2021 Budget Summary

It's probably fair to say today's budget is one of the most highly anticipated budgets due to the current global pandemic.

Speculation beforehand asked whether the Chancellor was going to raise taxes to repay some of the £270.6bn* borrowed to fund the pandemic response, or to try and pump more money into the economy to stimulate some form of economic growth off the back of England’s COVID-19 roadmap.

We've heard ‘hushed’ rumours of Stamp Duty and Furlough extensions, which many say had already set the tone for this budget. Just yesterday the suspicions of the extension of the furlough scheme were confirmed with the scheme being extended until September 2021. But did the rest of the budget follow suit?

The team at SWWM listened in this afternoon, and below we have summarised the main points.

Summary

This was definitely a budget of two halves. Rishi Sunak stated that the first priority was to protect, support and create jobs but that they come at a future cost. Whilst admitting it was not the time to announce tax rises across the board, the Chancellor did announce several policy changes and tax freezes. We have summarised some of the main points below:

Forecast

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) have predicted that the UK will now have a swifter and more sustained recovery than initially predicted in November 2020.

They estimate growth to be;

4% in 2021
7.3% in 2022
1.7% in 2023
1.6% in 2024 and 1.7% in 2025

Job support, protection, creation (individuals)

Extension of the Furlough scheme until September 2021. From July 2021 companies utilising the scheme will be asked to contribute a small percentage of the 80% payment
Self Employed individuals may be eligible for a 4^th and 5^th grant. Those previously ineligible for the self employment grants due to starting businesses in the 19/20 tax year, will now be eligible to apply for the grant but only on the basis they have already submitted their 19/20 tax return
£20 Universal Credit uplift will remain for 6 months
Living wage to increase to £8.91 in April 2021

Job support, protection, creation (businesses)

Companies to be eligible for £3,000 funding for the hire of apprentices at any age
“Restart Grant” available for businesses who have not been able to open. Up to £6,000 for non-essential retail, per premises and up to £18,000 for personal care, with gyms extra
“Recovery Loan” available to businesses for loans of between £25,000 and £10m where the government will guarantee lenders up to 80% of the debt
Business rates holiday for 3 months, and then 2/3 discount for the next 9 months
VAT on hospitality reduced to 5% until 30^th September 2021 and then 12.5% until April 2022 where it will then revert to normal

Housing

Stamp Duty Holiday will remain in force until 30^th June 2021. Between 30^th June 2021 and 30^th September 2021 Stamp Duty will start at a threshold of £250,000, raising to the usual £125,000 in October 2021
95% mortgages to be available

Funding Economic Recovery

Income Tax rates, National Insurance, VAT frozen
Personal Allowance to raise to £12,570 from 2022 and then to remain at this point until April 2026
Higher rate income tax allowance to raise to £50,270 from 2022 and then to remain at this point until April 2026
Inheritance Tax threshold, Pension Life Time Allowance, Capital Gains Tax allowances all frozen at current rates until April 2026
Corporation Tax to rise to 25% in 2023 but based on company profits. Companies with profits sub £50,000 will have corporation tax remain at 19%. Those with profits between £50,000 and £250,000 will have corporation tax rates tapered between 19% and 25% respectively. Those over £250,000 will have 25% corporation tax rates from 2023
Planned rises on duty of beer, wine, cider, spirits and fuel have all been frozen

Note: This information is based on our current understanding of the 2021 Budget. For any further information on any of the points above, please do not hesitate to get in contact with your adviser.

If you have any questions about how the above affects you or want to speak to the Wealth Management team, get in touch with Jak: jak.antony@suttonwinsonwm.co.uk