In the Budget, significant changes were announced with various implementation dates. Key dates to mark on the calendar for these changes have been compiled by The Mirror.
Alcohol prices are set to increase as alcohol duty will see a 3.66% rise starting February 2026, in line with Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation. This adjustment is expected to raise prices by 11p for Prosecco, 13p for red wine, and 38p for gin per bottle, as reported by the Wine and Spirit Trade Association.
Rail fares in England, which typically increase annually in April, will remain frozen until 2027, as confirmed by the Chancellor. Earlier this year, regulated rail ticket prices, including season tickets, anytime day tickets, off-peak tickets, and super off-peak tickets, rose by 4.6%.
From April 2026, the two-child benefit cap, which restricts families from claiming additional Universal Credit or Tax Credits for a third or subsequent child, will be removed.
The state pension will see a 4.8% increase from April 2026. The full new state pension will rise from £230.25 per week to £241.30 per week, equating to £12,547.60 annually, in line with the triple lock system.
Most benefit payments are set to increase in April 2026 in alignment with the previous September inflation rate. The Universal Credit standard allowance will also see a notable rise.
Car tax is scheduled to rise in accordance with RPI inflation from April 2026, affecting most cars registered in the UK after April 1, 2017, with a standard annual rate of £195.
In a pledge by Rachel Reeves, energy bills are anticipated to decrease by £150 from April 2026 by discontinuing the Energy Company Obligation scheme.
The minimum wage is poised to increase from April 2026, with a 4.1% rise to £12.71 per hour for workers aged 21 and over.
NHS prescription costs, usually subject to annual increases in April, will be maintained at the current rate of £9.90 per item.
The 5p per litre reduction in fuel duty will be in effect until September 2026, after which the reduction will be gradually reversed.
The annual cash ISA limit is being reduced from £20,000 to £12,000 for under-65s starting April 2027. However, the overall ISA limit remains at £20,000, allowing for a split between cash and stocks and shares ISAs.
Starting April 2027, the tax rate on savings interest will increase for different taxpayer brackets, impacting the amount paid on interest earned.
Landlords’ tax rate on property interest is set to rise from April 2027, affecting various taxpayer categories.
From April 2027, the threshold for student loans repayment is being frozen by Rachel Reeves. Those who commenced their studies between September 1, 2012, and July 31, 2023, are currently subject to a specific repayment threshold.
Pensions will now be included in Inheritance Tax from April 2027, affecting the estate of deceased individuals.
A new surcharge is planned for expensive homes valued above £2 million from April 2028, with varying annual charges based on property values.
From April 2028, drivers of battery electric cars and plug-in hybrids will face new per-mile taxes, with estimates for the additional costs.
Help to Save, a savings scheme for those on Universal Credit offering a 50p boost for every £1 saved, will become a permanent fixture from 2028, extending the scheme beyond the expected end date in 2027.
The freeze on tax thresholds has been extended until April 2031, leading to potential fiscal drag for workers as their incomes rise, potentially pushing them into higher tax brackets without changing tax rates.
