The new plan came a day after the government announced the Health and Social Care Levy (HSCL) of 1.25 per cent due to be introduced from April 2023 would not go ahead and the 1.25 percentage point uplift in National Insurance contributions (NICs) rates introduced in April 2022 would end on 6 November 2022.
HMRC has subsequently emailed software providers, employers and agents to make them aware of these changes.
The measurements announced by Kwasi Kwarteng that are of most importance to tax agents include bringing forward the 1 percentage point cut to the basic rate of Income Tax to April 2023 and abolishing the additional rates of Income Tax — accompanied by changes to the dividend tax rate.
The Chancellor also announced the cancellation of the planned increase to the Corporation Tax (CT) main rate from 19 per cent to 25 per cent — with the main rate remaining at 19 per cent from 1 April 2023.
Additionally, there will be a repeal of reforms to the Off-Payroll Working (OPW) rules introduced in the public sector in 2017 and extended to medium and large-sized organisations in the private and voluntary sectors in 2021 — with workers providing their services via an intermediary once again responsible for determining their employment status and paying the correct amount of tax and National Insurance contributions from 6 April 2023.
A freeze on alcohol duty rates from 1 February 2023, and further details of the government’s reforms to alcohol taxation, were also announced as was the confirmation that the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) will be set at £1 million permanently, originally raised from £200,000 as a temporary measure in January 2019 (and due to end in March 2023).
Mr Kwarteng also said the introduction of new investment zones around the UK where enhanced tax reliefs will be offered for Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT), Enhanced Capital Allowances, Structures and Buildings Allowance and Employer National Insurance contributions.
There will be an expansion of the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) to help more UK start-ups raise higher levels of finance — doubling the annual investor limit to £200,000, increasing the gross asset limit to £350,000 and making it easier for investors to claim tax reliefs, due to come into force from 6 April 2023.
As well, the Chancellor announced changes to the Company Share Option plan (CSOP) scheme — increasing the employee share option limit from £30,000 to £60,000 and removing a condition that limits the types of shares eligible for inclusion within the scheme, both due to take effect from 6 April 2023, and the introduction of a new digital VAT free shopping scheme for non-UK visitors, as soon as possible.
Furthermore, there will be changes to Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT), including doubling the nil-rate threshold from £125,000 to £250,000, increasing the level at which first-time buyers start paying SDLT from £300,000 to £425,000 and allowing first-time buyers to access this relief on property purchases up to £625,000.
Finally, Mr Kwarteng advised the cancellation of the planned increase in the rate of Diverted Profits Tax from 25 per cent to 31 per cent and the planned reduction in the Corporate Tax surcharge rate for banking companies, both of which had been due to take effect from 1 April 2023.
The government has also announced plans to close the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS), embedding tax simplification into the institutions of government and setting a mandate to the Treasury and HMRC to focus on simplifying the tax code.
