Unpacking the pre-Autumn Budget speech – What looms on the horizon?

With less than a month to go before the Autumn Budget, business owners and individuals alike are waiting to know what the future of the country’s financial state will be.

In an attempt to assuage fears, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves took to the stage to deliver a speech that might offer some indications as to what is in store on 26 November.

However, the lack of meaningful content may have resulted in the speech having the opposite impact.

While we still do not know the full reality of the Autumn Budget, we can unpack the speech and determine what you should be doing now to prepare for the end of the month.

What has been confirmed in the Chancellor’s speech?

Unfortunately, nothing concrete has been confirmed in the latest speech.

Much maligned by commentators and politicians of all varieties, the speech failed to offer any specific details about what may be revealed in the Autumn Budget.

With her inability to rule out breaking the Labour manifesto on tax increases, the speech served to cause additional concerns among workers that they may be subject to rising Income Tax.

This would see reduced spending power among those who are already hard pressed to meet the cost of living and could in turn impact businesses who may see lower than normal spending over the festive period.

It is not yet confirmed which taxes will rise, although some tax increases are a certainty.

Reeves’s reluctance to rely on additional borrowing is further compounding fears that tax increases will be the main measure by which the deficit is addressed.

It is unclear yet how the cost of living can be tackled, even as those who are already struggling to make ends meet are placed once more in the position of funding the economic blackhole in the Government’s finances.

What can be done to prepare for the Autumn Budget?

For anyone who may have still been clinging to a sense of optimism around the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor’s speech has succeeded in snuffing that out.

As such, businesses and individuals should be doing all they can to brace for the worst and then be pleasantly surprised if the content proves different.

Tax hikes are extremely likely, so tax planning will be necessary to mitigate the impact of these bills where possible.

If you are able, you should consider how a rise in each of your tax obligations will impact you and be prepared for any number of them to come to pass.

It is important not to panic and to approach all economic decisions with a clear focus on how they might impact your future prospects.

Speak to our team today to prepare effectively for the Autumn Budget.