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What was in the mini-budget and what is the government's new plan?

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The government will reverse almost all tax measures announced in its mini-budget.

Plans to cut the basic rate of income tax to 19% have been shelved and support for energy bills scaled back.

The mini-budget was only unveiled on 23 September, but caused turmoil on financial markets.

Income tax - basic rate

What was announced:

  • The basic rate was to be cut to 19% from April 2023. The government said this would save 31 million people £170 a year
  • People in England, Wales and Northern Ireland pay 20% on any annual earnings between £12,571 to £50,270 - rates in Scotland are different
  • The rate was already due to be cut in 2024, but this was brought forward

What has changed:

  • The basic rate of income tax will remain at 20%
  • Cutting it has been put on hold "indefinitely"

Income tax - higher rate

What was announced:

  • 45% rate of income tax for earnings over £150,000 abolished for England, Wales and Northern Ireland taxpayers
  • One single higher rate of income tax of 40% from April next year

What has changed:

Corporation tax

What was announced:

What has changed:

  • Ms Truss had already announced that UK corporation tax will go up from 19% to 25% in April 2023 after all

Does cutting corporation tax always raise more money?

Energy bills

What was announced:

What has changed:

  • The energy price guarantee now only covers this winter. I will be in place until April next year
  • A Treasury-led review will look at what measures should be put in place after this date

How is the energy price cap changing?

Graphic showing changes made to the government's mini-budget

IR35 rules

What was announced:

  • The government had promised to change the rules on off-payroll working, known as IR35, so companies were no longer responsible for ensuring their contractors were paying the right amount of tax.
  • It said the current system created "unnecessary complexity and cost" for businesses.

What has changed:

  • This reform, which the government said would have cost £2bn a year, will no longer go ahead.

What else has been cancelled?

Other measures that have been cancelled include:

  • VAT-free shopping for overseas visitors, which the government said would cost £2bn
  • A freeze on alcohol duty, which would have cost £600m
  • Cuts to the tax paid on shareholders' dividends. An increase introduced in April will stay in place, saving about £1bn
Chart showing the amount raised by reversing measures in the mini-budget

What measures are staying?

Measures announced in the mini-budget that have not been cancelled include:

National Insurance

  • Reverse recent rise in National Insurance (NI) from 6 November
  • Workers and employers have paid an extra 1.25p in the pound since April
  • New Health and Social Care Levy to pay for the NHS will not be introduced

Will National Insurance changes leave me better off?

Stamp duty

  • Cut to stamp duty which is paid when people buy a property in England and Northern Ireland
  • No stamp duty on first £250,000 and for first time buyers that rises to £425,000 - comes into operation today
  • 200,000 more people will be taken out of paying stamp duty altogether, government claims

What are the new stamp duty rates?

Benefits

  • Rules around universal credit tightened, by reducing benefits if people don't fulfil job search commitments
  • Around 120,000 more people on Universal Credit to be asked to take steps to seek more work, or face having their benefits reduced
  • Jobseekers over 50 to be given extra time with work coaches to help them return to job market

How are universal credit rules changing?

Bankers' bonuses

  • Rules which limit bankers' bonuses to twice their fixed salary to be scrapped
  • Package of regulatory reforms to be set out later in the autumn
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