Here’s the TLDR right away. The Autumn Budget 2026 date is confirmed for Wednesday, 28 October 2026. Chancellor John Healey confirmed it in a letter to the Treasury Select Committee on 31 July 2026 and promised a Budget “built on fiscal discipline” that gives families and businesses room to plan. This is the first budget for both him and Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
If you let property, though, the date matters less than what is already heading your way. Some of the biggest changes to landlord taxation in years were announced at the last Budget, and they take effect in 2027 and 2028. The Budget on 28 October could add to them.
Key Takeaways
- The Autumn Budget 2026 date has been confirmed for Wednesday, 28 October, making it the earliest autumn Budget since 2021
- From 6 April 2027, property income will be taxed at rates of 22%, 42% and 47%, which are two percentage points higher than the main rates of Income Tax
- From 6 April 2027, most unused pension funds will be included in the value of an estate for Inheritance Tax purposes
- From April 2028, a High Value Council Tax Charge on residential properties in England worth £2 million or more will come into effect, with annual charges starting at £2,500
- Although the government has not yet confirmed any new property tax for the Autumn Budget 2026, landlords and property investors are watching closely for any announcements on Capital Gains Tax, Stamp Duty Land Tax and other property-related taxes
Here's a Recap of the Last Budget
Before turning our attention to the Autumn Budget 2026, let us revisit the three significant property tax changes announced in the Autumn Budget 2025. They are confirmed, on their way and will directly affect landlords and property investors.
The first is a rise in the tax you pay on property income. From 6 April 2027, income from property sources, including rental income, gets its own set of rates sitting two percentage points above the standard Income Tax rates, i.e., 22% at the basic rate, 42% at the higher rate and 47% at the additional rate.
The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) expects this to raise around £500 million a year, but it has also warned that squeezing landlord returns this way could shrink the supply of rental homes and push rents up over time. If you're affected by the Section 24 mortgage interest rules, the tax credit on your mortgage interest will also increase from 20% to 22% from 6 April 2027, reflecting the new basic rate of tax on rental income introduced by the Finance Act 2026.
The second is the mansion tax, formally the High Value Council Tax Surcharge. From April 2028, any English home worth £2 million or more pays an annual charge on top of its normal Council Tax, running from £2,500 up to £7,500. The charge falls on the owner rather than the occupier, so if you hold high-value stock, it is your bill to pay.
The third change concerns what happens to your pension when you die. From 6 April 2027, most unused pension funds fall inside your estate for Inheritance Tax (IHT). If your property alone already uses up the frozen £325,000 nil-rate band, adding a pension pot on top can tip a large slice of your estate into the 40% band.
Worked Example: How Much More Tax Will You Pay on Your Property Income from Next Year?
Imagine you earn £60,000 a year from your job and receive £40,000 of taxable property income from your rental portfolio. Because your employment income already uses up your basic rate band, all of your taxable property income is taxed at the higher rate.
Here's how the new property income tax rates will affect your tax bill.
Header | Tax Year 2026/27 | From 6 April 2027 |
|---|---|---|
Taxable property income | £40,000 | £40,000 |
Higher tax rate | 40% | 42% |
Income Tax due on your property income | £16,000 | £16,800 |
Extra tax you pay | - | £800 |
At first glance, an extra £800 a year may not seem like much. But this isn't a one-off increase that you can absorb and move on from. It becomes part of your annual tax bill, meaning you'll continue to pay it year after year. Over a decade, that's an extra £8,000 in tax, even if your property income stays exactly the same.
What Will Be Announced on the Autumn Budget 2026 Date?
No property-specific measures have been confirmed for the Autumn Budget 2026. However, the Government faces significant pressure to strengthen the public finances. According to the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR), the Chancellor may need to find around £24 billion through a combination of tax rises and spending cuts to meet the Government's fiscal rules. Against that backdrop, many tax experts believe wealth and property taxes are among the areas most likely to come under scrutiny.
Capital Gains Tax (CGT) is the tax that most commentators are watching. Tax specialists feel that the government could move to bring CGT rates closer to the rates of Income Tax, not least because PM Burnham has expressed support for similar moves in the past. Some commentators have also suggested that the £2 million threshold for the High Value Council Tax Charge could be reduced to £1.5 million, bringing more homes into scope.
By contrast, significant changes to Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) appear less likely, while National Insurance on rental income remains a proposal put forward by policy think.
Conclusion: What Should You Do Right Now?
If your rental profit sits in the higher or additional rate band, now is the time to check whether holding property in your own name still makes sense, or whether a company structure works better once the changes confirmed for April 2027 and beyond take effect.
If you own any property near £2 million, get a proper valuation before mansion tax hits you. And if your pension and property together take your estate past the nil rate band, revisit your will and your pension nominations while the new IHT rules are still settling. None of this needs to wait for the Autumn Budget 2026 date, because the measures driving these decisions are already law.
Should You Move Your Properties Into a Company Before 2027?
It is the question every higher rate landlord is asking, and the honest answer is that it depends on your numbers. Incorporation can cut your Income Tax bill, but it can also trigger SDLT and CGT, so it pays to model both routes before you commit.
UK Property Accountants can review your property structure options, compare your personal and limited company positions, factor in the coming tax changes, and give you a clear way forward.
FAQs
The date for the Autumn Budget 2026 is Wednesday, 28 October 2026. It will be the first Budget delivered by Chancellor John Healey under Prime Minister Andy Burnham and the earliest Autumn Budget since 2021.
The Government has not yet confirmed the exact time of the Autumn Budget 2026. Traditionally, the Chancellor begins the Budget statement in the House of Commons at around 12:30 pm (UK time), although the start time can vary depending on parliamentary business. A confirmed timetable is usually published closer to Budget Day.
No one knows exactly what will be announced until the Chancellor delivers the Budget on 28 October 2026. However, economists expect the Government to consider tax rises or spending cuts. For landlords and property investors, Capital Gains Tax remains one of the most closely watched areas.
There is no confirmation that the Autumn Budget 2026 will change Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) for landlords. While tax experts continue to speculate about reforms to Capital Gains Tax and other property taxes, significant SDLT changes do not currently appear to be the most likely outcome.
Not yet. But that will change from 6 April 2027. From that date, most unused pension funds and certain pension death benefits will be included in a person's estate for Inheritance Tax purposes.
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