Direct effects of illustrative tax changes bulletin (June 2024)
Updated 28 June 2024
1. Introduction
The tables below are ‘ready reckoners’, showing estimates of the effects of illustrative tax changes on tax receipts from 2025 to 2026, 2026 to 2027, and 2027 to 2028 fiscal years, based on implementation in April 2025. Illustrative changes are presented for various taxes, for example, showing the impact of a 1% or one percentage point change, assuming all other duties are unchanged. The change calculated for each tax head is detailed in each table.
Estimates are shown on a National Accounts basis, which aims to recognise tax at the time its liability arises, regardless of when the tax is received by HMRC. However, for some taxes the National Accounts basis is when HMRC receives the payment. This is due to difficulty in assessing the time at which the liability relates. Such taxes include Self-Assessment Income Tax, Inheritance Tax and Capital Gains Tax.
The figures in the table have been updated in line with the latest economy and fiscal forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) published on 6 March 2024, alongside the Spring Budget 2024. Information which came to light after this date is not factored into the estimates in this publication.
Tax revenues depend on a number of key economic variables including Gross Domestic Product (GDP), prices, earnings and consumer expenditure.
The OBR’s March 2024 receipts forecast was revised downwards in all years, relative to their November 2023 forecast. The downward revision reflected a combination of weaker-than-expected outturn receipts, a less tax-rich economy forecast, and measures announced in the Spring Budget.
It is important to note that the estimated impacts of the illustrative policy changes presented in the bulletin are reliant on the OBR’s March 2024 economic forecasts, and are therefore sensitive to changes in the economic outlook. The estimates do not include any economic or policy changes made since the Spring Budget on 6 March 2024.
2. Methodology
Unless otherwise stated, the costs of the effects are estimated using standard HMRC models and methodologies.
All estimates show the impacts of the various illustrative changes on top of what is already assumed in the indexed baseline – i.e. generally revaluation based on latest available data, plus any previous announcements on rates and allowances up to and including the Spring Budget 2024. The changes are applied from April 2025.
The estimates only consider the direct impact of a measure on the tax base to which it is being applied, or to closely related tax bases. Generally, we do not consider effects on other tax bases and wider economic factors, such as inflation and investment, as these are usually captured in the OBR’s economy forecast.
Unless otherwise stated, the effects of the illustrative changes can be scaled up or down to provide a rough guide to the potential effects. A reduction of 2p in a tax rate will cost around twice as much as a reduction of 1p. However, the costs of increasing an Income Tax allowance or rate limit do not scale so linearly. Typically, the additional cost falls as the allowance or rate limit rises. We therefore provide estimates for different percentage increases and decreases for the main Income Tax allowance and limits. The illustrative figures for Capital Gains Tax rates are also non-linear and so cannot be scaled up, therefore, we have provided estimates for multiple percentage point increases for the Capital Gains Tax rates.
The total cost of a group of changes can broadly be assessed by adding together the estimated revenue effects of each change. However, if for example, Income Tax allowances are increased substantially and combined with a reduction in the basic or higher rate, the cost of the rate reductions will be reduced. In such cases, the cost or yield obtained by adding components from the ready reckoner should be considered only as a general guide.
3. Other useful information:
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our publications are available on the GOV.UK site where you can also find publications by other government bodies.
