There were no tax increases in the Chancellor’s Spring Statement (upgraded from an initial Spring Forecast), but that might just be pain deferred.
Before becoming Chancellor, Rachel Reeves set out a new goal for the public finances, now badged the ‘Stability Rule’. In simple terms, this requires the Government should at least match its day-to-day expenditure with what it receives in tax and other revenue. In 2024/25, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) projects there will be a shortfall under this rule (technically a current budget account deficit) of £60.7 billion. Following past government tradition of fiscal targets, the Chancellor has set a five-year goal taking us to 2029/30.
When Rachel Reeves presented her Budget last October, the OBR projected that she would meet her Stability Rule with £9.9 billion to spare. However, five months later, the OBR recalculated the margin (often called headroom) in preparation for the Spring Statement and concluded that, with no changes, the Rule would be missed by £4.1 billion – a £14 billion reversal.
Given that the margin of £9.9 billion (about 0.7% of total government expenditure) proved inadequate last time, it is surprising that the new headroom figure is also £9.9 billion. This is despite the raft of Spring Statement measures – mostly spending cuts. The apparent circularity of the Spring Statement process has prompted speculation that the large cuts to welfare benefits were tailored to fit the Stability Rule, rather than wholly founded in encouraging more people into work.
The problem with maintaining a small £9.9 billion headroom is that when the OBR’s next assessment arrives in the autumn, there is a similar risk of missing the Stability Rule once again. The OBR’s judgement day will coincide with the Chancellor’s one ‘fiscal event’ of the year – the Autumn Budget. A second miss could see Reeves turn to tax increases rather than more spending cuts to recover the situation.
There were already signs of preparation for such a move in the Spring Statement. For example, hidden in the main document was a comment about reviewing the balance between cash and shares in Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs). Reducing the amount that could be placed in cash ISAs would yield extra revenue, because it would mean less tax relief being given.
It seems likely that, as happened in 2024, speculation about tax rises will get underway before summer begins. Taking time to focus on your financial planning over the next few months could be more important than ever.
For more information on managing your tax liabilities, or other financial planning queries, contact us today. We offer a free General Financial Review for all potential clients, to discuss your circumstances, objectives and how we can help. For more information or to book your complimentary appointment, please call us on 01872 301116.
All statements concerning the tax treatment of products and their benefits are based on our understanding of current tax law, financial planning strategies and HM Revenue and Customs practice. Levels and bases of tax relief vary according to individual circumstances and are subject to change. Every effort has been made to ensure the information in this post is accurate at the time of being published.