Spring 2024 Budget Overview
Introduction
On Wednesday, 6 March 2024, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt presented his 'Budget for Long Term Growth.' His address focused on promises of increased investment, job creation, enhanced public services, and reduced tax burdens.
Lowering Taxes
Building on the Autumn Statement 2023, further reductions in National Insurance contributions (NICs) will be effective from 6 April 2024 for both employees and the self-employed. Moreover, the higher rate of Capital Gains Tax on residential property disposals has been reduced, and a new ISA allowance has been introduced to foster investments in promising UK businesses.
In response to business group concerns, the VAT registration threshold has been raised to £90,000, alongside plans to extend Full Expensing to leased assets.
Funding the Cuts
To accommodate these tax reductions, the Chancellor introduced several tax-raising measures, including a new regime for non-domiciled individuals, the abolition of the Furnished Holiday Lettings tax regime and Multiple Dwellings Relief, new duties on vaping, and increased tobacco duty.
Personal Tax
Tax Bands and Rates
The basic rate of tax is set at 20%, applicable to income up to £37,700 for the 2024/25 tax year, with the 40% band commencing at £50,270. The additional rate of 45% is applicable to incomes exceeding £125,140. These thresholds are fixed until April 2028.
For Scottish residents, the 2024/25 tax year will introduce a new 45% rate, making a total of six income tax rates ranging from 19% to 48%.
For Welsh residents, tax rates remain aligned with those in England and Northern Ireland, with the basic rate band frozen at £37,700 until 2028. The personal allowance remains at £12,570 until April 2028, with reductions applying to incomes over £100,000.
The Marriage Allowance
Eligible couples can transfer £1,260 of their personal allowance, reducing the recipient’s tax bill by up to £250 annually. Claims can be backdated to 2019/20, potentially saving over £1,000 by 5 April 2024.
Tax on Savings Income
The Savings Allowance permits up to £1,000 of savings income to be tax-free for basic rate taxpayers and £500 for higher rate taxpayers. The 0% starting rate for savings income up to £5,000 remains, provided non-savings income does not exceed this amount.
Tax on Dividends
The Dividend Allowance will reduce from £1,000 to £500 in 2024/25, with dividends taxed at 8.75% for basic rate taxpayers, 33.75% for higher rate taxpayers, and 39.35% for additional rate taxpayers.
Pension Tax Limits
The Annual Allowance (AA) is set at £60,000, with tapering applied for incomes above £260,000. The Lifetime Allowance (LA) will be abolished from 2024/25.
Individual Savings Accounts
ISA limits remain frozen at £20,000, with Junior ISAs at £9,000 and Lifetime ISAs at £4,000. A new UK ISA with an additional £5,000 allowance will be introduced.
High Income Child Benefit Charge
From April 2024, the income threshold for the High Income Child Benefit Charge will rise from £50,000 to £60,000, with the rate halved to 1% per £200 above the threshold. This adjustment will relieve 170,000 families from the tax charge.
Non-UK Domiciled Individuals
Effective from 6 April 2025, the remittance basis of taxation will transition to a residence-based regime, exempting foreign income and gains for the first four years of UK tax residence. Transitional arrangements include asset rebasing and a 50% exemption on foreign income for the first year.
Employment
National Insurance Contributions
Following the 2023 Autumn Statement, the Class 1 employee NICs rate will be reduced from 10% to 8% from 6 April 2024. The self-employed will see Class 4 NICs drop from 9% to 6%, benefiting approximately two million individuals.
Extension of NICs Relief for Hiring Veterans
The employer NICs relief for businesses hiring veterans will extend until April 2025, covering earnings up to £50,270 for the first year of employment.
National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage
From 1 April 2024, the National Living Wage will increase to £11.44 for those aged 21 and over, benefiting approximately 2.7 million workers.
Taxable Benefits for Company Cars
Rates for company cars remain frozen for 2024/25. Rates will gradually increase for emissions under 75gm/km from 2025/26 to 2027/28, with electric car charges rising to 5%.
