The Autumn Budget is due on 28 October 2026, and the rumour mill is already running. Every year, headlines speculate about pension tax relief, ISAs, inheritance tax and more, and every year some people make rushed decisions they later regret.
So here’s a calmer approach: what’s already confirmed, why rumours are a poor basis for action, and a checklist that’s worth doing whatever the Chancellor announces.
This is general information, not financial advice.
What’s already confirmed to change
These changes are already announced or in law. Plan for them now:
| When | Change | Our guide |
|---|---|---|
| April 2026 (already happened) | Employee working-from-home tax relief abolished | 5 tax reliefs for PAYE employees |
| 6 April 2027 | Cash ISA limit for under-65s falls to £12,000 (overall allowance stays £20,000) | The Cash ISA cut |
| 6 April 2027 | Most unused pensions brought into inheritance tax | Pensions and inheritance tax |
| April 2028 | Minimum pension access age rises from 55 to 57 | Pensions explained |
| April 2028 | 3p-per-mile charge for electric cars | Petrol to EV guide |
| April 2029 | National Insurance saving on salary sacrifice limited to £2,000 a year | Pension tax relief |
| Until 2031 | Income tax thresholds and inheritance tax allowances frozen | Fiscal drag explained |
Why not to act on rumours
Before the 2024 Budget, many people rushed to take their pension tax-free cash because of rumours it would be cut. It wasn’t. Some couldn’t reverse the decision, and money that had been growing tax-free was now sitting in a bank account.
Good to know: A decision you can’t undo, like taking pension cash or selling investments, deserves more certainty than a newspaper rumour. If you’re unsure, get guidance from MoneyHelper or Pension Wise, or speak to a regulated adviser.
Your pre-Budget checklist
None of these depend on what’s announced, and all of them are worth doing:
- Check your ISA allowance. How much of this year’s £20,000 have you used? If you save more than £12,000 a year in cash, this tax year is the last chance to put the full £20,000 in Cash ISAs.
- Check you’re getting the full employer pension match. It’s free money. See our workplace pension guide.
- Claim higher-rate pension relief if you pay 40% tax and use a relief-at-source pension. You can backdate four years.
- Check your tax code in your HMRC online account or app. Wrong codes are common.
- Review your pension beneficiaries (your “expression of wish”), especially with the 2027 inheritance tax change.
- Check your State Pension forecast on GOV.UK for any National Insurance gaps.
- Know your mortgage end date. Rates are moving; see our mortgage renewal guide.
After the Budget
Once the Budget is announced, the details usually take time to become clear. Many changes start the following April, not immediately. Read the official summary on GOV.UK, and wait for reputable analysis before acting. We’ll update our guides as details are confirmed.
The short version
The Autumn Budget is on 28 October 2026. Several important changes are already confirmed, including the Cash ISA cut and pensions entering inheritance tax in April 2027. Don’t make irreversible decisions based on rumours. Instead, use the run-up to check your ISA allowance, employer pension match, tax code, pension beneficiaries and mortgage end date.
Common questions
When is the Autumn Budget 2026?
The Chancellor is due to deliver the Autumn Budget on 28 October 2026. The Bank of England's next interest rate decision follows on 5 November.
Should I take my pension tax-free cash before the Budget in case it changes?
Be very careful. Taking money out of a pension on the back of a rumour can be hard or impossible to undo, and it can mean losing tax-free growth or triggering lower allowances. Get guidance or advice before making irreversible decisions.
Will the ISA allowance change?
The Cash ISA limit for under-65s is already due to fall to £12,000 from April 2027, with the overall £20,000 allowance unchanged. Any further changes would be announced in the Budget.
This article is general information, not personal financial advice. Your situation is your own, so check the details for yourself or speak to a regulated adviser before making big decisions. Where investments are mentioned, their value can go down as well as up.
