Autumn Budget Report: 2026

The Chancellor’s Autumn Budget brings important implications for UK SMEs, business owners and entrepreneurs. From investment and tax relief to employment costs and compliance, here are four key areas to consider:

• Business investment: The First Year Allowance will increase to 50% for qualifying expenditure from January 2027, while the main writing-down allowance will fall from 18% to 12% from April 2027.
• Business sales and succession: The lifetime limit for Business Asset Disposal Relief will fall from £1 million to £500,000 from 6 April 2027, making early exit and succession planning increasingly important.
• Employment and operating costs: The National Living Wage will rise to £13.21 an hour from April 2027, while targeted business rates relief will support eligible retail, hospitality and leisure businesses.
• Cash flow and compliance: Upcoming e-invoicing requirements and changes to VAT and PAYE payment arrangements mean businesses should review their accounting systems and prepare for future changes.

Whether you’re planning to invest, grow, acquire, sell or expand internationally, understanding these changes is essential to making informed decisions for the future.