Tax changes effective this April 2023...

With important tax changes taking place this April, see what action you might take:

Frozen Allowances

Inflation is a gift for the Chancellor when so many tax allowances have been reduced or frozen. As wages increase with inflation, more and more people will get caught by a 40%, 60% or 45% tax rate and many will have to repay child benefit when they didn’t before. 

In this environment, the real tax cost of earnings and profits will increase as time goes on. For example, if you’re planning to refurbish your buy-to-let you might save more real income tax by delaying the refurbishment.

There is much to be happy about in today's Budget, where the magic money trees are well and truly thriving!

Businesses will benefit from many announcements, particularly those who trade from a property, have one or two employees, and need a new car!

Business rates are abolished for a year for rateable values of less than £51k and these same businesses will receive a £3k grant, as a response to the Coronavirus but it's also part of the overall picture of dealing with competition from Amazon and other online retailers.

It was going to be Boris' first Budget today with, we hoped, a few sweeteners or at least the promise of a few. As we'll only know on Friday 13th December what party or coalition will deliver the next Budget, what can you still rely on when trying to be tax efficient? As I see it, these are the enduring themes:

• Innovation is a good thing  
• Green incentives will continue
• Pension saving will still be encouraged (until your pension is 'big').
• Timing is (nearly) everything

How do these themes translate into the tax system for you?