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if you wish to view all HMRC National Statistics and official statistics publications go to the main menu
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the relevance, accuracy and reliability of the costings in this table can be found in the quality report
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a copy of the table is included within this bulletin, but is also published as a separate ODS version
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the Office for Budget Responsibility has produced a general guide to explaining policy costings in more detail
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for new measures announced at Spring Budget 2024 the methodologies are described in a supplementary policy costings document, published by HM Treasury
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the Welsh Government publish a ready reckoner for the Welsh rates of Income Tax as part of the Welsh tax policy report
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the Scottish Government publish a ready reckoner for Scottish Income Tax
4. Direct effects of illustrative changes
5. Income Tax rates
Illustrative tax changes | Current Estimate, financial year 2025-26, £ million | Current Estimate, financial year 2026-27, £ million | Current Estimate, financial year 2027-28, £ million | Note |
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Change starting rate for savings income by 1p | 0 | 20 | 15 | 1,2,3 |
Change basic rate by 1p | 6200 | 7550 | 7450 | 1,2,3 |
Change higher rate by 1p | 1350 | 1900 | 1900 | 1,2,3 |
Increase additional rate by 1p (yield) | 125 | 240 | 210 | 1,2,3 |
Decrease additional rate by 1p (cost) | 150 | 285 | 260 | 1,2,3 |
(1) The illustrative figures for Income Tax (apart from those exclusively for savings for dividends income) show the exchequer impact on the UK government (i.e. the impact on Income Tax revenues from England and Northern Ireland, plus any associated changes in the Scottish Government’s and Welsh Government’s block grants). The ready reckoner does not include any impacts of changes for the elements of Income Tax devolved for Scotland or Wales.
(2) The illustrative figure for changing the starting rate of Income Tax by 1p assumes a minimum savings allowance of 20%.
(3) The illustrative figures account for taxpayers’ behavioural responses, estimated by applying taxable income elasticities and by considering the impact on tax motivated incorporations. There is significant uncertainty around these modelling assumptions, particularly concerning rate changes to the Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions of Additional Rate taxpayers.
6. Income Tax allowances and reliefs
Illustrative tax changes | Current Estimate, financial year 2025-26, £ million | Current Estimate, financial year 2026-27, £ million | Current Estimate, financial year 2027-28, £ million | Note |
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Change personal allowance by £100 | 690 | 885 | 960 | 1,3 |
Change personal allowance by 1% | 945 | 1100 | 1100 | 1,3 |
Change personal allowance by 10% | 9300 | 10850 | 10650 | 1,3 |
Change Savings allowance by £100 for BR and £50 for HR taxpayers | 0 | 65 | 55 | 1,3 |
Change dividend allowance by £100 | 0 | 80 | 75 | 1,3 |
(1) The illustrative figures for Income Tax (apart from those exclusively for savings for dividends income) show the exchequer impact on the UK government (i.e. the impact on Income Tax revenues from England and Northern Ireland, plus any associated changes in the Scottish Government’s and Welsh Government’s block grants). The ready reckoner does not include any impacts of changes for the elements of Income Tax devolved for Scotland or Wales.
(3) The illustrative figures account for taxpayers’ behavioural responses, estimated by applying taxable income elasticities and by considering the impact on tax motivated incorporations. There is significant uncertainty around these modelling assumptions, particularly concerning rate changes to the Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions of Additional Rate taxpayers.
7. Income Tax limits
Illustrative tax changes | Current Estimate, financial year 2025-26, £ million | Current Estimate, financial year 2026-27, £ million | Current Estimate, financial year 2027-28, £ million | Note |
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Change starting rate limit for savings income by £100 | Neg | 10 | 5 | 1,3 |
Change basic rate limit by 1% | 420 | 600 | 595 | 1,3 |
Increase basic rate limit by 10% (cost) | 3900 | 5600 | 5550 | 1,3 |
Decrease basic rate limit by 10% (yield) | 4650 | 6500 | 6450 | 1,3 |
(1) The illustrative figures for Income Tax (apart from those exclusively for savings for dividends income) show the exchequer impact on the UK government (i.e. the impact on Income Tax revenues from England and Northern Ireland, plus any associated changes in the Scottish Government’s and Welsh Government’s block grants). The ready reckoner does not include any impacts of changes for the elements of Income Tax devolved for Scotland or Wales.
(3) The illustrative figures account for taxpayers’ behavioural responses, estimated by applying taxable income elasticities and by considering the impact on tax motivated incorporations. There is significant uncertainty around these modelling assumptions, particularly concerning rate changes to the Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions of Additional Rate taxpayers.
