Spring statement
Income tax
Allowances | 2020/21 | 2019/20 |
---|---|---|
Personal Allowance (PA) *† | £12,500 | £12,500 |
Blind Person’s Allowance | 2,500 | 2,450 |
Rent a room relief § | 7,500 | 7,500 |
Trading income § | 1,000 | 1,000 |
Property income § | 1,000 | 1,000 |
*PA will be withdrawn at £1 for every £2 by which ‘adjusted income’ exceeds £100,000. There will therefore be no allowance given if adjusted income is £125,000 or more.
†£1,250 of the PA can be transferred to a spouse or civil partner who is no more than a basic rate taxpayer, where both spouses were born after 5 April 1935.
§ If gross income exceeds it, the limit may be deducted instead of actual expenses.
Rate bands | 2020/21 | 2019/20 |
---|---|---|
Basic rate band (BRB) | £37,500 | £37,500 |
Higher Rate Band (HRB) | 37,501 – 150,000 | 34,501 – 150,000 |
Additional rate | over 150,000 | over 150,000 |
Personal Savings Allowance (PSA) | ||
– Basic rate taxpayer | 1,000 | 1,000 |
– Higher rate taxpayer | 500 | 500 |
Dividend Allowance (DA) | 2,000 | 2,000 |
BRB and additional rate threshold are increased by personal pension contributions (up to permitted limit) and Gift Aid donations.
Tax rates | 2020/21 and 2019/20 | ||
---|---|---|---|
Rates differ for General, Savings and Dividend income within each band | G | S | D |
Basic rate | 20% | 20% | 7.5% |
Higher rate | 40% | 40% | 32.5% |
Additional rate | 45% | 45% | 38.1% |
General income (salary, pensions, business profits, rent) usually uses personal allowance, basic rate and higher rate bands before savings income (interest). To the extent that savings income falls in the first £5,000 of the basic rate band, it is taxed at nil rather than 20%.
The PSA will tax interest at nil, where it would otherwise be taxable at 20% or 40%.
Dividends are normally taxed as the ‘top slice’ of income. The DA taxes the first £2,000 of dividend income at nil, rather than the rate that would otherwise apply.
High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC)
1% of child benefit for each £100 of adjusted net income between £50,000 and £60,000.
Income tax – Scotland | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | |
---|---|---|---|
Starter Rate | 19% | £1 – £2,085 | £1 – £2,049 |
Basic Rate | 20% | 2,086 – 12,658 | 2,050 – 12,444 |
Intermediate Rate | 21% | 12,659 – 30,930 | 12,445 – 30,930 |
Higher Rate | 41% | 30,931 – 150,000 | 30,931 – 150,000 |
Top Rate | 46% | over 150,000 | over 150,000 |
The Scottish rates and bands do not apply for savings and dividend income, which are taxed at normal UK rates.
Remittance basis charge | 2020/21 | 2019/20 |
---|---|---|
For non-UK domiciled individuals who have been UK resident in at least: |
||
7 of the preceding 9 tax years | £30,000 | £30,000 |
12 of the preceding 14 tax years | £60,000 | £60,000 |
15 of the preceding 20 tax years | Deemed to be UK domiciled for tax purposes |
Pensions
Registered Pensions | 2020/21 | 2019/20 |
---|---|---|
Lifetime allowance (LA) | £1,073,100 | £1,055,000 |
Annual allowance (AA)* | 40,000 | 40,000 |
Annual relievable pension inputs are the higher of earnings (capped at AA) or £3,600.
The AA is usually reduced by £1 for every £2 by which relevant income exceeds £240,000 (2019/20: £150,000), down to a minimum AA of £4,000 (2019/20: £10,000)
The AA can also be reduced to £4,000, where certain pension drawings have been made.
National Insurance Contributions
Class 1 (Employees)
Employee | Employer | |
---|---|---|
Main NIC rate | 12.0% | 13.8% |
No NIC on first | £183pw | £169pw |
Main rate* charged up to | £962pw | no limit |
2% rate on earnings above | £962pw | N/A |
Employment allowance per qualifying business | N/A | £4,000 |
*Nil rate of employer NIC for employees under the age of 21 and apprentices under 25, up to £962pw.
Employer contributions (at 13.8%) are also due on most taxable benefits (Class 1A) and on tax paid on an employee’s behalf under a PAYE settlement agreement (Class 1B).
Class 2 (Self-employed)
Flat rate per week | £3.05 |
Small profits threshold | £6,475 |
Class 3 (Voluntary)
Flat rate per week | £15.30 |
Class 4 (Self-employed)
On profits £9,500 – £50,000 | 9.0% |
On profits over £50,000 | 2.0% |
Vehicle benefits
Cars
Taxable benefit: List price multiplied by chargeable percentage.
