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Autumn Budget 2025

Upcoming tax rate changes

Announced at Autumn Budget 2025. These are future changes not yet in effect — dividend rates change from April 2026; new property income rates and higher savings rates from April 2027.

📅 When do these changes take effect?
• Dividend rates: from 6 April 2026 (2026/27 tax year)
• Savings & property income rates: from 6 April 2027 (2027/28 tax year)
These rates do not apply to the current 2025/26 tax year — see current 2025/26 rates.
Source: HMRC — published November 2025. View official GOV.UK publication →

Dividend tax rate changes — from April 2026

Applies to the 2026/27 tax year and subsequent years. Affects all UK taxpayers receiving dividend income.

BandCurrent (2025/26)From April 2026Change
Dividend Allowance£500 (tax-free)£500 (tax-free)
Basic Rate (Ordinary Rate)8.75%10.75%+2pp
Higher Rate (Upper Rate)33.75%35.75%+2pp
Additional Rate39.35%39.35%No change
🏢 Close companies: the rate of tax on loans to, and benefits conferred on, participators in close companies (s455 CTA 2010) will also increase — aligned to the new upper dividend rate of 35.75%.
💡 Example — director-shareholder, basic rate: £10,000 of dividends (after the £500 allowance): 2025/26 → £9,500 × 8.75% = £831.25 tax. 2026/27 → £9,500 × 10.75% = £1,021.25 tax. That's an extra £190 per year on £10,000 of dividend income.

Savings income tax rate changes — from April 2027

Applies to the 2027/28 tax year and subsequent years. Affects UK taxpayers with savings interest above their Personal Savings Allowance.

BandCurrent (up to 2026/27)From April 2027Change
Basic Rate20%22%+2pp
Higher Rate40%42%+2pp
Additional Rate45%47%+2pp
Personal Savings Allowance (unchanged)Tax-free interest
Basic Rate Taxpayer£1,000
Higher Rate Taxpayer£500
Additional Rate Taxpayer£0 (no allowance)

These rates apply across the UK, including Scotland. The PSA and Starting Rate for Savings remain unchanged.

💡 Example — higher rate taxpayer: £5,000 of savings interest (after the £500 PSA): up to 2026/27 → £4,500 × 40% = £1,800 tax. From 2027/28 → £4,500 × 42% = £1,890 tax. An extra £90 per year on £5,000 of interest.

New property income tax rates — from April 2027

From 6 April 2027, property income will have its own separate tax rates for the first time. This applies to England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

BandPrevious Rate (up to 2026/27)New Rate (from 2027/28)Change
Property Basic Rate20%22%+2pp
Property Higher Rate40%42%+2pp
Property Additional Rate45%47%+2pp
Scotland & Wales: the government will engage with the Scottish Parliament and the Senedd to provide them with the ability to set devolved property income rates in line with their existing Income Tax powers.

🏘️ Non-resident landlords: secondary legislation will be updated to reflect the new basic rate for property income in the Non-Resident Landlord scheme and for property income distributions from REITs and property authorised investment funds.

⚠️ Scale of impact: an estimated 2.4 million landlords will be affected from April 2027.

Change to ordering of allowances & reliefs — from April 2027

A technical but important change to how Income Tax is calculated — affecting taxpayers with multiple income sources.

Before

Reliefs and allowances (such as the Personal Allowance) could be applied to property, savings and dividend income in any order, potentially reducing tax on those income types first.

After

From April 2027, general reliefs and allowances will only be applied to property, savings and dividend income after they have been applied to other income sources (e.g. employment, self-employment income).

📋 Who this affects: taxpayers with both earned income (employment/self-employment) and investment income (property, savings, dividends). The ordering change may result in more of your investment income being taxed at higher rates.

✅ What stays the same: reliefs and allowances specific to a particular type of income (e.g. the Personal Savings Allowance) still apply to those income types first where relevant.

💬 Plain English: if you have a salary and also earn rental income or dividends, your Personal Allowance will now be used up by your salary first. More of your property/savings/dividend income could fall into a taxable band — at the new higher rates. All the more reason to plan ahead.

Why is the government making these changes?

The government's stated objective is to ensure income from assets is taxed more fairly. Currently, those with property, savings or dividend income pay less tax than those whose income comes from employment or self-employment — primarily because asset income does not attract National Insurance Contributions (NICs).

By increasing rates on property, savings and dividend income, the government aims to narrow the gap between tax paid on work and tax paid on income from assets. An estimated 2.4 million landlords and 3.8 million individuals with savings income above tax-free allowances will be affected by 2029/30.

Who is likely to be affected?

🏠 Landlords & Property Investors

Individuals receiving income from letting residential or commercial property. Estimated 2.4 million landlords affected from April 2027.

💰 Savers & Investors

Individuals earning interest from savings accounts, bonds, peer-to-peer lending and other savings products above their Personal Savings Allowance.

📈 Shareholders & Company Directors

Individuals receiving dividend income from shares or company distributions, including director-shareholders of limited companies.

Current 2025/26 rates → · ← All tax rates

Disclaimer: These rates are for guidance only and are based on HMRC published figures. Tax rules depend on individual circumstances and may change. Always seek professional advice before acting — get in touch for advice specific to your situation.

Worried about these changes?

These rate increases could significantly affect your tax bill. Book a free consultation to understand your options and plan ahead.