8. Income Tax allowances, starting and basic rate limits
Illustrative tax changes | Current Estimate, financial year 2025-26, £ million | Current Estimate, financial year 2026-27, £ million | Current Estimate, financial year 2027-28, £ million | Note |
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Change all main allowances, starting and basic rate limits by 1% | 1350 | 1700 | 1700 | 1,3 |
Increase all main allowances, starting and basic rate limits by 10% (cost) | 13000 | 16250 | 16000 | 1,3 |
Decrease all main allowances, starting and basic rate limits by 10% (yield) | 14650 | 18250 | 18000 | 1,3 |
(1) The illustrative figures for Income Tax (apart from those exclusively for savings for dividends income) show the exchequer impact on the UK government (i.e. the impact on Income Tax revenues from England and Northern Ireland, plus any associated changes in the Scottish Government’s and Welsh Government’s block grants). The ready reckoner does not include any impacts of changes for the elements of Income Tax devolved for Scotland or Wales.
(3) The illustrative figures account for taxpayers’ behavioural responses, estimated by applying taxable income elasticities and by considering the impact on tax motivated incorporations. There is significant uncertainty around these modelling assumptions, particularly concerning rate changes to the Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions of Additional Rate taxpayers.
9. National Insurance contributions rates
Illustrative tax changes | Current Estimate, financial year 2025-26, £ million | Current Estimate, financial year 2026-27, £ million | Current Estimate, financial year 2027-28, £ million | Note |
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Change Class 1 employee main rate by 1 percentage point | 4700 | 4700 | 4800 | 4,5,6,7 |
Change Class 1 employee additional rate by 1 percentage point | 1450 | 1450 | 1550 | 4,5,6,7 |
Change Class 1 employer rate by 1 percentage point | 8450 | 8650 | 8900 | 4,5,6,7 |
Change Class 4 main rate by 1 percentage point | 370 | 440 | 380 | 4,5,6,7 |
Change Class 4 additional rate by 1 percentage point | 245 | 290 | 265 | 4,5,6,7 |
(4) Behavioural effects are included in these illustrative figures where appropriate, estimated by applying taxable income elasticities and by considering the impact on tax motivated incorporations. The approach taken to produce these estimates differs from the methodology used by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) at Spring Budget 2024 for the two percentage point cuts in Class 1 and 4 National Insurance Contributions and presented in their Economic and Fiscal Outlook for March 2024. This is due to the OBR applying labour market impacts instead of taxable income elasticities at that event. There is a degree of overlap between taxable income elasticities and labour supply elasticities, with the OBR’s decision to use the latter in this instance being a pragmatic one. More information about the OBR costing methodology for the NICs cuts announced at Autumn Budget 2023 and Spring Budget 2024 is available on the OBR’s website. There is significant uncertainty around these modelling assumptions.
(5) The illustrative figures include Class 1A and Class 1B National Insurance paid by employers.
(6) A change to the rate of Class 1 employer National Insurance contributions (NICs) would have substantial additional negative exchequer effects from earnings and business profits depending on the assumed incidence of an employer rate increase. These judgements are made by the Office for Budget Responsibility with the effects captured in their economic and fiscal forecasts. These effects are not captured here.
(7) This publication no longer includes an estimate for changing Class 2 NICs amounts, following the Government’s Autumn Statement 2023 announcement that the self-employed will no longer have to pay Class 2 from April 2024 onwards.
