A founder I’ll call Maya has spent years growing her company. Now she’s wondering whether Budget headlines about capital gains tax or pensions could affect her plans to eventually sell the business and retire.

The honest answer? Nobody knows what will be in the Autumn Budget until the Chancellor stands up on Wednesday 28 October.

But speculation is already building around a number of tax areas. Understanding what’s being discussed, and how it connects to your circumstances, can help you approach Budget day with clearer questions and less uncertainty.

This is a guide to areas being reported or suggested, not a prediction. It isn’t personal tax, legal, investment or pension advice. Any decisions need to be considered in light of your own circumstances with an appropriate adviser.

Could capital gains tax changes affect your exit plans?

There is speculation about possible increases to capital gains tax rates, changes to reliefs or exemptions, and changes to how assets are treated on death. These ideas have been floated or reported; none is confirmed.

Capital gains tax may matter if you hold business shares, own property or expect to sell an asset at a gain. For a founder, the implications could depend on the type of asset, how it is owned, the timing of a sale and any reliefs that apply.

A question to ask with your numbers in front of you: If you sold shares or another asset in the future, what tax treatment would you expect under the rules as they stand, and what information would an adviser need to assess different possibilities?

A Budget headline on its own does not tell you what a change would mean for your plans. Your ownership, timing and wider finances matter.

What might pension speculation mean for retirement planning?

Reports and commentary have raised the possibility of changes to tax-free lump sum limits, restrictions on pension tax relief, or changes to inheritance tax exemptions involving pensions.

This may be relevant if you’re building a pension, considering how to draw income in retirement, or thinking about how you eventually take money from your business. It may also connect to your wider plans for passing assets on.

A question to ask: How do your pension arrangements fit with your plans for retirement and taking money from your company? And which parts of that plan would be affected by a change to tax relief or inheritance tax treatment?

Pensions can involve complex personal circumstances. Your accountant can help you understand the business and tax context, while pension-specific recommendations may require a suitably qualified financial adviser.

Could inheritance tax and business relief affect succession?

There is speculation about possible adjustments to inheritance tax exemptions and business relief. Family businesses and owners considering succession may want to understand how their existing plans rely on current rules.

The key question is not simply whether a relief is mentioned in the Budget. It is whether the assets you hold, the way your business is structured and the people you hope to pass it to could be affected by any confirmed change.

A question to ask: If you were to pass on or transfer your business, what assumptions are your current plans based on?

Succession planning often involves tax, legal and family considerations together. A conversation with your accountant can help identify which points may also need input from a solicitor or another specialist adviser.

Might property or council tax be affected?

A lower threshold for the High Value Council Tax Surcharge has been suggested in Budget reporting. That is speculation, not a confirmed change.

This is likely to be more relevant if you own a higher-value property or hold property personally or through a business. If property is part of your plans, the way it is owned and used may be important to understanding any eventual announcement.

A question to ask: Which properties do you hold, how are they owned, and what role do they play in your personal or business plans?

The detail matters. A headline about a possible threshold change is not enough to establish whether your property would be affected.

What is being discussed on business rates and sector charges?

Business rates reform is also in the conversation, including possible targeted relief for sectors such as hospitality. Sector-specific levies have been floated too.

If you run a hospitality business or another business with significant premises, a change to relief or rates could affect your costs. A new levy aimed at a particular sector may also be relevant depending on your industry and structure.

A question to ask: How much do business rates and premises costs contribute to your current overheads, and how would a change affect your forecasts?

That’s a useful area for a small business accountant to review with your figures, without assuming that any particular measure will be announced.

What do the tax commitments and OBR forecast tell us?

The government has ruled out increases to the main rates of income tax, VAT and employee National Insurance. That commitment shapes the debate about where additional revenue might come from, but it doesn’t tell us which measures, if any, will appear in the Budget.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will publish its forecast alongside the Budget. Its assessment of the economy and public finances helps determine how much room the Chancellor has to meet fiscal targets. That available margin, often called fiscal headroom, is an important part of the context behind Budget decisions.

You can follow the OBR’s forecast publications and read the Chartered Institute of Taxation’s overview of reported Budget possibilities. Both are helpful context, but neither can confirm what the Chancellor will announce.

What you can actually do before 28 October

Preparation does not mean rushing into decisions. It means having enough clarity to understand an announcement if it turns out to be relevant to you.

It may help to gather:

• Your latest accounts, management reports and cash-flow forecast.
• A clear picture of the business shares, property and other assets you hold.
• Your current plans for taking money from the business, including salary, dividends and pension contributions.
• Any retirement, sale or succession plans you have already discussed with advisers.

Then consider:

• Which current tax rules are important to your plans?
• What assumptions are you making about a future sale, pension or transfer of assets?
• Which questions need an accountant, and which may need a pension, investment or legal specialist?
• If your plans changed, what would that mean for the company’s cash flow and your personal finances?

The point is to be prepared, not to panic. Decisions taken in haste before a Budget are rarely the right ones. First understand your position; then, if there is a confirmed change, review what it means for you.

That is the difference between reactive year-end accounts and timely tax planning. As a proactive accountant, I want to look at your numbers while there is still time to understand the story, not just after the year has closed. Our business advisory service is built around understanding your position and planning with you.

What happens on Budget day?

The Chancellor will make the announcements, and the OBR will publish its forecast. After that, the detail matters: which measures are confirmed, who they apply to, when they take effect and whether there are transitional rules.

Some changes may take effect straight away. Others may have a later effective date, often at the start of a tax year. There is usually time to understand confirmed changes and consider your position properly.

An announcement is the beginning of the review, not a reason to make a rushed decision.

Autumn Budget 2026: your questions answered

When is the Autumn Budget?

It is scheduled for Wednesday 28 October 2026.

Should I sell an asset or take money out of my company before the Budget?

There is no general answer. A decision about selling an asset or changing how you take money from your company depends on your circumstances, objectives and current tax position. Discuss it with an adviser before making a decision.

Will capital gains tax go up?

There is speculation about possible changes, including higher rates or changes to reliefs. No one knows what will be announced until the Chancellor delivers the Budget.

Does the Budget affect my limited company?

It could, depending on the measures announced and your business. A limited company accountant can help you review any confirmed changes against your accounts, cash flow and plans.

What should I review first?

A useful starting point is your current numbers and the assets or plans you think may be affected. From there, you can identify the right questions for your accountant and any other relevant adviser.

If you would like your figures reviewed before the Budget rather than after it, book a conversation with us. Our month 9 check-in is a natural opportunity to review how the business is performing, understand your current position and talk through questions while there is still time to plan.

I’m Claudia Sheena, an FCA with more than 25 years of technical experience and a decade running my own practice. We’ll take the time to understand your business and explain what the numbers mean. If you’re looking for a limited company accountant or a corporation tax accountant, the right support should fit your circumstances, not a Budget rumour.

P.S. The useful question isn’t “What will the Budget do?” It’s “Do I understand my position well enough to assess what it means for me?”