In the Chancellor’s second real Budget on 03/03/21 he announced that he had to level with people about the state of the UK economy.

Rishi Sunak has chosen a fine line between raising taxes to start paying down the massive Government borrowings but at the same time stimulate economic recovery and save jobs. He was also mindful of pledges made in the Conservative Party manifesto not to raise income tax, VAT and national insurance. So that leaves corporation tax, CGT and inheritance tax…

Maybe he will delay the announcement of significant increases in taxation until later in the year as it is anticipated that there will be a further Budget in the Autumn. By then the economy will hopefully have started to bounce back.
It has already been announced that there will be important consultation documents issued on 23/03/21 which will seek views on future tax changes. That may be when the expected reforms to CGT and IHT will be announced.

 

SELF EMPLOYED AND INDIVIDUALS

SELF-EMPLOYED INCOME SUPPORT GRANTS EXTENDED (SEISS)

The scheme has been extended to include certain traders who were previously excluded. Thus, those who commenced self-employment in 2019/20 will now be included provided they had submitted their 2019/20 tax return by 02/03/21 and are still trading.

The 4th SEISS grant – This grant covers the period to 30/04/21. We now know that the support will continue to be 80% of average profits for the reference period capped at £2,500 a month and can be claimed from late April.

To claim the SEISS4 grant the trader must declare that they have suffered a significant drop in trading profits. This is further defined as being a reasonable belief that profits have reduced due to one or more of:
• reduced activity
• reduced capacity
• inability to trade

There will then be a fifth SEISS grant covering the 5 months to 30/09/21. Conditions for the fifth grant will be linked to a reduction in business turnover. Self-employed individuals whose turnover has fallen by 30% or more will continue to receive the full grant worth 80% of three months’ average trading profits, capped at £2,500 a month. Those whose turnover has fallen by less than 30% will receive a 30% grant, capped at £950 a month.

We are awaiting further details of this fifth grant, but understand that the portal for claims will be open in late July 2021

All traders who claim either of these new SEISS grants must still be trading in 2021, or their business must be temporarily closed due to coronavirus restrictions. The taxpayer must declare, as part of the grant application, that they intend to continue trading in 2021.

This is particularly tough for individuals who started their self-employed business in 2019, but who were left with no government support in 2020. They still won’t qualify for SEISS support if their new business could not survive into 2021.

 

NO CHANGES TO INCOME TAX RATES AND PERSONAL ALLOWANCE FROZEN

The basic rate of income tax and higher rate remain at 20% and 40% respectively, and the 45% additional rate continues to apply to income over £150,000.

The personal allowance and higher rate threshold have been increased in line with inflation to £12,570 and £50,270 respectively for 2021/22. These thresholds will then be frozen until 2025/26 possibly yielding an extra £19 billion for the government.

There had again been rumours that the dividend rate might be increased, but dividends continue to be taxed at 7.5%, 32.5% and then 38.1%, depending upon whether the dividends fall into the basic rate band, higher rate band or the additional rate band. Note that the first £2,000 of dividend income continues to be tax-free.

Note that the change to the basic rate band will mean that some basic rate taxpayers will be subject to the high income child benefit charge that applies to incomes over £50,000.

 

NATIONAL INSURANCE RATES

The national insurance contribution (NIC) rates and bandings were announced 16/12/20 to take effect from 06/04/21.
Employees and the self-employed will not pay national insurance contributions (NIC) on the first £9,570 of earnings for 2021/22, an increase of £1 a week. The employee contribution rate continues to be 12% up to the Upper Earnings limit £50,270, with the self-employed paying 9% on their profits up to the same level. Note that employer contributions will apply to earnings over £170 per week, £8,840 per annum which is also a £1 a week rise.

 

UNIVERSAL AND TAX CREDITS

There is currently a £20 per week top up for Universal Credit recipients which was due to finish at the end of the tax year. This will now continue for a further 6 months.

Tax Credit beneficiaries will receive a one off £500 payment instead.

 

CAPITAL GAINS TAX

The capital gains tax exemption has been frozen at £12,300, rising from £12,000 in 2019/20,

This will remain unchanged until April 2026.

 

COMPANIES

CORPORATION TAX RATES TO INCREASE TO 25% BUT NOT FOR ALL COMPANIES

The UK corporation tax rate is currently one of the lowest rates of the G20 countries and the government states it is committed to keeping the rate competitive.

