Individual buy-to-let landlords face an immediate rise in tax on rental profits after Chancellor John Healey used today’s Autumn Budget to announce a two percentage point increase in property income tax rates. The measure targets property income directly and is expected to lift the rates paid by basic, higher and additional-rate taxpayers. Early indications suggest rates on property income will rise to 24% for basic-rate taxpayers, 44% for higher-rate taxpayers and 49% for ad

Business asset disposal relief threshold will fall Healey also announced a change to business asset disposal relief within capital gains tax. The threshold will be reduced from £1 million to £500,000. According to the chancellor, this will mean “no change for three in four claimants”. Business asset disposal relief can reduce the rate of capital gains tax paid when qualifying business owners sell all or part of a business. It is often relevant to founders, partners and certai

Tax relief can make early-stage investing more attractive, but it does not remove the risk. The Enterprise Investment Scheme, Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme and Venture Capital Trust scheme all aim to direct private capital into smaller UK companies. In return, investors may receive relief against income tax, capital gains tax and, in some cases, inheritance tax. The trade-off is clear. These companies can grow quickly, but they can also fail. Shares may be hard to sell, v