The Autumn Budget 2026 will be delivered on Wednesday 28 October 2026 by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon John Healey MP, with the Office for Budget Responsibility publishing its economic and fiscal forecast on the same day. Only the date is confirmed so far, which makes now the moment to tidy your finances using today's rules.
The date was set out in the Chancellor's letter to the Treasury Select Committee. No tax rates, thresholds or measures for the 2026 Budget have been announced, so anything you read predicting specific changes is speculation. What you can do is make sure you have not left this year's allowances on the table before any changes take effect.
When is the Autumn Budget 2026 and who delivers it?
The Budget falls on Wednesday 28 October 2026. It is delivered by the Chancellor, the Rt Hon John Healey MP, who was appointed in July 2026. Alongside the speech, the OBR releases its independent forecast for the economy and the public finances. Here are the confirmed facts and key dates in one place.
| Item | Confirmed detail |
|---|---|
| Budget date | Wednesday 28 October 2026 |
| Delivered by | Chancellor, the Rt Hon John Healey MP |
| OBR forecast | Published the same day (28 October 2026) |
| How it was confirmed | Chancellor's letter to the Treasury Select Committee |
| What is confirmed | The date only; tax measures are not yet known |
| Current tax year | 2026/27 rules apply until any change takes effect |
What do we actually know, and what don't we?
We know the date, the Chancellor and that the OBR reports the same day. We do not know a single tax measure. That distinction matters: the smart move before any Budget is never to bet on a rumoured change, but to use the reliefs and allowances that already exist this tax year. Everything below is the current 2026/27 position, which the Budget could alter.
Why does acting before a Budget matter?
Allowances such as the Capital Gains Tax exemption and the ISA limit work on a use-it-or-lose-it basis: if you do not use this year's, you cannot carry it forward. A Budget can also change rates or reliefs with effect from the following April, or occasionally sooner, so the weeks before it are a natural checkpoint to bank the position you already have.
How does fiscal drag quietly raise your tax?
The income tax thresholds are frozen to the end of 2030/31 (April 2031). The personal allowance stays at £12,570, higher-rate tax starts at £50,271 and additional rate at £125,140. Because the bands do not rise with wages or inflation, pay increases pull more of your income into higher bands even though the headline rates have not moved. That is fiscal drag, and it is one of the biggest reasons to plan actively. Our guide to fiscal drag and frozen tax thresholds explains how much it can cost.
What should go on your pre-Budget checklist?
Work through these current-year allowances before the tax year ends on 5 April 2027. Each one is available now under 2026/27 rules.
- Use your £3,000 Capital Gains Tax annual exempt amount if you have gains to realise.
- Make the most of the £500 dividend allowance and think about dividend timing.
- Top up pension contributions within your annual allowance (up to £60,000 for most people) for marginal-rate relief.
- Use your £20,000 ISA allowance, noting the cash ISA limit falls to £12,000 from April 2027.
- If you run a company, review your salary versus dividends mix for the year.
Have you used your £3,000 Capital Gains Tax exemption?
For 2026/27 the CGT annual exempt amount is £3,000. Gains within that figure are tax-free; above it, the rate on shares and most assets is 18% within the basic-rate band and 24% for higher-rate taxpayers, with the same 18% and 24% on residential property. Because the exemption does not carry forward, disposing of assets to use it, or spreading a larger disposal across two tax years, can be worthwhile. See our complete guide to Capital Gains Tax for the mechanics.
Are you making the most of dividends and the £500 allowance?
The dividend allowance is £500 for 2026/27. Above it, dividend tax is 10.75% (basic), 35.75% (higher) and 39.35% (additional); the basic and higher rates rose by two percentage points from 6 April 2026. Timing dividends across tax years, and using a spouse's allowance and band where they are a genuine shareholder, can reduce the bill. You can model the effect with our dividend tax calculator.
Should directors review salary versus dividends?
For owner-directors, the balance between a salary and dividends drives your overall tax and National Insurance position, and it interacts with corporation tax (19% on profits up to £50,000, 25% at £250,000 and above, with marginal relief between). With dividend rates having risen, the efficient split is worth re-checking each year rather than repeating last year's figure. Our breakdown of the most tax-efficient salary and dividend mix for 2026/27 walks through it, and you can sense-check take-home with the income tax calculator.
Have you maximised pensions and your ISA?
Most people can contribute up to £60,000 a year to pensions (the annual allowance is tapered for high earners and lower once you have flexibly accessed a pension), with tax relief at your marginal rate, so a higher-rate contribution effectively costs 60p in the pound. See how pension tax relief works. On the ISA side, the 2026/27 allowance is £20,000. From April 2027 the cash ISA allowance drops to £12,000, though the stocks and shares limit stays at £20,000 and those aged 65 and over keep a £20,000 cash allowance. Savings and property income tax rates also rise by two percentage points from 6 April 2027, so shelter matters more; read our note on the 2027 savings interest changes.
Worked example: a higher-rate director before year end
Priya is a higher-rate taxpayer and company director. Before 5 April 2027 she takes three steps using current 2026/27 rules:
- Capital gains: she sells shares showing a £3,000 gain. The £3,000 annual exempt amount covers it in full, so her CGT is £0. Realised a year later without the allowance, that gain would cost £720 at 24%.
- Dividends: she draws £500 of dividends within the allowance, paying no tax. The same £500 above the allowance at 35.75% would cost £178.75.
- Pension: she contributes £10,000 to her pension and claims higher-rate relief, so the net cost of the £10,000 is around £6,000 after 40% relief on her income.
Between the CGT exemption and dividend allowance alone she keeps roughly £899 that would otherwise be tax, before counting the pension relief, all by acting inside the current tax year.
What could the Budget change, and what should you not assume?
This is context, not prediction. Budgets can adjust rates, allowances and reliefs, usually from the following April. Because no 2026 Budget measure has been announced, you should not assume any specific rate rise or cut, and you should not act on rumours. The prudent approach is to use today's confirmed allowances now, keep records tidy, and review again once the 28 October announcements are published and confirmed by legislation.
Book a pre-Budget review
If you want a second pair of eyes on your allowances, dividend timing and salary mix before 28 October, our CIMA-regulated team can run a quick pre-Budget review tailored to your situation. Book a free call with Zmartly and we will map out what to action while the current rules still apply.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Autumn Budget 2026?
The Autumn Budget 2026 will be delivered on Wednesday 28 October 2026 by the Chancellor, the Rt Hon John Healey MP. The Office for Budget Responsibility publishes its economic and fiscal forecast on the same day.
Have any 2026 Budget tax changes been announced?
No. As of now only the date is confirmed. No tax rates, thresholds or measures for the 2026 Budget have been announced, so any specific predictions are speculation. All the figures in this article are the current 2026/27 rules, which the Budget could change.
What should I do before the Budget?
Use this year's allowances while they are certain: the £3,000 Capital Gains Tax exemption, the £500 dividend allowance, pension contributions within your annual allowance, and your £20,000 ISA allowance. Directors should also review their salary versus dividends mix for 2026/27.
Why does fiscal drag matter for planning?
Income tax thresholds are frozen to April 2031, so pay rises push more income into higher bands even without any rate change. That steadily increases tax over time, which is why using allowances and reliefs each year is worthwhile.
