Spring 2021 Budget
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, delivered his second Budget on 3 March declaring that âwe will recoverâ. The key fiscal event, which had been delayed from the Autumn due to the pandemic, centred on a ÂĢ65bn three-part plan designed to continue supporting British people and businesses through the pandemic, âfixâ the public finances once recovery begins and lay the foundations for the future economy.
Economic Forecasts
The Chancellor began his statement by revealing the latest forecasts produced by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) which provide hope of âa swifter and more sustained economic recoveryâ than previously expected. The economy is now forecast to grow by 4% this year and by 7.3% in 2022, which means it will regain its pre-pandemic level by the end of Q2 2022, six months earlier than Novemberâs forecast implied.
In terms of public finances, the OBR expects government borrowing to rise to a peacetime record of ÂĢ355bn in 2020/21 in order to fund the governmentâs economic support measures. As the economy reopens and emergency fiscal support is withdrawn, borrowing is forecast to fall back to ÂĢ234bn in 2021/22. The Chancellor did not set any new fiscal targets in this Budget, though he did acknowledge that tax rises would be needed in the coming years to help repair the public finances.
COVID-19 Support Measures
Prior to Budget day, Mr Sunak had already announced a number of coronavirus support measures including an extension to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, further support for a greater proportion of self-employed workers and details of the Restart Grant and traineeship schemes.
During his speech, Mr Sunak reiterated that he âwill continue doing whatever it takes to support the British people and businesses through this moment of crisisâ, before confirming details of the various initiatives that will see total fiscal support rise to over ÂĢ407bn:
âĒ The furlough scheme will continue until September with no change to employee terms, although in July businesses will be asked for a 10% contribution rising to 20% in August and September
âĒ The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme will pay a fourth and a fifth grant, which will potentially be available to an additional 600,000 self-employed people
âĒ The Universal Credit ÂĢ20 per week uplift has been extended for a further six months
âĒ A new Recovery Loan Scheme will replace existing government-backed schemes at the end of this month offering an 80% government guarantee on SME loans of between ÂĢ25,000 and ÂĢ10m
âĒ The business rates holiday in England has been extended until the end of June with a two-thirds discount then available across the rest of this year
âĒ ÂĢ126m of new money will enable 40,000 more traineeships, with cash incentives for firms taking on an apprentice doubling to ÂĢ3,000
âĒ The 5% reduced rate of VAT for tourism and hospitality sectors has been extended until the end of September followed by an interim rate of 12.5% for a further six months
âĒ A ÂĢ5bn Restart Grant scheme will provide grants of up to ÂĢ18,000 for high street businesses
Personal Taxation, Wages and Pensions
The Chancellor will freeze personal tax thresholds and increase tax rates on corporate profits in a policy he says is âprogressive and fair.â From April, the Personal Allowance will rise with inflation as planned, to ÂĢ12,570, before 20% Income Tax becomes payable. The Income Tax higher rate threshold, at which people start to pay tax at 40% will rise to ÂĢ50,270. Both thresholds will remain at these levels until April 2026 (rates and thresholds may differ for taxpayers in parts of the UK where Income Tax is devolved).
As previously announced, the National Insurance threshold will rise to ÂĢ9,568 from April and the Upper Earnings Limit will be ÂĢ50,270. Looking at Inheritance Tax, the nil-rate bands will remain at existing levels until April 2026: ÂĢ325,000 nil-rate band, ÂĢ175,000 residence nil-rate band with taper starting at ÂĢ2m. The 2021/22 tax year ISA (Individual Savings Account) allowance will remain at ÂĢ20,000. The JISA (Junior Individual Savings Account) allowance and Child Trust Fund annual subscription limit will stay at ÂĢ9,000.
The Capital Gains Tax annual exemption will also remain frozen at ÂĢ12,300 for individuals, personal representatives and some types of trusts, and ÂĢ6,150 for most trusts. The National Living Wage will rise to ÂĢ8.91 per hour and for the first time will include those aged 23 and over. The Lifetime Allowance for pensions will stay at its current level of ÂĢ1,073,100 until April 2026. As previously pledged, the new single-tier State Pension will increase from ÂĢ175.20 a week to ÂĢ179.60 in April 2021. The older basic State Pension will increase from ÂĢ134.25 to ÂĢ137.60 per week. The rise is the result of the triple-lock system, whereby the State Pension rises in line with CPI inflation, average earnings, or 2.5%, whichever is the highest. For this year, the increase is 2.5%.
