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The UK Tax Shockwave: 5 Major Changes Hitting Your Finances In 2026/2027

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The UK tax landscape is set for a seismic shift in 2026, with major legislative changes coming into force that will fundamentally alter how wealth is transferred, investments are taxed, and personal income is calculated. As of late 2025, the picture for the 2026/2027 tax year confirms a continuation of 'fiscal drag' and targeted reforms aimed at high-value assets and specific investment vehicles, meaning a significant number of taxpayers—from homeowners and investors to business owners—will face a higher effective tax burden. This detailed breakdown provides the most current, essential information on the five most impactful changes you must prepare for now. The primary driver of these changes stems from recent Autumn Budgets and Finance Bills, which have locked in several key thresholds and introduced new rules, many of which are specifically slated to commence on or around April 6, 2026. Understanding these statutory deadlines and new relief caps is critical for effective financial planning in the coming years.

The Great Freeze: Income Tax and Personal Allowances

The most pervasive change impacting almost every working adult in the United Kingdom is the continued freeze on key Income Tax thresholds, a policy that significantly increases the effective tax paid by the population through a mechanism known as fiscal drag.

Personal Allowance Remains Locked Down

The Personal Allowance (PA), the amount of income an individual can earn before paying Income Tax, has been frozen at £12,570 until the end of the 2025/2026 tax year, with current policy indicating the freeze will extend further, potentially until April 2028.
  • The Impact of Fiscal Drag: As wages and inflation rise, a frozen Personal Allowance means a growing proportion of a person's income is pushed into the tax net, effectively increasing the tax bill without the government formally raising tax rates.
  • Higher Rate Threshold: Similarly, the higher rate (40%) and additional rate (45%) thresholds are also frozen, meaning more individuals are being pulled into the higher tax brackets simply by receiving standard pay rises.
  • The £100,000 Cliff Edge: The Personal Allowance is still restricted by £1 for every £2 of adjusted net income over £100,000, meaning for those earning over £125,140, the Personal Allowance is completely withdrawn.

Inheritance Tax (IHT) Relief Cap and Payment Extension

Inheritance Tax is undergoing one of its most significant structural changes in decades, specifically targeting the use of key reliefs for business and agricultural assets. These changes will have a profound effect on the succession planning of family-run businesses and large estates.

New £1 Million Cap on APR and BPR

From April 6, 2026, a major reform will be introduced: the government is placing a £1 million cap on the combined value of assets eligible for Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR).

This is a critical change for owners of large farms, agricultural land, and significant private trading businesses, which previously benefited from 100% relief on their value above the Nil-Rate Band (£325,000). For estates valued over this new £1 million cap, the excess value will now be subject to the standard 40% Inheritance Tax rate.

Extended Interest-Free IHT Instalments

In a measure designed to ease immediate financial pressure on beneficiaries, the option to pay Inheritance Tax by equal annual instalments over 10 years, interest-free, will be extended to cover all property from April 2026. Previously, this relief was only available for certain types of property, such as land and buildings.

Capital Gains Tax (CGT) Shake-Up: Carried Interest and Investors' Relief

The 2026 tax year will see targeted increases to Capital Gains Tax, particularly impacting the private equity and venture capital sectors, as well as entrepreneurs selling their businesses.

CGT Rate Hike for Carried Interest

The taxation of Carried Interest—the share of profits earned by investment fund managers—is set to increase. The CGT rate applied to carried interest is scheduled to rise to 18% from April 6, 2026. This follows a previous increase in 2025/2026, which saw the rate for Carried Interest rise from 28% to 32% for certain arrangements. These successive rate hikes signal a clear governmental move to increase the tax take from private equity remuneration.

Investors' Relief Lifetime Limit Slashed

Investors' Relief, a form of CGT relief that provides a 10% tax rate on gains from the disposal of shares in unlisted trading companies (separate from Business Asset Disposal Relief, or BADR), is also being significantly curtailed. The lifetime limit for qualifying disposals will be drastically reduced from £10 million to £1 million. This change, effective from April 2026, will substantially limit the tax-advantaged gains that angel investors and non-executive directors can realise.

Dividend and Savings Tax Rate Increases

Savers and investors who receive income from dividends or savings will also see their tax liability increase from the start of the 2026/2027 tax year.

Higher Rates for Dividend and Savings Income

From April 6, 2026, the tax rates on both dividend and savings income are scheduled to increase:
  • Dividend Tax: The dividend ordinary rate will rise to 10.75%, and the dividend upper rate will increase to 35.75%.
  • Savings Tax: The savings basic rate is set to increase to 22%.
These increases, combined with the frozen Dividend Allowance and Personal Savings Allowance (PSA), mean that income from investments will be taxed more heavily, pushing more investors to maximise their use of tax-free wrappers like ISAs (Individual Savings Accounts) and SIPPs (Self-Invested Personal Pensions).

The End of Non-Domicile Tax Status

A major constitutional and fiscal change is the abolition of the current non-domicile tax regime, which will be replaced by a new system based on residence.

A New Residence-Based Tax System

While the full details of the new regime are complex and subject to final legislation, the fundamental shift is that the UK will move away from the concept of domicile for tax purposes. The new system will be based on a taxpayer's residence status, with the aim of attracting investment and talent to the UK while ensuring those who live and work in the country contribute fully to the tax base. The abolition of the dividend tax credit for non-UK residents from April 6, 2026, is one of the initial steps in transitioning to this new, residence-based regime. The implications for wealthy individuals and international business executives are profound, requiring a complete reassessment of their current tax structures and financial arrangements.

Preparing for the 2026/2027 Tax Year

The sheer volume of changes coming into effect in 2026—from the Inheritance Tax relief cap and the CGT rate hike on Carried Interest to the continuation of the Personal Allowance freeze—demands immediate action from taxpayers. The overarching theme is that tax reliefs are being curtailed, and tax rates on non-earned income are rising.

Key Action Points for Taxpayers

To mitigate the impact of the UK tax changes 2026, taxpayers should consider the following:

  • Review IHT Planning: Business owners and farmers must urgently review their wills and succession plans to account for the new £1 million IHT relief cap on APR and BPR. Restructuring business assets or using trusts may become necessary.
  • Maximise Tax-Free Wrappers: Given the rising rates on savings and dividends, consistently maxing out contributions to ISAs and Pensions (including Lifetime ISAs and Junior ISAs) is more important than ever to shield income from the increases.
  • Evaluate Investment Disposals: Investors should review their portfolio and consider the timing of any significant asset disposals, particularly those that may have qualified for the higher Investors' Relief lifetime limit before its reduction to £1 million.
  • Non-Dom Status: Individuals currently using the non-domicile rules must seek specialist advice immediately to understand their position under the new residence-based regime and to plan for the tax year 2026/2027.
The tax year beginning in April 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most transformative in recent memory. Ignoring these statutory changes is no longer an option; proactive professional advice is essential to navigate the complex new rules and ensure compliance.
The UK Tax Shockwave: 5 Major Changes Hitting Your Finances in 2026/2027
uk tax changes 2026
uk tax changes 2026

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