UK Budget · September 2026
Autumn Budget 2026: what’s confirmed so far (as of 12 September) and what to watch on 28 October
Capital at risk. The value of investments can fall as well as rise, and you may get back less than you put in. Past performance is not a guide to future returns.
Last updated: 27 September 2026.
Energy bills and tariff choice follow separate paths from the Budget speech: Ofgem energy price cap from 1 October 2026, winter heating support, and fixed-rate energy tariffs.
Status at a glance (12 September 2026)
| Fact | |
|---|---|
| Budget delivered? | No — not delivered yet |
| Date | Wednesday 28 October 2026 |
| Sources for the date | Chancellor’s letter to the Treasury Select Committee (31 July 2026); OBR Autumn 2026 forecast date announcement (31 July 2026) |
| Alongside | OBR Economic and fiscal outlook, same day |
| New tax / spend package for this Budget | Not published — check on the day |
| On the day (expect) | Budget speech; HM Treasury documents / factsheets; OBR outlook; usually a Finance Bill process afterward. Exact speech time, full measure list, costings and OBR numbers are provisional until published |
Representation portal (HMT news) closed 23:59 on 9 September 2026 — closed as of research day. After 28 October, replace watchlist content with HM Treasury / OBR / GOV.UK factsheets.
Sources for the date: Chancellor’s letter to the Treasury Select Committee (31 July 2026) and the OBR Autumn 2026 forecast date announcement (31 July 2026).
On the day, expect a Budget speech, HM Treasury documents and factsheets, the OBR outlook, and usually a Finance Bill process afterward for tax legislation. Exact speech time, the full measure list, costings and OBR numbers are provisional until published.
What this page can say before Budget day
- When it happens and which documents to expect.
- Confirmed household rules already in force or already legislated that still affect money this winter and the current tax year.
- A calm watchlist of areas to re-check on GOV.UK and in the OBR after the speech — without predicting outcomes.
What this page avoids: speculative rate cuts or rises, guessed ISA tweaks, or “the Budget will…” claims.
Confirmed household context (not Autumn Budget 2026 measures)
These items are already announced, in force, or legislated from earlier events. They are useful as “what already affects your money going into Budget day”. They did not come from the 28 October 2026 speech.
These items are already announced, in force, or legislated from earlier events. Useful as “what already affects your money going into Budget day”. They did not come from the 28 October 2026 speech.
| Area | Confirmed fact | Source / note |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Allowance freeze |
For 2026/27 and 2027/28: PA £12,570 Basic rate limit £37,700 Higher-rate threshold £50,270 |
HMRC / GOV.UK policy paper (6 Apr 2026 to 5 Apr 2028). Stick to that window unless a later primary source extends it |
| ISA — tax year 2026/27 | Overall ISA allowance still £20,000. Full Cash ISA flexibility still available under current rules for this tax year | GOV.UK / prior policy — not a 28 Oct announcement |
| ISA — from 6 April 2027 |
Cash ISA limit £12,000 for under-65s; Cash ISA £20,000 for those 65+; Overall ISA limit remains £20,000. This does not cap Stocks & Shares ISAs at £12,000. Anti-circumvention / cash-in-non-Cash ISA rules (incl. charge on interest in non-Cash ISAs per GOV.UK factsheet) |
Autumn Budget 2025 policy / GOV.UK ISA reform 2027 factsheet. Budget day may or may not change this — until then treat as confirmed at a prior fiscal event |
| Electricity VAT | 0% in Great Britain from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027. Gas stays at 5%. Government: about £45 off the typical October cap illustration; funded for this financial year | Announced 21 July 2026; HMRC brief. Any extension beyond 31 March 2027 is watchlist only (govt: further action at the Budget) |
| Ofgem price cap (separate path) | 1 Oct–31 Dec 2026 typical dual-fuel Direct Debit illustration £1,723 (+4% / +£60 vs £1,663) | Regulatory path — not the Budget speech. Ofgem energy price cap from 1 October 2026 |
| Warm Home Discount | £150 for the 2026/27 scheme year | Winter heating support |
| Winter Fuel Payment (framework) | Age-based payment for winter 2026/27; HMRC clawback if individual income over £35,000 | GOV.UK Winter Fuel Payment pages. Any Budget change would supersede — until then use GOV.UK |
Fixing a tariff vs staying on the capped SVT is not set by the Budget speech — fixed-rate energy tariffs. Council tax / local rates: nothing to add here yet — check GOV.UK after Budget day for anything material.
Income tax thresholds (GOV.UK)
Personal Allowance and the basic rate limit are fixed for 2026/27 and 2027/28:
- Personal Allowance: £12,570
- Basic rate limit: £37,700
- Higher-rate threshold: £50,270
Source: HMRC / GOV.UK policy paper on the Personal Allowance and basic rate limit from 6 April 2026 to 5 April 2028. Stick to that window unless a later primary source extends it.
ISAs (timeline already set from prior policy)
- 2026/27: overall ISA allowance still £20,000; full Cash ISA flexibility still available under current rules for this tax year.
- From 6 April 2027: Cash ISA limit £12,000 for under-65s; £20,000 Cash ISA for those 65+; overall ISA limit remains £20,000.
Important: the 2027 Cash ISA change does not cut the overall ISA allowance, and it does not cap Stocks & Shares ISAs at £12,000. Under the published policy, the overall annual ISA limit stays £20,000. GOV.UK also sets out anti-circumvention rules for cash held in non-Cash ISAs (including a charge on interest in non-Cash ISAs per the factsheet).