Business Taxes
In 2023, the main rate of Corporation Tax, paid on company profits, will increase to 25%. Businesses with profits of ÂĢ50,000 or less will continue to be taxed at 19%. A tapered rate will also be introduced for profits above ÂĢ50,000, so that only businesses with profits of ÂĢ250,000 or more will be taxed at the full 25% rate. A temporary super-deduction tax incentive will cut companiesâ tax bills by some 25p for every ÂĢ1 they invest, by providing allowances of 130% on qualifying investment in new plant and machinery.
Housing
A three-month extension to the temporary Stamp Duty Land Tax âholidayâ in England and Northern Ireland was announced, with the ÂĢ500,000 threshold at which SDLT starts to apply now set to end on 30 June. A threshold of ÂĢ250,000 applies for a further three months, with the regular ÂĢ125,000 threshold returning from 1 October 2021.
The Chancellor introduced a new mortgage guarantee scheme. From April, the government will provide guarantees to UK lenders who offer mortgages to buyers to secure a loan with a 5% deposit on a property of up to ÂĢ600,000 up to 31 December 2022.
Environment and âHelp to Growâ Initiatives
Mr Sunak outlined his plans for Britainâs âfuture economyâ, with a âcommitment to green growthâ at its heart. He announced:
âĒ The UKâs first Infrastructure Bank, based in Leeds, with an initial capitalisation of ÂĢ12bn, it will invest in green projects across the UK
âĒ New funding for offshore wind infrastructure in Teesside and the Humber
âĒ A new NS&I retail âgreenâ savings product
âĒ An updated monetary policy remit for the Bank of England, reinforcing the importance of environmental sustainability and the transition to net zero
âĒ Support for the development of new solutions to cut carbon emissions
âĒ At least ÂĢ15bn of green gilt issuance in the coming financial year
Skills training for small businesses is also part of the future economy, Mr Sunak said, announcing a ÂĢ520m âHelp to Growâ scheme that includes:
âĒ Help to Grow: Digital â offers SMEs free online advice and a 50% discount on productivity-enhancing software (up to the value of ÂĢ5,000)
âĒ Help to Grow: Management â offers access to a 12-week training course with leading business schools, which is 90% government subsidised
Other key points:
âĒ The establishment of eight new freeports in England
âĒ As previously announced, an extra ÂĢ1.7bn will be allocated to help the government reach its vaccination target of offering a first dose to every adult by 31 July
âĒ ÂĢ400m to help young people catch up on lost learning
âĒ ÂĢ700m to support the UKâs arts, culture and sporting institutions as they reopen
âĒ ÂĢ150m to help communities take ownership of pubs, theatres, shops, or local sports clubs at risk of loss
âĒ Over ÂĢ1bn was announced for 45 new Town Deals across England
âĒ Increased funding for the devolved administrations; ÂĢ1.2bn for the Scottish government; ÂĢ740m for the Welsh government; and ÂĢ410m for the Northern Ireland Executive
âĒ Fuel duty and alcohol duty frozen
âĒ An extra ÂĢ19m was pledged for domestic violence programmes
âĒ An additional ÂĢ10m to the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, to support veterans with mental health issues (2021/22)
âĒ Contactless payment card limit increased to ÂĢ100 for a single transaction and cumulative contactless payments up to ÂĢ300, the new limits will be implemented later in 2021
âĒ Air Passenger Duty rates will increase in line with RPI from April 2022
âĒ Company vehicles â fuel benefit charges and the van benefit charge will increase in line with CPI from 6 April 2021
âĒ VAT registration and deregistration thresholds will not change for a further period of two years from 1 April 2022
âĒ Taxpayer Protection Taskforce is being established, costing over ÂĢ100m to combat fraud within COVID-19 support packages
âĒ City and Growth Deals â over the next five years ÂĢ84.5m in funding will be brought forward to speed up investment in local economic priorities
âĒ ÂĢ375m for a new Future Fund: Breakthrough scheme, facilitating investment in high-growth, innovative UK firms
âĒ The government is launching the prospectus for the ÂĢ4.8bn
Levelling Up Fund
âĒ The symmetric inflation target of 2% for the 12-month increase in the CPI measure of inflation will remain in place for the financial year 2021/22.
Closing Comments
The Chancellor signed off saying, âAn important moment is upon us. A moment of challenge and of change. Of difficulties, yes, but of possibilities too. This is a Budget that meets that moment.â
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