Autumn Budget 2025 Predictions: What Could It Mean for You?
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to deliver her Autumn Budget on 26 November 2025. With borrowing at a five-year high and public finances under pressure, speculation is growing about which tax changes may be announced to raise revenue.
While nothing will be confirmed until Budget Day, it’s worth considering the areas most likely to affect individuals and businesses here in Northern Ireland.
What We’re Watching Closely
🔹 Property and wealth taxes
Reports suggest changes could be on the table, including replacing council tax and stamp duty with a progressive property tax, or even introducing new levies on higher-value homes. Reforms to inheritance tax are also rumoured — such as a lifetime cap on gifts and potential changes to reliefs.
🔹 Landlords
There is increasing talk of National Insurance being applied to rental income, which could affect many private landlords in Northern Ireland. Changes like this could alter how property portfolios are structured and managed.
🔹 Pensions and ISAs
Although major pension reforms seem unlikely this year, adjustments to tax reliefs or lump sum allowances could still appear. Cash ISA allowances may also come under review, as the government looks to encourage more investment into stocks and shares.
🔹 Stealth taxes
Perhaps the most likely outcome is an extension of the current freeze on tax thresholds. This would quietly bring more people into higher tax bands as wages rise, generating billions for the Treasury without an official tax rate increase.
Why This Matters for Our Clients
It’s tempting to act quickly on speculation, but decisions based on rumours can be costly. At Exchange, we recommend waiting for confirmed announcements before making changes to your financial plans.
What we do know is that the Autumn Budget will be delivered against a backdrop of low growth, high borrowing costs, and significant fiscal challenges. This makes it highly likely that some form of tax rise — whether visible or hidden — will be part of the Chancellor’s plan.
How Exchange Can Help
Whatever the Chancellor announces, we’ll provide clear updates and practical advice tailored to our clients. Our role is to help you:
Understand the impact of any changes on your personal or business finances.
Plan ahead to minimise tax exposure and protect your wealth.
Use digital tools like Xero to model scenarios and stay in control of your cash flow.
Our mantra is “Let’s Grow Together” — and that means guiding you through periods of uncertainty as well as growth.
As always, we’ll share our insights immediately following the Budget. In the meantime, if you have concerns about how possible changes could affect you or your business, please get in touch.
