Why the Autumn Budget matters (to you, your money and your future)
Posted by Andrew_Smith on Tuesday 7th of October 2025.
Budgets often bring changes to taxes, benefits and financial rules that affect everyday savers, homeowners, investors and business owners. The UK government will deliver its Autumn Budget on 26th November 2025, and speculation is strong this year. Getting advice now could help you protect your money and make informed decisions.
What are people expecting?
Some of the major areas where commentators are speculating changes include:
Potential change |
What it could mean practically |
Capital gains tax (CGT) reform (e.g. lower annual exempt amount, extending scope to more assets or homes) |
You may face higher tax on sales of investments, second homes or other non-main properties |
Changes to pension tax relief or tax-free lump sums |
Your retirement saving strategy could become less efficient if reliefs are narrowed or removed |
Introduction or expansion of wealth taxes, or new levies on high-net-worth individuals and property owners |
You could be taxed more on assets you hold, homes, or even income streams that are currently exempt or lightly taxed |
Possible extension of fiscal drag (freezing or slow increase of thresholds so inflation or wage rises push people into higher tax brackets) |
More of your income might be taxed at higher rates without explicit rate increases
|
How could our advice help you navigate these changes?
There are some real risks if you wait or act on rumours alone. We can help you:
- Meet deadlines or allowances: Many tax allowances (ISA, CGT exemptions, pension annual allowances) are fixed and once used or expired you can’t get them back. If you don’t know what’s changing and when, you could lose out.
- Plan your actions: For example, selling assets now vs waiting until after the Budget could mean paying more tax. Or moving money into or out of a tax wrapper without knowing whether the relief will be kept, reduced or removed means you could miss out down the line.
- Make use of allowances: You may be able to structure gifts, inheritance planning, pension contributions or other forms of tax planning better, but only with knowledge and foresight.
- Anticipate changes: If you own property, assets or rental income, changes like national insurance on rental income or taxing wealth or assets currently exempt could catch people by surprise.
- Take your time: Rumours and speculation can provoke rushed decisions (for example selling off investments, withdrawing pension lump sums) which may not align with long-term goals.
What financial advice can do for you now
Engaging with a trusted financial adviser now, ahead of 26 November can make a real difference:
- Tailored review of your financial picture: We can look at your income, savings, property, investments, tax allowances and liabilities. We can model scenarios against possible changes to see what’s likely to hurt or help you most.
- Action plan for tax efficiency: Whether that means making use of current allowances (ISAs, pensions), shifting assets into better-taxed wrappers, or accelerating transactions that make sense.
- Inheritance & wealth planning: If wealth taxes or inheritance tax rules change, preparing earlier (gifts, trusts, estate plans) can reduce the shock and cost.
- Mitigating downside risk: You might not be able to stop a tax increase, but you can reduce exposure. For example, rebalancing investments, delaying or bringing forward certain transactions, or adjusting your business structure if you run your own business.
- Clarity and confidence: Having a professional explain what might happen helps you make decisions calmly rather than reacting under pressure.
Why working with us makes a difference
We believe good advice now is not just nice to have, it’s essential. We’re here to help you:
- Understand the rumours and speculation for what they are, not let them panic you.
- Model likely Budget outcomes, helping you see what works best in your situation.
- Support you to act in a timely way so you can retain as much advantage as possible.
- Keep you updated, clear and confident every step of the way.
Our optimism for the future
Even though Budget changes can feel uncertain or stressful, they also carry opportunity. Smart planning now can protect more of what you’ve earned, help you pass on more to those you care about, and set up your finances to thrive in whatever new rules come in.
If you’d like us to run you through what the latest speculations could mean for you, let’s schedule a call. We’ll work together to map out a plan before the Budget so that you’re ready whatever the outcome.
The value of investments and any income from them can fall as well as rise and you may not get back the original amount invested.
HM Revenue and Customs practice and the law relating to taxation are complex and subject to individual circumstances and changes which cannot be foreseen.
For specialist tax advice, please refer to an accountant or tax specialist.
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