Chancellor John Healey delivered his first Autumn Budget on 28 October 2026. As always, the headlines are only part of the story. For business owners, the real questions come afterwards: which measures apply to my company, when do they start, and do I need to change anything? As Essex chartered accountants, we know the days after a Budget are when calm, practical advice is most valuable.
Separate the headlines from the detail
Budget day produces plenty of noise. Many measures are confirmed in broad terms on the day, with the detail, start dates and draft legislation published later. Before changing anything, it’s sensible to read the full documents and check how each announcement applies to your company structure, your sector and your accounting year end. Acting on a headline alone can lead to decisions you later need to unpick.
What’s already in place, whatever was announced
Some of the rules shaping your tax bill were set at earlier Budgets and haven’t gone away. Income tax and National Insurance thresholds remain frozen, which continues to pull more people into higher bands as wages rise. Capital allowance rules changed this year too: the main pool writing down allowance fell from 18% to 14% in April, while a new 40% first-year allowance arrived in January for qualifying equipment. If you’re planning to buy vans, tools or machinery, our tax and financial advice services can help you work out how those rules affect the timing and value of your spending.
A practical post-Budget review
Over the coming weeks, it’s worth asking a few straightforward questions. Do your profit forecasts still look right for this tax year and the next? Is the mix of salary and dividends still the most efficient for you and your directors? Should any planned equipment purchases or pension contributions be timed differently? Will anything change your payroll costs or staffing plans for 2027? Writing down answers now, even roughly, makes any conversation with your adviser far more productive.
Why tailored advice matters
A Budget is written for the whole country, but your business isn’t an average one. A construction firm paying subcontractors under CIS, a recruitment agency running payroll for temporary workers and a one-director consultancy will each feel the same announcement very differently. Our team of chartered accountants works with businesses across Basildon and Essex, translating national policy into what it actually means for your figures, rather than leaving you with generalities.
Take the next step with confidence
You don’t need to work through the Budget on your own. If you’d like help understanding what it means for your business and what, if anything, you should do before the end of the tax year, speak to our team and we’ll talk it through with you.