Company Vans
The benefit remains at £3,960 per van for 2024/25, with the fuel benefit charge at £757.
Business
Corporation Tax Rates
Corporation Tax rates remain unchanged, with a 25% rate for profits over £250,000 and a 19% rate for profits under £50,000.
Capital Allowances
Full Expensing for qualifying plant and machinery will become permanent, allowing a 100% write-off on expenditures. The Annual Investment Allowance remains at £1 million.
Transfer of Assets Abroad - Anti-Avoidance Legislation
From 6 April 2024, the Transfer of Assets Abroad provisions will prevent tax avoidance through offshore asset transfers.
Creative Industries
The Audio-Visual Expenditure Credit (AVEC) for UK independent films will increase to 53% for budgets up to £15 million. Visual effects costs will see an AVEC increase to 39% from 1 April 2025.
Furnished Holiday Lettings
The Furnished Holiday Lettings tax regime will be abolished from April 2025, with transitional anti-forestalling measures effective from 6 March 2024.
Research and Development Relief
The Research and Development Expenditure Credit and SME schemes will merge from April 2024, with a 20% credit rate. Additional relief for R&D intensive SMEs will continue under the current SME scheme rules.
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax
Implementation of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment will proceed from April 2026, with penalties for late filing and payment applying from 6 April 2024.
Business Rates
The small business multiplier will be frozen for another year, with 75% Retail, Hospitality, and Leisure relief extended for 2024/25.
Freeports and Investment Zones
Tax reliefs available in Freeports will extend from five to ten years, with special tax sites’ sunset dates confirmed.
Capital Taxes
Capital Gains Tax Rates
The Capital Gains Tax rate remains at 10% for basic rate taxpayers and 20% thereafter. Higher rates for residential properties will reduce to 18% and 24% from 2024/25.
Inheritance Tax Nil Rate Bands
The nil rate band remains at £325,000, and the residence nil rate band at £175,000, both frozen until 5 April 2028.
Changes to Agricultural Property Relief and Woodlands Relief
From 6 April 2024, Agricultural Property Relief and Woodlands Relief will no longer apply to properties in the Channel Islands and Isle of Man.
Other Matters
VAT Registration Threshold
From 1 April 2024, the VAT registration threshold will increase to £90,000, with the deregistration threshold rising to £88,000.
Stamp Duty Land Tax Changes
Multiple Dwellings Relief will be abolished from 1 June 2024. First-Time Buyer Relief will extend to individuals purchasing through nominees or bare trusts from 6 March 2024.
Simplification Measures
A new online service will simplify tax relief claims for employee expenses, and a mandatory reporting of benefits in kind via payroll software will be introduced from April 2026.
Other Changes
The alcohol duty freeze will extend until February 2025, and the temporary 5p cut in fuel duty will continue until March 2025. A new duty on vaping products will commence from 1 October 2026, with a one-off tobacco duty increase.
Rates & Allowances
Income Tax
Basic Rate: 20% on income up to £37,700
Higher Rate: 40% on income from £37,701 to £125,140
Additional Rate: 45% on income over £125,140
Dividend Income
Allowance: £500
Rates: 8.75% (basic), 33.75% (higher), 39.35% (additional)
National Insurance
Class 1 (employed): 8% on earnings from £242.01 to £967 per week, 2% above £967
Class 4 (self-employed): 6% on profits from £12,570 to £50,270, 2% above £50,270
Corporation Tax
Small Profits Rate: 19% for profits up to £50,000
Main Rate: 25% for profits over £250,000
Capital Gains Tax
Rates: 10% (basic), 20% (higher)
Annual Exemption: £3,000 (individuals), £1,500 (trusts)
Stamp Duty Land Tax
Residential Property: 0% up to £250,000, 5% from £250,001 to £925,000, 10% from £925,001 to £1,500,000, 12% above £1,500,000
If you have any questions or would like to know how the budget may impact you, get in touch with us below.