformed:
    • To be based on alcohol strength
    • Reliefs for small producers
    • Relief for draught beers and ciders
    • Planned increase for spirits cancelled
  • National Living Wage to increase to £9.50 per hour from April 2022
  • Fuel duty: planned rate rise cancelled
  • Universal Credit: taper rate to be reduced from 63% to 55% by 1 December 2021
  • Capital Gains Tax on residential property: reporting deadline increased from 30 to 60 days
  • A pledge to reduce taxes by the end of this Parliament

Our detailed summary will follow tomorrow morning. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with a member of our Tax team, your usual haysmacintyre contact or Katharine Arthur if you have any queries.

Katharine Arthur

Partner, Head of Private Client
+44 20 7969 5610
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