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Autumn Budget 2026: What Changed, What Didn’t and What It Means for You
29 Oct 2026
James Clark, Tax Partner
Chancellor John Healey delivered his first Budget on Wednesday 28 October. It was a measured Budget, built around targeted cost of living support and a small number of tax rises rather than sweeping reform.
Earlier this month we set out what was confirmed, what was rumoured and how to plan. Now the speech is over, here are the headlines that matter most for business owners, landlords and farming families across Shropshire, Cheshire and Wales. We’ll go into the detail at our budget seminars next week.
What stayed the same
Several of the most talked-about changes didn’t happen, which brings welcome certainty.
- Farm and business property reliefs are unchanged: 100% relief on the first £2.5 million per person, and 50% above that.
- Capital gains tax rates stay where they are, with no exit tax.
- Income tax thresholds remain frozen until April 2031.
For farming families and business owners, succession plans can now move forward on today’s rules. The bigger question is how those rules work alongside pensions, which come into inheritance tax from April 2027.
Selling your business? The numbers have changed
Business Asset Disposal Relief is halving, with the lifetime limit falling from £1 million to £500,000. Most smaller sales won’t be affected, but owners planning a larger exit could face a noticeably bigger tax bill.
A new founders’ relief is also on the table, taxing qualifying gains at 10% up to £10 million. It’s aimed at fast-growing companies with turnover of £10 million or more, and the rules are out for consultation until 30 November.
Landlords and savers: two changes in April 2027
Tax on property and savings income rises by a further two percentage points from April 2027, taking the top rate to 49%. In the same month, Making Tax Digital for Income Tax reaches landlords with qualifying income over £30,000.
Savers have some good news. The planned cut to the cash ISA limit, which we covered in our preview, has been scrapped, so the full £20,000 can still go into cash.
Rates relief for shops, pubs and gyms
The Small Business Rates Relief threshold for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in England rises from £12,000 to £18,000. That takes around 70,000 more businesses out of business rates altogether. Business rates are devolved, so our clients in Wales should wait for the Welsh Government’s own decisions.
Join us next week
There’s more in the detail, from a new way of paying Self Assessment to a boost for employee share schemes. With the government’s financial buffer smaller than before, further change could follow in the spring too. I’ll cover it all at our Autumn Budget seminars, with time for your questions, refreshments and networking with other local business owners.
- Shrewsbury, Monday 2 November
- Northwich, Monday 2 November
- Newtown, Tuesday 3 November
- Nantwich, Tuesday 3 November
Can’t make it? Your usual WR Partners contact is ready to talk through how the Budget affects you.
This article reflects information available on 29 October 2026. It is general commentary and should not be relied on as advice for your individual circumstances.
