Autumn Budget 2026 Small Business Guide: What's Settled and What to Check Before 28 October
The Autumn Budget is on Wednesday 28 October 2026, and between now and then you will read a lot of confident predictions about what it will do to your business. Almost none of it is knowable. The Chancellor confirmed the date in a letter to the Treasury Select Committee, published on GOV.UK on 31 July 2026, but the contents stay private until Budget Day.
What you can do is separate three things: the rules already in force, the changes already announced, and everything else, which is guesswork. This Autumn Budget 2026 small business guide does exactly that, so you can see what genuinely affects you this week and what can wait until the measures are published.
What's already settled before the Autumn Budget 2026
Several points that appear in Autumn Budget 2026 small business previews are not predictions at all. They are in force or already legislated, and nothing said on Wednesday needs to change your preparation for them.
Employer National Insurance (2026/27). The employer rate is 15% on earnings above a secondary threshold of £5,000. The Employment Allowance offsets up to £10,500 of employer National Insurance, but a company cannot claim it where the only employee paid above the secondary threshold is a director, which rules out most single-director companies.
Income tax allowances. The personal allowance for 2026/27 is £12,570. The government has frozen it, along with the other income tax thresholds, until April 2031.
Dividend tax (2026/27). The dividend rates are 10.75%, 35.75% and 39.35%, and the allowance is £500. We cover what that means for a director's own position in our dividend tax rates 2026/27 guide, so we won't repeat it here.
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. If you are a sole trader or landlord rather than a limited company, this is your biggest change, and it is not a Budget measure. The start dates depend on your qualifying income (your gross self-employment and property income) in an earlier tax year:
| Start date | Qualifying income | Measured in tax year |
|---|---|---|
| 6 April 2026 | Over £50,000 | 2024/25 |
| 6 April 2027 | Over £30,000 | 2025/26 |
| 6 April 2028 (planned) | Over £20,000 | 2026/27 |
The £50,000 and £30,000 thresholds are set. For the £20,000 threshold, GOV.UK says the government has set out plans to legislate, so check GOV.UK for the latest position.
If you were in the first group (qualifying income over £50,000 for 2024/25), your second quarterly update for 2026/27 is due on 7 November 2026, so check the dates in your own software. Our Making Tax Digital guide covers the detail.
Business rates. A new revaluation of non-domestic properties in England and Wales took effect on 1 April 2026, so check your rateable value if you occupy commercial premises.
Companies House identity verification. This has applied to new directors since 18 November 2025. For existing directors, the 12-month transition period ends on 18 November 2026.
What Autumn Budget 2026 small business owners are watching on Budget Day
Beyond the settled list, here are the areas that tend to come up before any Budget. None of these is confirmed, and we are not predicting any of them:
- The cost of employing people, including National Insurance and wage-related costs
- Corporation tax and the reliefs available for investment
- Capital Gains Tax, which matters if you are thinking about selling the business or shares
- Business rates and support for premises-heavy businesses
- Personal tax on taking money out of a company, including dividends
- Reporting and compliance requirements, including digital filing
The honest position is that until the Chancellor speaks and the Treasury publishes the detail, any claim about what will change is a prediction. That matters because reacting to a rumour can leave you worse off: you might bring forward a purchase you didn't need, or sell an asset early, and neither can easily be undone.
Autumn Budget 2026 small business checklist: what to do before Wednesday
You don't need to guess what is in the Budget to prepare for it. These are sensible checks that don't depend on what is announced:
- Look at your cash flow. List the corporation tax, income tax, VAT and PAYE you expect to pay over the next few months, and compare it with planned drawings, equipment purchases and any borrowing.
- Check your Making Tax Digital status. If you are a sole trader or landlord, work out whether your income puts you in scope now or from April 2027, and make sure your records are up to date.
- Check your Companies House ID verification. If you are an existing director, confirm you have your personal code ready before 18 November 2026.
- Don't rush a decision because of a headline. If you are planning a purchase, investment or sale, run the numbers under the rules in force today, then review them once the Budget measures are confirmed.
- Keep records. Whatever changes, clean books make it far easier to work out what any new measure means for you.
None of this is a substitute for advice on your own figures, which is where an accountant can help.
When does a Budget announcement take effect?
A Budget announcement is not law on the day it is delivered. Some measures start immediately or soon after. Many others wait for a Finance Bill, regulations or new HMRC guidance, and can start from a later tax year.
When something is announced, four questions help you work out whether it matters to you:
- What exactly has been announced?
- When does it start?
- Who does it apply to?
- Which legislation or HMRC guidance backs it up?
Until you can answer all four, treat the announcement as something to watch, not something to act on. We will update this guide after the Budget with what changed for small businesses.
How Liberate Accountants can help
If you want your cash flow, payroll costs, Making Tax Digital position or company filings reviewed before or after the Budget, our accounts and tax team can go through your figures with you. Once the measures are published, we can show you which ones apply to your business and when. Book a free consultation to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Autumn Budget 2026?
Wednesday 28 October 2026. The Chancellor confirmed the date in a letter to the Treasury Select Committee.
What does the Autumn Budget 2026 mean for a small business?
Nobody outside the Treasury knows yet. The practical approach is to separate what is already in force, such as the 2026/27 National Insurance, dividend and Making Tax Digital rules, from what is speculation, and to review your plans again once the measures are published.
Is anything already confirmed for small businesses?
Yes. For 2026/27, the employer National Insurance rate of 15% above £5,000 and the £10,500 Employment Allowance are set, the dividend rates are 10.75%, 35.75% and 39.35%, and the personal allowance is £12,570. Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is also under way: it applied from 6 April 2026 to those with qualifying income over £50,000 for 2024/25, and applies from 6 April 2027 to those over £30,000 for 2025/26. A £20,000 threshold from 6 April 2028 is planned.
Does a Budget announcement become law immediately?
Sometimes, but often not. A few measures take effect straight away. Others need a Finance Bill or further regulations first, or begin on a later stated date.
Will Making Tax Digital change in the Budget?
The £50,000 and £30,000 thresholds are already set, and a £20,000 threshold from April 2028 is planned. If the Budget adds anything new, check it separately once it is confirmed in the Budget documents.
Should I change my plans before the Autumn Budget?
Not because of a rumour. If you have a purchase, investment or sale in mind, work through it under the rules in force today and review it once the measures are confirmed. An accountant can help you model both.