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Today’s Autumn statement was notable only for its lack of notable announcements, with the Chancellor making only modest alterations to relatively minor aspects of the tax landscape.

 

National Minimum and Living Wage Rates

 

From April 2017, the National Living Wage (for those aged 25 and over) increases to £7.50 per hour from the current rate of £7.20 per hour.

 

National Minimum Wage rates will also increase as follows:

 

  • for 21 to 24 year olds – from £6.95 per hour to £7.05
  • for 18 to 20 year olds – from £5.55 per hour to £5.60
  • for 16 to 17 year olds – from £4.00 per hour to £4.05
  • for apprentices – from £3.40 per hour to £3.50

 

Corporation Tax

 

In line with previous announcements, Corporation Tax rates over the coming years have been confirmed as:-

 

  • from 1 April 2017 – 19%, which will continue until
  • from 1 April 2020 – 17%

 

Personal Tax

 

The Chancellor confirmed that the personal allowance from April 2017 will be £11,500 (2016/17: £11,000). The threshold for higher rate tax increases to £45,000 (2016/17: £43,000).

 

Salary Sacrifice Schemes

 

Subject to a consultation process, from April 2017 salary sacrifice schemes are to lose their beneficial tax treatment, and instead be treated as cash earnings. Any pre-existing scheme will be subject to protection from the changes for between one and four years.

 

There are a few notable exceptions to the announced changes, in that the following salary sacrifice schemes will continue to receive their favourable tax treatment:

 

  • Childcare vouchers;
  • Pensions;
  • Cycle to work scheme; and
  • Ultra-low emission cars.

 

Micro-Entrepreneurs

 

The Chancellor confirmed that the £1,000 allowances for trading income and property income will come into force from 6 April 2017. The allowances were intended to cover relatively modest income being generated from the “sharing economy”, but apply equally to more common income streams.

 

Where individuals are in receipt of income below this level, they will not be required to declare this to HMRC. Individuals with income over this level have two options:

 

  1. Declare their income, less £1,000 allowance; or
  2. Declare their income and deduct their eligible expenditure.

 

The new allowance may provide some help to landlords with low levels of eligible expenditure on their rental property. The government are yet to confirm whether the £1,000 allowance will be available to each individual in the case of jointly-let property.

 

Insurance Premium Tax (IPT)

 

IPT is scheduled to rise again to 12% from the current 10% from 1 June 2017. This is the third rise in IPT in the last 18 months, and will increase insurance costs for both businesses and private individuals.

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