2020/21 percentage for petrol cars first registered | |||
CO2 emissions g/km |
Electric range Miles |
Pre 06.04.2020 % |
Post 05.04.2020 % |
---|---|---|---|
0 | N/A | 0 | 0 |
1-50 | >130 | 2 | 0 |
1-50 | 70 – 129 | 5 | 3 |
1-50 | 40 – 69 | 8 | 6 |
1-50 | 30 – 39 | 12 | 10 |
1-50 | <30 | 14 | 12 |
51-54 | N/A | 15 | 13 |
Then a further 1% for each 5g/km CO2 emissions, up to a maximum of 37%. Diesel cars that are not RDE2 standard suffer a 4% supplement on the above figures but are still capped at 37%.
Fuel
Where employer provides fuel for private motoring in an employer-owned car, CO2-based percentage from above table multiplied by £24,500 (2019/20 £24,100).
Tax-free mileage allowances
Employee’s own transport | per business mile |
---|---|
Cars first 10,000 miles | 45p |
Cars over 10,000 miles | 25p |
Business passengers | 5p |
Motorcycles | 24p |
Bicycles | 20p |
Capital gains tax
2020/21 | 2019/20 | |
---|---|---|
Annual exemption amount | ||
Individuals, estates | £12,300 | £12,000 |
Most trusts | 6,150 | 6,000 |
Tax rate | ||
Individual (to basic rate limit)* | 10% | 10% |
Individual (above basic rate limit)* | 20% | 20% |
Trusts, estates* | 20% | 20% |
Entrepreneurs’ Relief (ER)** | 10% | 10% |
Investors’ Relief (IR)*** | 10% | 10% |
*Individuals are taxed at 18%/28% on gains on residential property and receipts of carried interest. Trusts and estates are taxed at 28% in these circumstances.
**ER is available for lifetime gains of up to £1m (£10m for disposals pre 11.3.20). Qualifying disposals include a trading business and shares in a trading company (from a minimum 5% holding) by an officer/employee. Various conditions apply.
***Shares in an unquoted trading company may qualify for IR on lifetime gains up to £10m, if acquired by someone who is not a paid officer or employee of the company and disposed of after 5.4.19. Various conditions apply.
Corporation tax
Year to | 31.3.2021 | 31.3.2020 |
---|---|---|
Corporation Tax rate | 19% | 19% |
Research and development relief | ||
---|---|---|
SME enhanced expenditure deduction scheme* |
130% | 130% |
Large company R&D Expenditure Credit (RDEC) scheme** |
12% | 12% |
*Additional deduction for qualifying R&D
**Taxable expenditure credit for qualifying R&D
SMEs that make losses can surrender the deduction to HMRC in exchange for a payment of 14.5% of the loss.
Main capital allowances
Plant and machinery allowances | Rate | |
---|---|---|
Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) | ||
– expenditure 1.1.19 – 31.12.20 | £1,000,000 | 100% |
– expenditure pre 1.1.19 | 200,000 | 100% |
Energy/water-efficient equipment | 100% | |
Writing down allowance: general pool (reducing balance) | 18% | |
Writing down allowance: special rate pool (reducing balance)* | 6% |
Motor cars purchased | |||
---|---|---|---|
From 1.4.18 CO2 (g/km) |
1.4.15 to 31.3.18 CO2 (g/km) |
Allowance | |
New cars only | up to 50 | up to 75 | 100% |
In general pool | up to 110 | up to 130 | 18% pa |
In special rate pool* | above 110 | above 130 | 6% pa |
*8% pre 1.4.19 (companies) and pre 6.4.19 (businesses subject to income tax).
Structures and buildings allowance | |
---|---|
Expenditure from 29.10.18 (straight line basis) | 2% |
Property taxes
Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED)
ATED applies to ‘high value’ residential properties owned via a corporate structure, unless the property is used for a qualifying purpose. The tax applies to properties valued at more than £500,000.
Property value | Annual charge to | |
---|---|---|
31.3.2021 | 31.3.2020 | |
£0.5m – £1m | £3,650 | £3,600 |
£1m – £2m | 7,400 | 7,250 |
£2m – £5m | 24,800 | 24,250 |
£5m – £10m | 57,900 | 56,550 |
£10m – £20m | 116,100 | 113,400 |
Over £20m | 232,350 | 226,950 |
Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT), Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) and Land Transaction Tax (LTT)
Residential property (1st property only) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SDLT – England & NI £000 |
Rate | LBTT – Scotland £000 |
Rate | LTT – Wales £000 |
Rate |
Up to 125 | Nil | Up to 145 | Nil | Up to 180 | Nil |
125 – 250 | 2% | 145 – 250 | 2% | 180 – 250 | 3.5% |
250 – 925 | 5% | 250– 325 | 5% | 250 – 400 | 5.0% |
925 – 1,500 | 10% | 325 – 750 | 10% | 400 – 750 | 7.5% |
Over 1,500 | 12% | Over 750 | 12% | 750 – 1,500 | 10.0% |
Over 1,500 | 12.0% |
A supplement of 3% of the total purchase price applies for all three taxes where an additional residential property is purchased for more than £40,000 (unless replacing a main residence). It is also payable by all corporate purchasers. The rate is 3% (LBTT: 4%) of the total purchase price.
