23W emergency budget report
Posted: June 24, 2010 Filed under: News, Uncategorized Leave a comment »23W
23W Emergency Budget Report June 2010
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The new coalition government, in its first budget, announced tax and spending measures aimed at eliminating the budget deficit by 2014/15. To achieve this, public expenditure cuts will contribute 80%, and tax increases 20%.
A summary of the key tax measures are as follows:
- VAT
The much forecast VAT rise will take effect from 4th January 2011. The standard rate of VAT will increase to 20%. Flat rate scheme percentages will be recalculated.
- Individuals: Capital Gains Tax
The CGT rises were not as severe as expected, and the rate for basic rate taxpayers remains at 18%. The increase for higher rate taxpayers is to 28%, with effect from 23rd June 2010. It is helpful that the annual exemption remains at £10,100, and will rise in future years with inflation.
The lifetime allowance for entrepreneurs’ relief has been increased from £2m to £5m, with effect from 24th June 2010.
- Individuals: Income tax and National Insurance
The personal allowance will be increased from 6th April 2011 by £1000 to £7,475 for those under 65. For higher rate taxpayers, this will be offset by a reduction in the basic rate band. It is still the government’s intention to increase the personal allowance to £10,000 in due course.
The national insurance increases proposed by the previous government have been left in place and will take effect from 6th April 2011.
There are a number of changes to the child and working family tax credits scheme including a cap for those earning over £40,000.
For start up businesses outside London and the South East, there will be a scheme to claim a reduction in NI contributions of up to £5,000 for the first 10 employees. The details of this scheme have yet to be announced.
- Corporation Tax
There are no changes until April 2011.
The reduction in the rate for small companies (taxable profits < £300,000) to 20% will be welcomed.
The main rate of Corporation Tax (for companies with taxable profits >£300,000), will be reduced from 28% by 1% per year from 2011/12 for 4 years until the rate is 24%.
- Capital Allowances
In the last budget in March this year, the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) was increased to £100,000 from April 2010, however from 2012 the AIA will be reduced to £25,000. This will be a disappointment to manufacturing and other capital intensive businesses. Writing down allowance will reduce from 20% to 18% from 2012.
- Furnished Holiday Lets
The plan by the previous government to stop the favourable tax regime available for UK furnished holiday lets (FHL’s) will not be enacted, and FHL’s will continue to enjoy the existing favourable regime. New legislation will include properties in the EEA.
There are plans to change the criteria for qualifying properties, and to reduce the availability of loss relief. These changes are planned for the 2011 Finance Bill.
A summary of the main rates of taxation for 2010/2011 can be downloaded from our website.
This article is a summary of a small selection of items announced in the Budget, and is not intended to be a complete report.
This article is for guidance only, please contact 23W for advice to apply this to your own circumstances.
23W June 2010