10. National Insurance Contribution Limits
Illustrative tax changes | Current Estimate, financial year 2025-26, £ million | Current Estimate, financial year 2026-27, £ million | Current Estimate, financial year 2027-28, £ million | Note |
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Change employee entry threshold by £2 per week | 200 | 210 | 210 | - |
Change employer threshold by £2 per week | 390 | 400 | 410 | - |
Change lower profits limit by £104 per year | 15 | 10 | 15 | - |
Change upper profits limit by £520 per year | 5 | 10 | 10 | - |
Change upper earnings limit by £10 per week | 170 | 170 | 180 | - |
11. Child Benefit
Illustrative tax changes | Current Estimate, financial year 2025-26, £ million | Current Estimate, financial year 2026-27, £ million | Current Estimate, financial year 2027-28, £ million | Note |
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Increase first child rate by £1 per week (cost) | 350 | 365 | 375 | - |
Decrease first child rate by £1 per week (yield) | 350 | 350 | 345 | - |
Increase subsequent child rate by £1 per week (cost) | 240 | 235 | 235 | - |
Decrease subsequent child rate by £1 per week (yield) | 240 | 250 | 255 | - |
12. Corporation tax
Illustrative tax changes | Current Estimate, financial year 2025-26, £ million | Current Estimate, financial year 2026-27, £ million | Current Estimate, financial year 2027-28, £ million | Note |
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Increase Corporation tax by 1 percentage point | 3500 | 3800 | 3800 | 8 |
(8) This estimate represents a 1 percentage point change to the main rate and small profits rate for onshore Corporation tax; it does not include offshore Corporation tax for North Sea oil and gas companies, Energy Profits Levy, Bank Surcharge nor Residential Property Developer Tax, which are separate profits-based taxes. Corporation tax is presented as ‘time-adjusted cash’, in line with the way the Office for National Statistics reports these revenues in the Public Sector Finances. The methodology for calculating time-adjusted cash aligns receipts more closely to the period of the economic activity that generates the tax liability.
13. Capital Gains Tax
Illustrative tax changes | Current Estimate, financial year 2025-26, £ million | Current Estimate, financial year 2026-27, £ million | Current Estimate, financial year 2027-28, £ million | Note |
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Increase Business Asset Disposal Relief rate by 1 percentage point | 5 | 135 | 135 | 9 |
Increase Business Asset Disposal Relief rate by 5 percentage points | 15 | 560 | 530 | 9,10 |
Increase Business Asset Disposal Relief rate by 10 percentage points | 35 | 815 | 710 | 9,10 |
Increase lower Capital Gains Tax rate by 1 percentage point | 0 | 15 | 15 | 9,11 |
Increase lower Capital Gains Tax rate by 5 percentage points | -25 | 50 | 30 | 9,10,11 |
Increase lower Capital Gains Tax rate by 10 percentage points | -95 | 10 | -30 | 9,10,11 |
Increase higher Capital Gains Tax rate by 1 percentage point | -10 | 170 | 110 | 9,11 |
Increase higher Capital Gains Tax rate by 5 percentage points | -115 | 255 | -140 | 9,10,11 |
Increase higher Capital Gains Tax rate by 10 percentage points | -400 | -985 | -2025 | 9,10,11 |
Increase Annual Exempt Amount by £500 for individuals and £250 for trusts | 0 | -30 | -25 | 9,11 |
(9) Estimates have been revised in line with updates to the Capital Gains Tax forecast and key economic variables. All estimates include behavioural impacts on Capital Gains Tax, Income Tax and Stamp Duty Land Tax. Estimates include the reduction in the annual exempt amount from £6,000 to £3000 from April 2024, as announced at Autumn Statement 2022 and the reduction of the Higher Rate for Residential Property to 24% at Spring Budget 2024. Capital Gains Tax rates includes residential property, carried interest and main rates.
(10) Please note that these rate changes are non-linear and asymmetrical. For example, doubling the change in revenue from a 5-percentage-point increase does not accurately predict the change in revenue under a 10-percentage-point increase. Very large tax rate rises can reduce exchequer yield due to taxpayer behavioural impacts.
(11) The illustrative tax changes for CGT includes different rates for different asset classes, such as Residential Property and Main Rates, which can often cause opposing effects on the exchequer in different years. For example, an increase in the Residential Property higher rate can lower Stamp Duty Land Tax revenue, whereas an increase in the Main Rate higher rate can generate Income Tax. Depending on the strength of the loss or yield from each tax head we may see a net loss to the exchequer in some years and a net revenue gain in other years. Negative signs are used in the CGT illustrative tax changes to indicate net losses.