That should have the effect of encouraging companies to remain in the UK and companies to set up here. With other countries considering raising corporate tax rates the chancellor has announced that the UK will follow suit and consequently the rate will increase to 25% from 01/04/23 where profits exceed £250,000. However, where a company’s profits do not exceed £50,000 the rate will remain at the current 19% rate and there will be a taper above £50,000. Businesses will however be able to take advantage of new tax breaks to encourage investment in equipment and an enhanced carry back of losses.

SUPER-DEDUCTION FOR INVESTMENT IN NEW EQUIPMENT

In order to encourage companies to invest in new capital equipment the chancellor announced a radical new “super-deduction” of 130% where they invest in new plant. This would mean that when a company buys plant costing £10,000 they would qualify for a £13,000 deduction in arriving at business profits. The new deduction, which will run for two years from 01/04/21, will not be available for motor cars. Certain assets such as fixtures in buildings will only qualify for 50% relief in the first year instead of the normal 6% writing down allowance.

THREE YEAR CARRY BACK OF TRADING LOSSES

Many businesses will have made a loss in the last year as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic and the difficult trading environment.
Trading losses can normally only be set against profits of the preceding accounting period or previous tax year in the case of unincorporated businesses.

The chancellor has announced that the carry back period will be temporarily increased to three years thereby enabling the business to obtain a tax refund. For companies this will apply to loss making accounting periods ending in the period 01/04/20 to 31/03/22.

The amount of trading losses that can be carried back to the preceding year remains unlimited for companies. After carry back to the preceding year, a maximum of £2,000,000 of unused losses will then be available for carry back against profits of the same trade of the previous 2 years.

 

EMPLOYERS

CJRS FURLOUGH SCHEME EXTENDED TO 30/09/21

The current version of the furlough scheme that started on 01/11/20 was due to end on 30/04/21.

In order to avoid a “cliff-edge” with resulting widespread redundancies the chancellor has announced a further extension of the scheme and also a phased reduction in support to employers. The CJRS furlough grant for May and June will remain at 80% of the employees’ usual pay for hours not working but it will then be limited to 70% for July and then 60% for August and September.

This phased reduction will operate in a similar way as in September and October 2020 with the employer being required to contribute the remaining 10% and then 20% of an employee’s regular pay so that they continue to receive 80% pay for furloughed hours.

In addition to the 10% and 20% contributions employers will continue to be responsible for paying employers national insurance and pension contributions on the full amount being paid to employees.

Furlough periods within:	1–31 Oct 2020	1 Nov to 30 June 2021	1–31 July 2021	1 August–30 September 2021
Employee wages covered by grant	60% of usual	80% of usual	70% of usual	60% of usual
Maximum wages per month covered by grant	£1,875	£2,500	£2,187.50	£1,875
Employer NIC covered by grant?	No	No	No	No
Employer pension contributions covered by grant?	No	No	No	No
Employer must pay amount of furlough wages per month:	20% of usual up to £625	–	10% of usual up to £312.50	20% of usual up to £625
Employee should receive at least per month for furloughed periods	80% of usual up to £2,500	80% of usual up to £2,500	80% of usual up to £2,500	80% of usual up to £2,500

 

APPRENTICESHIP SCHEMES EXTENDED

The current apprenticeship scheme will be improved with payments of £3,000 to employers in England for each new apprentice they hire aged under 25 and continue to pay the employer £1,500 for each new apprentice they hire aged over 25. The schemes will now run until 30/09/21.

Starting in January 2022 there will be a new “flexi-job” apprenticeship which will allow individuals to work for more than one company via an agency.

The “Kickstart” Scheme announced in the Summer 2020 Plan for Jobs will continue to be available for the 2021/22 academic year to create 6-month work placements aimed at those aged 16-24 who are on Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment. Employers who provide trainees with work experience will continue to be funded at a rate of £1,000 per trainee.

 

NATIONAL LIVING WAGE (NLW)

This is to rise to £8.91 from April 2021 (currently £8.72) for employees aged 23 and over.

 

VATABLE BUSINESSES

5% VAT RATE FOR FOOD, ATTRACTIONS AND ACCOMMODATION EXTENDED

In order to continue to support businesses and jobs in the hospitality sector, the reduced 5% rate of VAT will continue to apply to supplies of food and non-alcoholic drinks from restaurants, pubs, bars, cafés and similar premises across the UK until 30/09/21.

The 5% reduced rate of VAT will also continue to apply to supplies of accommodation and admission to attractions across the UK.
From 01/10/21 until 31/03/22 the rate will be set at 12.5% and will then revert to 20% from 01/04/22.

