After a challenging 12 months, Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivered his second and much anticipated Budget on Wednesday 3 March 2021. One he might have hoped would be set against a backdrop of a country on its wayto a post-pandemic recovery. Instead, lockdown restrictions are still in force across the country and protecting jobs and livelihoods remains a top priority.

 

PwC hosted a live webcast on 4th March to discuss the Budget and the implications of the key announcements of the 3rd March on businesses. Here is a link to the recording of the session https://download.pwc.com/uk/eng/host/2021/mar/budget_webcast.mp4

 

Key headlines:

 

Company taxation

  1. As has been widely anticipated, the UK corporation tax rate will increase from 19% to 25% on 1 April 2023 for companies with profits over £250,000.
  2. The loss carry back provisions for corporate entities which have suffered losses in 2020-21 and 2021-22 has been extended from one year to three years.
  3. A 130% “super deduction” capital allowances rate has been announced for main pool additions with a 50% “First Year Allowance” for special rate pool additions for two years.

Employment taxes / Income taxes

  1. There will be an extension to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme or “Furlough” scheme to 30 September 2021.
  2. There are no new proposed increases for income tax, national insurance tax and capital gains tax rates.

ESG

  1. A number of announcements were made, including in relation to a new UK green infrastructure bank and a new retail green savings product.

 

Other measures

  1. The inheritance tax and pension lifetime allowance thresholds will remain unchanged. 
  2. The Government has announced various measures to boost high-skilled migration including a simplified VISA process for highly skilled workers.
  3. The Stamp Duty Land Tax nil-rate band will remain at £500,000 until 30 June 2021, and then will decrease to £250,000 until 30 September 2021.