When is the Budget 2020 and how it will affect your finances?
THE Budget is a chance for the government to announce some radical changes to public spending – but how will it affect the cash in your pocket?
Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid has said that the Budget 2020 will set out plans to “unleash Britain’s potential” and “open a new chapter for the economy”.
It’s due to be held on March 11, after being postponed in November to make way for a general election that saw a Conservative majority and Boris Johnson stay on as Prime Minister.
The Budget is read out in the House of Commons by the Chancellor and lays out the country’s finances for the year.
It will be the first Budget in more than 40 years as a non-EU member state, providing the UK leaves the bloc on January 31.
But Royal London’s Steve Webb doesn’t expect any major changes that close to the start of the new financial year.
He said: “A government elected just a few weeks ago will have had little time to draw up detailed plans to overhaul major areas of the tax system.
“With a Budget just a few weeks before the start of the new financial year on April 6, it seems particularly unlikely that we will see major changes to take effect for 2020/21.”
Even so, here are the changes the experts are expecting to be announced and how you it will affect your finances.
Pension tax relief shake-up
Two million lower-income earners miss out on a 20 per cent tax relief because of the type of scheme their employer puts them into.
Those who are on a “net pay” scheme, typically part-time or low-pay workers, pay their pension contribution before tax has been deducted.
A “relief at source” scheme takes the pension contribution after tax has been paid, which benefits from the tax relief that is then added to the employee’s savings directly by HMRC, increasing their pension contribution.
Top tips to boost your pension pot
DON'T know where to start? Here are some tips from Aviva on how to get going.
- Understand where you start: Before you consider your plans for tomorrow, you’ll need to understand where you stand today. Look into your current pension savings and policy and research when you’ll be eligible for the state pension, and how much support you’ll receive.
- Take advantage of your workplace pension: All employers are legally required to provide a workplace pension. If you save, your employer must contribute too.
- Track down your pensions: If you’ve moved jobs a lot, this means you’ll have several pension pots. It can be hard to keep track of them all, but the government offers a free pension tracing service to help you.
- Take advantage of online planning tools: Aviva and Royal London have tools that give you an idea of what your retirement income will be based on how much you’re saving.
- Find out if your workplace offers advice: Many employers offer sessions with financial advisers to help you plan for your future retirement.
Pension professionals are hoping that the government will use the Budget as an opportunity to make sure they are protected.
“The lowest earners deserve every help they can get to save for their retirement,” said Steven Cameron, pensions director at Aegon.
Mr Javid isn’t expected to make any changes to the controversial – and expensive to run – triple-lock, which increases the state pension by inflation, earnings, or 2.5 per cent, whichever is higher.
More help for first-time buyers
In the Queen’s speech, the government promised to help first-time buyers by launching the First Home scheme that will see local people get a 30 per cent discount on property.
The government claims this will save buyers tens of thousands of pounds when becoming homeowners.
Details on how this will be funded have not yet been revealed so we’re hoping the Budget will clear this up.
The monarch’s speech also revealed plans to introduce a “lifetime deposit” for renters which can be transported between properties.
This would stop the need for tenants to find the cash for a new deposit while money is still tied up in their current home.
“Given the Conservatives’ recent pledges to help the north or midlands, we suspect the Budget may well focus on creating greater incentives to develop property in these regions,” Yann Murciano, CEO of Blend Network added.
Plans for a radical shake-up to stamp duty were dropped by the Tories in their manifesto.
It would have seen the threshold raised from £125,000 to £500,000 as well as lowering the top rate from 12 per cent to 7 per cent.
It’s not likely that Mr Javid will announce any changes to the current system.
National Insurance tax cut
Around 30 million workers are set to benefit from a tax cut promised in the Conservative manifesto last month.
The amount you can earn before making any National Insurance contributions is £8,632 but it could be raised to £9,500 a year.
Who currently pays National Insurance?
YOU pay National Insurance if you’re 16 or over and either:
- an employee earning above £166 a week
- self-employed and making a profit of £6,365 or more a year
It is deducted from your wages each month.
If you’re employed, you can see how much you pay by looking at your pay slip.
Once you reach state pension age, you don’t need to pay it at all.
There are different types of National Insurance (known as ‘classes’), and the type you pay depends on your employment status and how much you earn, and whether you have any gaps in your National Insurance record.
The move will leave employees earning more than £12,600 around £100 a year better off.
Adrian Lowcock, head of personal investing at Willis Owen, said: “We don’t expect any income tax or VAT rises, but we could potentially see a rise in the national insurance threshold which would effectively act as a tax cut for millions.”
But Mike Parkes, from GoSimpleTax warned: “The changes to National Insurance could cause issues around pensions unless careful consideration is given to its management.
“Everyone needs 35 years of National Insurance contributions to qualify for the full state pension, so lifting people out of NI now could leave them better off today, but they would pay the price in retirement.”
Could council tax rise to fund social care costs
The government promised that “no one who needs care has to sell their home to pay for it” in the Queen’s speech.
This is set to benefit the ageing population who currently struggle to find the funds for suitable care in old age.
What help is available if you want to lower your council tax?
IF you're not sure about challenging your council tax band, there is other help available to lower your bills.
- Full-time students don’t need to pay any council tax at all and if you live alone you could qualify for a 25 per cent discount on your bills.
- If you want to spread the cost of your payments a little further you can ask to make your payments over a full 12 months, rather than the usual 10. Check the GOV.uk website for more information.
- If you live with someone who has a permanent condition that affects their intelligence or social functioning – something like Alzheimer’s or severe learning difficulties – you could also get a quarter off your bill. Charities such as Alzheimer’s Society, Carers UK and Dementia UK all offer free help and advice on how to claim back any council tax you are owed. How long it takes to get your refund varies with different councils, so it is best to check with yours to see how long you will have to wait.
But it may come at a cost to younger generations.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) announced last month that it will give local councils the power to add 2 per cent on council tax to cover the costs.
Mr Cameron from Aegon said that he hopes the Budget is used to develop a “sustainable solution to the social care crisis”.
He added: “In our view a cap on what individuals are required to pay is essential if people are to be incentivised to plan ahead without fear that “catastrophic” care costs will wipe out their life savings and inheritance aspirations.”
Extra cash to help the environment
The Treasury has said that the Chancellor will prioritise the environment in his commitment to spending.
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The government has already pledged to Briton becoming carbon-neutral by 2050 but hasn’t announced any spending related policies yet.
These could include some of the promises made in the Tory election manifesto, such as making homes more energy efficient and ploughing £9.2billion into insulating schools and hospitals.
The Budget could also outline plans for an £800million investment into technology that stores CO2 emissions and converts it into energy, and £500million to help reduce our industrial carbon footprint.