 

VAT REGISTRATION LIMIT FROZEN AT £85,000 UNTIL 01/04/24

The VAT registration limit normally goes up each year in line with inflation but will remain at £85,000 for a further two years. Arguably this makes it easier for businesses to assess whether or not they are required to register for VAT as it is no longer a moving target.

 

MAKING TAX DIGITAL EXTENDED TO ALL VAT REGISTERED BUSINESSES FROM 01/04/22

The government has confirmed that the requirement to maintain accounting records in a digital format and submit the data to HMRC electronically will be extended to all VAT registered businesses from 01/04/22 regardless of the level of taxable supplies. This therefore means that voluntarily VAT registered businesses will have the same compliance as compulstory registered ones.

If you use software which can file your VAT return for you, then some providers are making this effective from 01/04/21 to keep things simple.

 

GENERAL BUSINESSES

NEW GRANTS FOR HIGH STREET BUSINESSES AND HOSPITALITY SECTOR

Businesses forced to close due to the Coronavirus lockdown will be eligible to apply for grants of up to £18,000 depending upon the rateable value of their business premises. Pubs, restaurants, hotels, gyms and hairdressers will be eligible for a grant of up to £18,000 per premises whilst non-essential retail businesses will be eligible to apply for a grant up to a maximum of £6,000.

The grants are intended to be a contribution towards the fixed costs of the business during the period that they have been unable to trade normally. Staff costs continue to be covered by the CJRS furlough scheme.

The government will also continue to provide eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties in England with 100% business rates relief from 01/04/21 to 30/06/21. This will be followed by 66% business rates relief for the period from 01/07/21 to 31/03/22, capped at £2 million per business for properties that were required to be closed on 05/01/21.

Unfortunately, the “Eat out to Help Out” scheme will not be reintroduced this Summer.

 

NEW RECOVERY LOAN SCHEME

The government have already announced a longer repayment period for “Bounce-back” and CBIL loans. From 06/04/21 a new Recovery Loan Scheme will provide lenders with a guarantee of 80% on eligible loans between £25,000 and £10 million to give them confidence in continuing to provide finance to UK businesses. The scheme will be open to all businesses, including those who have already received support under the existing COVID-19 guaranteed loan schemes.

Businesses will need to prove their viability and that it has been impacted by Covid.
Government will guarantee 80% of the loan, and no personal guarantees will apply for loans upt o £250,000. Given it is not a 100% Government backed guarantee, we would expect more due diligence from lenders compared to the CBILS and Bounceback Loans.

 

OTHER MEASURES

SDLT THRESHOLDS EXTENDED

Last March in order to stimulate the housing market the Chancellor announced a temporary cut in Stamp Duty Land Tax for home buyers across England and Northern Ireland which was scheduled to last until 31/03/21.

This has now been further extended until 30/06/21 so that transactions in progress will continue to benefit from the reduced rates.

As a transitional measure from 01/07/21 the Nil Rate Band of Residential SDLT in England and Northern Ireland will then decrease to £250,000 for 3 months until 01/10/21 when it will revert to £125,000 for purchases completed on or after that date. There has been no change to the SDLT rates above the Nil Rate Band. The 3% supplementary charge for second and subsequent homes in England and Northern Ireland will continue to apply.

Note that there are different rates of tax on property transactions in Scotland and Wales as such taxes have been devolved in those countries.

 

5% MORTGAGE SCHEMES EXTENDED

Another measure announced to stimulate the housing sector is a new 95% mortgage scheme guaranteed by the government that will mean that people buying a house will only need a 5% deposit where the purchase price is no more than £600,000. The arrangement fees and interest rate applied are likely to be higher than for 90% schemes but this will allow more first time buyers into the market.

 

EIGHT NEW FREEPORTS ANNOUNCED

In eight locations around England there will be generous tax breaks to encourage businesses to locate there. These tax breaks include an exemption from SDLT, 100% first year allowances on plant and a 10% per annum structures and buildings allowance, and these benefits will apply until 30/09/2026.

Freeport locations are:
• East Midlands airport;
• Freeport East – Felixstowe with Harwich;
• Humber – including Hull, Grimsby, Immingham and Goole;
• Liverpool City Region;
• Plymouth and South Devon;
• Solent – including Southampton;
• Thames – combining London Gateway and Tilbury ports; and
• Teesside.
These will be facilitated with an employer’s national insurance exemption effective from April 2022 until April 2026 and with a possible extension to April 2031.

CONTACTLESS CARDS

Contactless card limit to increase to £100 (was £30 and currently £45).

 

If you have any questions on any of these measures then please contact us at info@mooreaccountancy.co.uk