Yesterday, Wednesday 16 March 2016, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne delivered his eighth full Budget to the House of Commons since the Conservatives came into power in 2010; his second since the party’s majority win in May of last year.
Below we’ve summarised the key talking points from Budget 2016 for individuals. You’ll note what the Guardian call a number of “voter-wooing measures” in our summary. With the Brexit vote scheduled for 23 June, the Conservatives were adamant that the forecasts they presented yesterday are predicated on the UK remaining within the European Union.
Keep an eye out for our articles summarising the key talking points from yesterday’s budget for contractors and, separately, small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), both of which are coming later today.
Personal Allowance to Increase to £11,500
At Budget 2016 Mr. Osborne announced that the Personal Allowance will increase to £11,500 in April 2017, with the higher rate threshold jumping to £45,000.
Before then, however, the current personal allowance of £10,600 is set to rise to £11,000 next month, with the higher rate threshold rising from £42,385 to £43,000.
Capital Gains Tax (CGT) to Reduce from 28-20%
From 6 April 2016 (just three weeks’ time) Capital Gains Tax (CGT) will be reduced from 28-20% for higher rate earners; 18-10% for those paying the basic rate.
Residential property will, however, still be taxed at its current rates, with an eight percent surcharge being payable on top of the new CGT for the residential property itself, and any carried interest that it holds, thus bringing both CGT tax rates back to their former percentage values for residential properties respectively.
ISA Allowance Increases to £20,000, and New Lifetime ISA
From April 2017 the total amount you can save into all ISAs in a given year will increase from £15,240 to £20,000.
The government also announced a new Lifetime ISA which, from April 2017, will allow any adult under the age of forty to save up to £4,000 per year while receiving a 25% bonus on this money from the government. Any money put into your Lifetime ISA can either be saved until you are over sixty and used in your retirement, or withdrawn to purchase a home, if doing so will turn you into a first-time homeowner.
Sugar Tax
In a surprise move the Chancellor has imposed a levy on soft drinks with a total sugar content above 5 grams per 100 millilitres (and an even higher levy for drinks with more than 8 grams per 100 millilitres), from April 2018.
Television chef Jamie Oliver, who has campaigned for a sugar tax for many years (and who personally introduced one in his own restaurants), said yesterday “I never thought they’d do it.” The government noted that the approximately £520m to be raised from the tax will go towards funding school sports programs.
Longer School Days Available to 25% of Secondary Schools
Talking of schools, up to £285 million of funding (some of which coming from the above-mentioned sugar tax) will be set aside to give 25% of secondary schools across the country the option to opt in for longer school days from September 2017, should they so wish.
This comes in tandem with funding aimed at turning every primary and secondary school in the country into an academy by 2022.
Fuel and (Most) Alcohol Duty Frozen
Last in our summary comes a few aforementioned “voter-wooing measures”, including fuel duty being frozen for the sixth year in a row, a measure which the government estimate will save the typical motorist £75 a year.
Rates on spirits, beer, and the majority of ciders will also be frozen for the 2016-17 tax year, and in a measure likely intent on wooing Welsh voters, the crossing toll on the Severn Bridge will be cut in half, down to £3.30.
Understanding Budget 2016
To speak with a professional accountant to discuss the impact of Budget 2016 on you as an individual, or for anything else, contact us today on 020 8780 2349 or get in touch with us via our contact page to arrange a complimentary, no obligation meeting.
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