Business News

Emergency Budget 2010 – ‘Tough but fair’ measures unveiled by Chancellor

Stratford-upon-Avon based firm of chartered accountants Murphy Salisbury is advising clients to pay close attention to the Emergency Budget and its implications for businesses across the UK.

The Budget, the first under the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition and coming just six weeks after the General Election, was described as ‘tough but fair’ by its author, Chancellor George Osborne, as he unveiled the biggest package of spending cuts and tax increases in a generation.

Key features of the Budget, which The Chancellor says is designed to reduce Britain’s deficit, include an immediate increase in Capital Gains Tax from 18% to 28% for high earners and a hike in VAT from 17.5% to 20% from January 4th 2011.

The threshold at which employers start to pay National Insurance contributions will also rise by £21 a week from April 2011. Corporation Tax will be cut by 1% each year for four years until it reaches 24%, while small businesses’ tax will be cut to 20%.

There is also a boost for new start-ups, with anyone setting up a business outside London, the south east and the east of England being exempt from £5,000 of National Insurance contributions for each of their first 10 employees.

Meanwhile, entrepreneurs’ relief on Capital Gains Tax will be extended from £2 million to the first £5 million of lifetime gains.

Other points worth noting include a £1,000 increase in personal income tax allowance to £7,475 from April next year, giving basic rate taxpayers an extra £170 per year.

There is also a predicted growth for the UK economy of 1.2% in the next year, increasing to 2.3% the following year, 2.8% in 2012 and 2.9% in 2013, with a slight decline to 2.7% in both 2014 and 2015.

Bobby Gupta, tax partner at Murphy Salisbury, said: “While we were expecting the tough measures outlined by the Chancellor, the new Budget certainly brings good news for smaller businesses with a cut in their tax.

“The National Insurance tax break for people starting businesses outside of London, the south east and east of England should also act as a good incentive for people still deciding whether to take the plunge and set up in business, which we hope will help boost growth across the UK.

“There is also good news in terms of the changes to National Insurance contributions, entrepreneurs’ relief and Corporation Tax, although only time will tell just how much of an effect these measures will have.”

To find out more about how working with our leading firm of accountants in Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwickshire can help you, please contact us.