The UK Budget - cutting through the noise
Chancellor John Healey will deliver his first Budget on Wednesday, 28 October.
There are a variety of rumoured reforms in the headlines. Our market-leading experts will provide rolling analysis up to the Budget, then share insights on the impact of new policies on the economy and your pocket.
Important information: As investment values can go down as well as up, you may not get back all of the money you invest. If you're unsure about investing, please speak to an authorised financial adviser.
What could the Autumn Budget 2026 mean for you?
"As things stand, any tax giveaways at Andy Burnham and John Healey’s inaugural fiscal event seem improbable. Income tax and national insurance thresholds must increase again at some point, but the nation’s precarious finances means the government may stick to the current schedule, with the deep freeze set to last until 2030/31.
"One looming dilemma is the full state pension breaching the tax-free personal allowance from April 2027. While Healey has said he will honour his predecessor's pledge that any retirees whose sole income is from the state pension won't have to pay tax on it, the new chancellor is yet to state how this will be implemented."
Craig Rickman, Personal Finance Editor
Autumn Budget 2026: what we’d like to see
Here are three key changes we’d like to see in the upcoming Budget, and why they could matter to you.
Leave pension tax alone
Almost 1 in 5 (21%) of respondents in our latest Great British Retirement Survey said they would feel more empowered to save into their pension if the rules stopped changing. Without clear guidelines, how can we expect pension savers to confidently plan for the long term?
Remove stamp duty on UK shares and trusts
Our research found three quarters (75%) of people would be more likely to invest in UK shares and trusts if stamp duty was gone. The removal of stamp duty would help boost UK growth and help create a thriving investment culture in the UK.
Simplify the ISA landscape
We’re continuing to call for ISA simplification. The current ISA landscape is complex. There are too many ISA options available that each have its own set of rules, and it risks alienating investors.
How to prepare for the Autumn Budget
Even if this government does introduce major tax reforms, it's rare for changes to come into play immediately. These changes usually take effect at the start of a future tax year, giving you time to understand them and plan ahead.
With adjustments to ISA and pension rules from last year's Budget still being implemented, it's worth staying up to date with developments throughout the year to consider any long-term impact beyond Budget day.
You can keep up with all the pre-Budget news via our On The Money podcast, as well as our editorial articles.
Remember to think long term
Saving and investing for your future is a long-term game, so keep this in mind with any choices you make ahead of the Budget.
Avoid reacting to speculation
While we haven’t seen many headlines so far, it’s important to try not to get caught up in pre-Budget noise. Making knee-jerk decisions based on rumours with your pensions and investments can cause lasting harm to your financial future.
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