UK Budget 2018 roundup

Setting the scene:

The 2018 economic growth forecast was upgraded from 1.3% to 1.6% and public borrowing this year is expected to be £11.6bn lower than forecast in March.

Key points are:

Income tax

  • The personal allowance and higher rate threshold will increase earlier than expected to £12,500 and £50,000 respectively from April 2019. The income tax rates and bands for Scottish taxpayers will be announced in Scottish Budget on 12 December.
  • There are no other changes to income tax bands or allowances.

Pensions

  • The pension lifetime allowance (LTA) will rise to £1,055,000 from April 2019.
  • Reassuringly, there are no changes to pension annual allowances (AA). The standard AA remains at £40,000, the money purchase AA stays at £4,000 (with no carry forward) and there are no changes to the high income AA taper rules.

Capital gains tax

  • The capital gains tax allowance will increase by £300 to £12,000 from April 2019.

Inheritance tax

  • As expected, the IHT nil rate band will remain frozen at £325,000 until April 2021.
  • The residence nil rate band will increase from £125,000 to £150,000 from April 2019, allowing some couples to leave up to £950,000 to future generations free of IHT.

Trust taxation

  • There will be a consultation to consider the simplification and fairness of trust taxation (NB the existing IHT regime for trusts is notoriously complex and any attempt to simplify it is extremely welcome).

ISAs

  • Annual ISA limits stay at £20,000 per person, with no reduction in the range of ISA options available to meet different needs.