When is the Autumn Statement 2026?

The Autumn Statement 2026 is expected in late October or November 2026. The exact date has not been confirmed yet. The Chancellor will present the government's fiscal plans to Parliament, including economic forecasts from the OBR, any tax changes, and spending decisions.

What is the Autumn Statement?

The Autumn Statement (sometimes called the Autumn Budget) is when the Chancellor of the Exchequer updates Parliament on the economy and announces fiscal policy changes. It typically includes revised economic growth forecasts from the OBR, changes to tax thresholds or rates, benefit uprating announcements, and government spending plans.

Will taxes go up in the Autumn Statement 2026?

It is too early to confirm specific tax changes. However, the government faces ongoing fiscal pressures from public spending commitments, an ageing population, and debt interest costs. Areas to watch include possible changes to Capital Gains Tax, Inheritance Tax, pension tax relief, and the continued freeze on income tax thresholds (fiscal drag). The government has pledged not to increase Income Tax, National Insurance, or VAT.

Autumn Statement 2026 — What to Expect | PocketWise

Autumn Statement 2026 — What to Expect

Key predictions and areas to watch for the Autumn Statement 2026, including likely tax changes, benefits uprating, and spending announcements.

By PocketWise · 25 March 2026 · 4 min read

The Autumn Statement is one of the most important dates in the UK financial calendar. While the 2026 statement has not yet been announced, here are the key areas to watch and what we know so far.

When Is It?

Detail	Expected
Date	Late October or November 2026 (exact date TBC)
Who delivers it	Chancellor of the Exchequer
Where	House of Commons
Economic forecasts by	Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR)

Areas to Watch

Income Tax

Issue	Current position	What might change
Personal Allowance	£12,570 (frozen until April 2028)	Could be extended beyond 2028 or unfrozen
Basic rate band	£12,571–£50,270	May remain frozen (fiscal drag continues)
Higher rate (40%)	£50,271+	Threshold could remain frozen
Additional rate (45%)	£125,140+	Unlikely to change — already lowered in 2023

The income tax threshold freeze is a stealth tax increase — as wages rise, more people pay higher rates. By 2028, this freeze is expected to bring in billions in extra revenue.

National Insurance

Issue	Current position	What might change
Employee NI rate	8% (reduced from 12% in 2024)	Government pledged not to increase — likely to stay
Employer NI rate	15% (increased from 13.8% in April 2025)	May remain — government may look at threshold changes instead
Self-employed NI (Class 4)	6%	Likely stable
NI threshold	£12,570	Frozen alongside income tax thresholds

Capital Gains Tax

Issue	Current position	What might change
Basic rate CGT	18% (residential property) / 10% (other assets)	Rates were increased in 2024 — further changes possible
Higher rate CGT	24% (residential property) / 20% (other assets)	Government has signalled alignment with income tax is possible long-term
Annual exempt amount	£3,000	Could be reduced further or frozen
Business Asset Disposal Relief	10% up to £1m lifetime	May be reduced or reformed

Inheritance Tax

Issue	Current position	What might change
Nil-rate band	£325,000 (frozen since 2009)	Unlikely to increase — major revenue source
Residence nil-rate band	£175,000	Frozen
Pensions in IHT	From April 2027, pensions brought into IHT	Watch for implementation details
Agricultural and business relief	Being reformed from April 2026	Watch for transition details

Pensions

Issue	Current position	What might change
Annual allowance	£60,000	May be reviewed — some speculation about reduction
Tax-free lump sum	25% (up to £268,275)	Could be capped at a lower amount
Pension tax relief	At marginal rate	Possible move to flat rate (long-discussed, never implemented)
State Pension triple lock	Maintained	Under pressure due to cost — watch for changes
Normal minimum pension age	55 (rising to 57 in 2028)	Confirmed for 2028 — unlikely to change further

Benefits Uprating

Benefit	Current uprating method	Expected change
State Pension	Triple lock (higher of earnings, CPI, or 2.5%)	Likely maintained for 2027/28
Universal Credit	CPI inflation	Standard uprating expected
Child Benefit	CPI inflation	Standard uprating expected
Benefit cap	May be reviewed	Could be frozen or increased
Two-child limit	Under review	Possible reform or removal

Housing and Property

Issue	Current position	What might change
Stamp duty	Current rates and thresholds	First-time buyer relief may change
Mortgage interest relief (landlords)	20% tax credit	Unlikely to change
Renters’ reform	Renters’ Rights Bill progressing	Implementation details
Help to Buy alternatives	Lifetime ISA £450,000 limit	Possible increase to cap
Right to Buy discounts	Under review	May be reformed

Energy and Environment

Issue	Current position	What might change
Energy price cap	Quarterly Ofgem cap	Government may announce broader energy strategy
Boiler Upgrade Scheme	Extended to 2028	May increase grant amounts or expand eligibility
Warm Home Discount	£150	Could be increased
Green investment	Various schemes	Possible new announcements
Carbon pricing	UK ETS	May expand to new sectors

How Previous Autumn Statements Affected Your Money

Key Changes from 2024/2025

Change	Impact
Employer NI increased to 15%	Businesses face higher costs — some passed to employees via lower wage growth
CGT rates increased	Higher tax on investment and property gains
Pensions brought into IHT from April 2027	Major change for estate planning
Income tax thresholds frozen to 2028	Millions paying more tax through fiscal drag
Non-dom status abolished	Affects international workers moving to/from UK

What to Do Before the Autumn Statement

Action	Why
Review your ISA contributions	Use your allowance before any possible changes
Check pension contributions	Maximise tax relief before any cap changes
Review CGT position	Consider crystallising gains before potential rate changes
Update your will	Especially given IHT pension changes from April 2027
Review salary sacrifice arrangements	Ensure you are maximising NI savings

How We’ll Cover It

We will update this guide with the confirmed changes as soon as the Autumn Statement is delivered. Bookmark this page and check back when the date is announced.

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