Displaying items by tag: Budget 2018

So it was with bated breath that Chancellor Philip Hammond stood to deliver his November Budget speech. Rumours has been swirling for weeks that pensions could be hit with changes to taxation. It was suggested that this would be to pay towards the NHS deficit among other things. It was with great relief that when he sat down and we reviewed the actual Budget papers that this was all just speculation and there was little impact. This can only be a good thing as any meddling impacts the distrust that consumers have for the pensions system and makes it difficult for advisers to plan for the long term with clients. How many times have we heard that PCLS or tax-free cash as it is more commonly known will be scrapped? Every Budget for as long as I can remember.

Experts breathed a sigh of relief as Philip Hammond’s Budget yesterday avoided a tax raid on pensions.

Chancellor Philip Hammond confirmed today that his next Budget will take place on Monday 29 October.

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Unusually, the Budget is being held on a Monday this year. It's is typically on a Tuesday or Wednesday.

The Treasury said the Budget would “set out the government’s plan to build a stronger, more prosperous economy, building on the recent Spring Statement and last year’s Budget.”

The announcement of the Budget date was slow to emerge this year with some commentators believing the Chancellor was waiting for the conclusion of Brexit negotiations with the EU.

As there is little sign these will be concluded quickly it now appears he has decided to press ahead with a relatively early Budget date despite some experts believing it could have been put off until November or even December.

Mr Hammond Tweeted: “I’ll set out how our balanced approach is getting debt falling while supporting our vital public services, and how we are building a stronger, more prosperous economy.”

Mr Hammond moved the date of the Budget from March to the Autumn after taking over as Chancellor to avoid an end of year tax scramble.

Some commentators have predicted Mr Hammond may limit pensions tax relief and introduce other pension changes but the Treasury has not commented on any speculation.