PMW Budget Summary 2021

1 3 March 2021 l BUDGET @ Copyright 3 March 2021. All rights reserved. This summary has been prepared very rapidly and is for general information only. The proposals are in any event subject to amendment before the Finance Act. You are recommended to seek competent professional advice before taking any action on the basis of the contents of this publication. CONTENTS Budget highlights 1 Introduction 2 Personal taxation and investments 3 Capital taxes 6 Business taxes 7 Value added tax 11 Tax avoidance and evasion 12 Coronavirus measures 14 NICs 16 BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS ■ The main rate of corporation tax will be increased to 25% from April 2023 for companies with profits of at least £250,000. At the same time, a new small companies’ rate of 19% will apply to companies with profits of up to £50,000. ■ For the two years from April 2021, companies investing in qualifying new plant and machinery will benefit from a 130% first-year capital allowance. ■ The personal allowance will rise to £12,570 and the higher rate threshold will be £50,270 for 2021/22 and both will then be frozen for the next four years. ■ The capital gains tax annual exemption, inheritance tax rate nil rate bands and pensions lifetime allowance will all be frozen at their current levels until April 2026. ■ The exemption from stamp duty land tax on the first £500,000 of residential property value will be extended to 30 June 2021 and then replaced by a £250,000 exemption until 30 September 2021. ■ The coronavirus job retention scheme will be extended in full until 30 June 2021 and will be phased out over the following three months. ■ The self-employed income support scheme will also be extended at its current level with a fourth grant covering the period February to April. A fifth grant will cover the period May to September, but this will be at a lower level for those who have seen less than a 30% drop in turnover. ■ The business rates holiday for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses will be extended for three months and will then be reduced to a 66% relief until the end of March 2022.