14. Inheritance tax
Illustrative tax changes | Current Estimate, financial year 2025-26, £ million | Current Estimate, financial year 2026-27, £ million | Current Estimate, financial year 2027-28, £ million | Note |
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Increase standard rate for estates left on death by 1 percentage point | 80 | 175 | 205 | 12,13 |
Increase Nil Rate Band by £5,000 (cost) | 45 | 100 | 120 | - |
Increase Residence Nil Rate Band by £5,000 (cost) | 15 | 35 | 40 | - |
(12) Due to the six-month lag between the date of death and when Inheritance Tax becomes due, receipts in the first year of the policy change will be lower than in subsequent years.
(13) Increase to main rate and reduced rate of Inheritance Tax.
15. 1% change in various duties
Illustrative tax changes | Indicative level of current duty on a typical item | Current Estimate, financial year 2025-26, £ million | Current Estimate, financial year 2026-27, £ million | Current Estimate, financial year 2027-28, £ million | Note |
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Beer and cider duties | Pint of beer: 51p | 30 | 30 | 30 | 14,15 |
Wine duties | 75cl bottle of table wine: £2.67 | 40 | 40 | 45 | 14,16 |
Spirits duties | 70cl bottle of spirits £8.56 | 40 | 40 | 45 | 14,17 |
Tobacco Duties | Packet of 20 cigarettes: £8.51 | 10 | 25 | 25 | 18 |
Petrol | 52.95p per litre | 100 | 100 | 105 | 19 |
Diesel | 52.95p per litre | 160 | 155 | 160 | 19 |
Rebated oil | 10.18p per litre | neg | neg | 5 | 19 |
Climate change levy | 1kWh of business electricity: £0.00775 | 20 | 20 | 20 | - |
Carbon price support | Tonne of carbon: £18 | neg | neg | neg | - |
Aggregates levy | Tonne of Aggregate: £2.03 | neg | 5 | 5 | 20 |
Landfill tax | Tonne of waste: £3.30 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 20,21 |
(14) All illustrative impacts to alcohol rates are based on the alcohol taxation regime implemented from August 2023. To align with other estimates in this publication all rate changes are assumed to take effect from 6th April each year. In practice, as announced at Autumn Budget 2017, the OBR’s forecast assumes that alcohol duties will be uprated on 1st February each year from 2025 onwards.
(15) Beer and cider: the illustrative revenue figures are based on duty increases on beer below 22% ABV (alcohol by volume), still cider exceeding 1.2% but less than 8.5% ABV and sparkling cider exceeding 1.2% up to 5.5% ABV. Assumed strength of a typical pint of beer is 4.3% ABV (rounded to 1 d.p.). The level of duty for a pint of beer reflects rates for an off-trade product. Draught beer faces a lower rate as of 1st August 2023 with the duty on a pint of 4.3% ABV (1 d.p.) beer being 46p. The duty paid on beer and cider is relative to the alcoholic strength of drink, therefore exact duty rates will vary with ABV.
(16) Wine: the illustrative revenue figures are based on duty increases for wine and other fermented products from 1.2% but not exceeding 22% ABV. Also includes sparkling cider from 5.5% to 8.5% ABV. A typical bottle of wine is assumed to be between 11.5-14.5% ABV. Typical duty accounts for the 18 month wine easement where wine will be treated as if it is 12.5% ABV for the purposes of calculating the charge to alcohol duty. The duty paid on wine is relative to the alcoholic strength of the drink, therefore exact duty rates will vary with ABV.
(17) Spirits: Assumed strength of a typical item is 38.7% ABV (1 d.p.). The duty paid on spirits is relative to the alcoholic strength of drink, therefore exact duty rates will vary with ABV.
(18) Duty on cigarettes has specific and ad valorem elements. As the duty paid on cigarettes is relative to their price, the exact duty on a pack is variable. The indicative duty figure is based on the weighted average price (WAP) in 2023 and current duty rates. A 1% change in specific duty rate is applied to all tobacco products and is also applied to the Minimum Excise Tax for cigarettes. The tobacco duty change estimated here is assumed to occur at the time of the annual uprating in November, which leads to a smaller change increase in the first year as it only affects a part of the year.
(19) Fuel duty rates have yet to be set for 2025/26. The indicative level of current duty on a typical item for fuel duty therefore reflects 2024/25 rates.
