New Government, New Tax Questions: Preparing for the Autumn Budget 2026

Why Business Planning Can’t Wait for Certainty.

A new Prime Minister. A new Chancellor. And the prospect of further tax change at a time when many businesses are already navigating an increasingly complex and uncertain environment.

With the Autumn Budget now confirmed for Wednesday 28 October, discussion around inheritance tax (IHT), business reliefs, wealth taxation, investment incentives and wider fiscal measures is only likely to gain momentum. Business owners are once again being presented with a long list of potential policy changes and accompanying headlines.

Some proposals may become reality. Others may not. Equally, business owners are already adapting to significant tax changes announced in recent years, particularly around succession planning and the future availability of reliefs. It’s therefore understandable that many are asking what could come next from Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his new Chancellor, John Healey, and what the upcoming Autumn Budget might mean for them.

What’s certain is that tax change can have a real impact on businesses, business owners and families. Decisions around investment, growth, succession planning and long-term wealth preservation can all be influenced by the tax landscape, making it essential to stay informed and plan ahead.

 

The challenge, however, is that important decisions often cannot wait for complete certainty.

Many business owners are already considering questions around growth, recruitment, investment and succession planning. Political change simply adds another variable into an already complex decision-making environment.

That’s where tax advisors can make a real difference. Clients rightly expect proactive advice, early identification of opportunities and risks, and support in understanding how future changes could affect their plans.

At the same time, tax legislation is only one piece of a much wider picture.

At TC Group, our recent Success Without Stillness: Leadership in Motion research found that 58% of business leaders are unable to plan a full year ahead, whilst 40% cited political factors as one of the biggest challenges to their mental resilience. Yet more than eight in ten still report having clarity when making decisions. What the research highlights, however, is that this clarity is increasingly focused on the short term, with many leaders finding long-term planning more difficult.

That tells an interesting story.

Business leaders aren’t standing still waiting for certainty. They’re moving forward despite uncertainty, but often one decision at a time.

That’s why periods of change can often be the most valuable time to take stock. Not simply to assess the impact of potential tax changes, but to consider whether today’s decisions remain aligned with longer-term ambitions.

For many businesses, that may mean reviewing areas such as ownership structures, succession plans or future growth strategies. As businesses evolve, it’s easy for long-standing arrangements to remain unchanged, even when the business itself has moved on significantly.

Tax will be a critical part of those conversations. But the most effective planning rarely starts and ends with legislation alone. It comes from understanding the wider ambitions, challenges and objectives sitting behind every decision.

 

That’s where we believe advice can make the greatest difference.

At TC Group, our role is not simply to interpret tax rules. It’s to help clients navigate uncertainty with confidence, bringing together technical expertise, commercial understanding and a genuine appreciation of the challenges business owners face every day. In an environment where leaders are increasingly focused on the next decision, our role’s to help provide the clarity and perspective needed to look further ahead.

Whatever the new government’s agenda ultimately looks like, there’ll undoubtedly be opportunities and challenges ahead. Those businesses best placed to respond are often the ones that take time to step back, review their plans and ensure they’re prepared for change rather than simply reacting to it.

There’s perhaps never been a more important time to invest in proactive, insightful tax advice. Taking stock now can help ensure you’re ahead of the game, making informed decisions that support growth, fuel your business effectively and protect your long-term wealth.

As our research showed, success today is not about standing still. It’s about having the confidence to keep moving forward, even when certainty remains just out of reach.

Get in touch

 

 

FAQs

When is the Autumn Budget 2026?
The Autumn Budget 2026 will take place on Wednesday 28 October 2026.

Who’s delivering the Autumn Budget 2026?
The Autumn Budget 2026 will be delivered John Healey, who was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer by Prime Minster Andy Burnham on 20 July 2026.

What tax changes could affect my business?
The Autumn Budget 2026 could announce changes to impact business growth, recruitment, investment and succession planning. This may include policy changes to inheritance tax (IHT), business reliefs, wealth taxation and investment incentives.