For SDLT:
- First-time buyers purchasing a property of up to £500,000 pay a nil rate on the first £300,000 of purchase price.
- A rate of 15% may apply to the total purchase price, where the property is valued above £500,000 and purchased by a ‘non-natural person’ (e.g. a company).
- For LBTT, first-time buyer relief increases the nil rate band to £175,000.
Non-residential or mixed use property | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SDLT – England & NI £000 |
Rate | LBTT – Scotland £000 |
Rate | LTT – Wales £000 |
Rate |
Up to 150 | Nil | Up to 150 | Nil | Up to 150 | Nil |
150 – 250 | 2% | 150 – 250 | 1% | 150 – 250 | 1% |
Over 250 | 5% | Over 250 | 5% | 250 – 1,000 | 5% |
Over 1,000 | 6% |
Value Added Tax
Standard rate (1/6 of VAT-inclusive price) | 20% |
Registration level from 1.4.2017 | £85,000 per annum |
Deregistration level from 1.4.2017 | 83,000 per annum |
From 1.4.2019 most businesses above the registration threshold must comply with the Making Tax Digital requirements.
Flat Rate Scheme (FRS)
Annual taxable turnover to enter scheme | Up to £150,000 |
Must leave scheme if annual taxable turnover | Exceeds £230,000 |
If using FRS, the VAT paid by the business is a fixed percentage (based on business category) of “FRS turnover” rather than the net of output tax over input tax. Input tax is usually not recoverable.
Cash accounting and Annual accounting schemes
Annual taxable turnover to enter scheme | Up to £1.35m |
Must leave scheme if annual taxable turnover | Exceeds £1.60m |
Option to tax property
Notify HMRC within 30 days.
Inheritance tax
2020/21 | 2019/20 | |
---|---|---|
Nil rate band (NRB)* | £325,000 | £325,000 |
NRB Residential enhancement (RNRB)†* | 150,000 | 125,000 |
Rate of tax above nil rate band** | 40% | 40% |
Lifetime transfers to most trusts | 20% | 20% |
†RNRB is available for transfers of a main residence to direct descendants. It tapers away at the rate of £1 for every £2 of estate value above £2m.
*Up to 100% of the proportion of a deceased spouse’s/civil partner’s unused NRB and RNRB band may be claimed to increment the current NRB and RNRB when the survivor dies.
**Rate reduced to 36% if at least 10% of the relevant estate is left to charity. Unlimited exemption for transfers between spouses/civil partners, except if UK domiciled transferor and foreign domiciled transferee, where maximum exemption £325,000.
100% Business Property Relief (BPR) for all shareholdings in qualifying unquoted trading companies, qualifying unincorporated trading businesses and certain farmland/buildings.
Reduced tax charge on gifts within 7 years before death
Years before death | 0-3 | 3-4 | 4-5 | 5-6 | 6-7 |
% of full death tax charge payable | 100 | 80 | 60 | 40 | 20 |
Annual exemptions for lifetime gifts include £3,000 per donor and £250 per recipient.
Key dates and deadlines
Payment dates | |||
---|---|---|---|
Self assessment | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | |
1st payment on account | 31 January | 2021 | 2020 |
2nd payment on account | 31 July | 2021 | 2020 |
Balancing payment | 31 January | 2022 | 2021 |
Capital Gains Tax* | 31 January | 2022 | 2021 |
*Non-residents with gains on UK residential property must pay CGT within 30 days of disposal unless already filing a self assessment tax return.
Other payment dates | |||
---|---|---|---|
Class 1A NIC | 19 July | 2020 | 2019 |
Class 1B NIC | 19 October | 2020 | 2019 |
Corporation tax is due 9 months and 1 day from the end of the accounting period, unless a ‘large’ company paying by quarterly instalments.
2018/19 Filing deadlines | |
---|---|
Issue P60s to employees | 31 May 2019 |
P11D, P11D(b) | 6 July 2019 |
Self assessment tax return (SATR) paper version | 31 October 2019 |
Online SATR if outstanding tax to be included in 2020/21 PAYE code |
30 December 2019 |
Online SATR | 31 January 2020 |
Useful rates
National Minimum Wage Rates per hour |
From 1.04.20 | From 1.04.19 |
---|---|---|
Aged 25 and over (National Living Wage) | £8.21 | £7.83 |
Aged 21 – 24 | 7.70 | 7.38 |
Aged 18 – 20 | 6.15 | 5.90 |
Aged 16 – 17 | 4.35 | 4.20 |
Apprentices | 3.90 | 3.70 |
Child Benefit (per week) | 2019/20 | 2018/19 |
---|---|---|
First eligible child | £20.70 | £20.70 |
Each subsequent child | 13.70 | 13.70 |
You are advised to consult us before acting on any information contained herein.