(20) The indicative level of current duty on a typical item for the Aggregates Levy and the Landfill Tax reflect rates from 1 April 2024.
(21) Landfill Tax (LFT) has been devolved to Scotland and Wales. The estimates shown relate to England and Northern Ireland only.
16. Vehicle excise duty
Illustrative tax changes | Current Estimate, financial year 2025-26, £ million | Current Estimate, financial year 2026-27, £ million | Current Estimate, financial year 2027-28, £ million | Note |
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Increase rates by £1 for motorbikes and £5 for all other vehicles | 205 | 210 | 215 | - |
17. Air passenger duty
Illustrative tax changes | Current Estimate, financial year 2025-26, £ million | Current Estimate, financial year 2026-27, £ million | Current Estimate, financial year 2027-28, £ million | Note |
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Increase reduced rate by £1 | 130 | 135 | 140 | - |
18. VAT
Illustrative tax changes | Current Estimate, financial year 2025-26, £ million | Current Estimate, financial year 2026-27, £ million | Current Estimate, financial year 2027-28, £ million | Note |
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Change reduced rate by 1 percentage point | 450 | 440 | 440 | - |
Change standard rate by 1 percentage point | 8550 | 8900 | 9300 | - |
19. Insurance premium tax
Illustrative tax changes | Current Estimate, financial year 2025-26, £ million | Current Estimate, financial year 2026-27, £ million | Current Estimate, financial year 2027-28, £ million | Note |
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Change standard rate by 1 percentage point | 570 | 580 | 590 | - |
Change higher rate by 1 percentage point | 15 | 15 | 20 | - |
20. Stamp duty land tax
Illustrative tax changes | Current Estimate, financial year 2025-26, £ million | Current Estimate, financial year 2026-27, £ million | Current Estimate, financial year 2027-28, £ million | Note |
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Cut 2% marginal rate by 1 percentage point (Cost) | 430 | 470 | 545 | 22 |
Raise 2% marginal rate by 1 percentage point (Yield) | 405 | 440 | 515 | 22 |
Cut 5% marginal rate by 1 percentage point (Cost) | 610 | 675 | 820 | 23 |
Raise 5% marginal rate by 1 percentage point (Yield) | 540 | 585 | 720 | 23 |
Cut 10% marginal rate by 1 percentage point (Cost) | 35 | 35 | 45 | - |
Raise 10% marginal rate by 1 percentage point (Yield) | 35 | 30 | 40 | - |
Cut 12% marginal rate by 1 percentage point (Cost) | 5 | 10 | 0 | - |
Raise 12% marginal rate by 1 percentage point (Yield) | -10 | -25 | -20 | 24 |
Decrease Higher Rates for Additional Dwellings by 1 percentage point (Cost) | 345 | 340 | 440 | - |
Increase Higher Rates for Additional Dwellings by 1 percentage point (Yield) | 225 | 210 | 305 | - |
Decrease NRSDLT by 1 percentage point (Cost) | 45 | 50 | 75 | - |
Increase NRSDLT by 1 percentage point (Yield) | 20 | 25 | 50 | - |
Decrease Commercial SDLT by 1 percentage point (Cost) | 295 | 335 | 380 | - |
Increase Commercial SDLT by 1 percentage point (Yield) | 150 | 180 | 215 | - |
(22) Following the reversion of the residential nil-rate band to £125k from 2025-26, we have included estimates for changes to the 2% band (for properties between £125k and £250k).
(23) The residential nil-rate band falls back to £125k (£300k for First-Time Buyers) and First-Time Buyers’ Relief eligibility cap falls back to £500k from 2025-26 onwards, which impacts 2025-26 estimates.
(24) Please note that these rate changes are non-linear and asymmetrical. For example, doubling the change in revenue from a 1-percentage-point increase does not accurately predict the change in revenue under a 2-percentage-point increase. Some tax rate rises at higher rates can reduce exchequer yield due to taxpayer behavioural impacts. Negative signs are used in the SDLT illustrative tax changes to indicate net losses.
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