Budget day may or may not change this. Until then, treat the 2027 reform as confirmed at a prior fiscal event, not as an Autumn Budget 2026 measure.
Energy and bills (separate from the Budget speech)
- Ofgem price cap, 1 October–31 December 2026: typical dual-fuel Direct Debit illustration £1,723 (+4% / +£60 vs £1,663) — see Ofgem energy price cap from 1 October 2026.
- Electricity VAT 0% in Great Britain from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027 (announced 21 July 2026; HMRC brief). Gas stays at 5%. Government: about £45 off the typical October cap illustration; funded for this financial year. Government wording: further action would be taken at the Budget — so any extension beyond 31 March 2027 is a watchlist item, not confirmed.
- Warm Home Discount £150 for the 2026/27 scheme year — see winter heating support.
- Fixing a tariff vs staying on the capped SVT is not set by the Budget speech — see fixed-rate energy tariffs.
Winter Fuel Payment (framework already published)
Age-based payment for winter 2026/27, with HMRC clawback if individual income is over £35,000 (GOV.UK Winter Fuel Payment pages). Any Budget change would supersede that — until then, use GOV.UK.
Watchlist for 28 October (not measures)
Check primary documents on Budget day for anything on:
Areas households should re-check in primary documents on Budget day. These are not measures. Rule: treat anything not in HM Treasury, GOV.UK or OBR documents on the day as unconfirmed.
| # | Watch topic | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Income tax / NI thresholds beyond the confirmed freeze window | NOT announced |
| 2 | ISA / savings / Personal Savings Allowance / dividend / capital gains tax | NOT announced |
| 3 | Pensions / State Pension triple-lock commentary versus legislation | NOT announced |
| 4 | Energy support beyond March 2027 (VAT; social tariff; one-off payments) | NOT announced — extension of elec VAT 0% is watchlist, not confirmed |
| 5 | Benefits / Universal Credit / disability / housing support | NOT announced |
| 6 | Council tax / local government funding | NOT announced |
| 7 | Fuel duty / motoring | NOT announced |
| 8 | Inheritance tax / property stamp taxes | NOT announced |
| 9 | Employment / National Living Wage | NOT announced — often a separate Low Pay Commission process |
This page avoids speculative rate cuts or rises, guessed ISA tweaks and “the Budget will…” claims. No political ranking or “winners and losers” framing.
- Income tax / NI thresholds beyond the confirmed freeze window
- ISA / savings / Personal Savings Allowance / dividend / capital gains tax
- Pensions / State Pension triple-lock commentary versus legislation
- Energy support beyond March 2027 (VAT; social tariff; one-off payments)
- Benefits / Universal Credit / disability / housing support
- Council tax / local government funding
- Fuel duty / motoring
- Inheritance tax / property stamp taxes
- Employment / National Living Wage (often a separate Low Pay Commission process)
We treat anything not in HM Treasury, GOV.UK or OBR documents on the day as unconfirmed.
Autumn Budget 2026: FAQs
Has the Autumn Budget 2026 been delivered?
No. As of 12 September 2026 it has not been delivered. It is scheduled for Wednesday 28 October 2026. New tax and spend measures for this Budget are not published yet — they will only be known on the day.
When is the Autumn Budget 2026?
See Status at a glance (12 September 2026) above.
What is published alongside the Budget?
On the day, expect a Budget speech, HM Treasury documents and factsheets, the OBR Economic and fiscal outlook, and usually a Finance Bill process afterward for tax legislation. Exact timing and numbers are provisional until published.
What can this page say before Budget day?
The confirmed date and documents to expect; confirmed household rules already in force from earlier events; and a calm watchlist of areas to re-check after the speech. It avoids speculative rate cuts, ISA tweaks or “the Budget will…” claims.
Are the income tax thresholds listed here from this Budget?
No. Personal Allowance £12,570, basic rate limit £37,700 and higher-rate threshold £50,270 for 2026/27 and 2027/28 are confirmed prior policy from HMRC / GOV.UK. They are not Autumn Budget 2026 measures.
Is the 2027 Cash ISA change an Autumn Budget 2026 measure?
No. From 6 April 2027 the Cash ISA limit of £12,000 for under-65s is prior policy. The overall ISA allowance remains £20,000. That change does not cut Stocks & Shares ISAs to £12,000. Budget day may or may not change this.
What is the Budget-day watchlist?
Topics to re-check in HM Treasury, GOV.UK and OBR documents on the day — for example tax thresholds beyond the freeze window, ISAs and savings tax, pensions, energy support beyond March 2027, benefits, and other listed areas. Treat anything not in those documents as unconfirmed.
How does the Budget relate to the energy price cap?
The Ofgem price cap and tariff choice follow separate paths from the Budget speech. See the October 2026 energy price cap, winter heating support and fixed-rate energy tariffs pages. Electricity VAT 0% to 31 March 2027 is confirmed prior policy; any extension is a watchlist item.
Will this page update after 28 October?
Yes. After Budget day this page will be updated from published HM Treasury, OBR and GOV.UK documents — separating confirmed measures from consultations, and refreshing energy pointers if bills are affected.
Is this personal tax advice?
No. This is general information, not personal advice. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change.
Get our weekly email
The Friday Finance Lowdown — five minutes of the money stuff worth knowing.
Free to join. See our privacy policy for how we handle your email address.