Year End Tax Planning Guide 2026

The run up to the end of the tax year on 5 April 2026 is a good time to check that your family and business finances are arranged in the best way possible.

In our Year End Tax Planning Guide 2026, we look at useful ways to take advantage of available tax reliefs and planning opportunities.

NOW is the time to take stock and make any changes before the end of the tax year.

The Guide is divided into sections: planning points for companies and business owners; then points for families, couples and individuals. This is for ease of use, and there is inevitably some overlap.

Topical Issues

Each year brings its own tax challenges, and this year is no exception. Key areas to think about include:

• The effect of fiscal drag with the continuing freezing of the Personal Allowance and key tax thresholds.
• The start of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax from April 2026, which will impact some unincorporated businesses.
• An increase in the rate of tax on dividend income from 6 April 2026.
• Measures impacting those with property income, including Making Tax Digital for Income Tax; the continuing fall-out from the abolition of the furnished holiday letting rules; and the forthcoming introduction of a separate rate of tax for property income.
• Forthcoming change to ISA rules.
• New limits for venture capital reliefs.
• Further change to Business Asset Disposal Relief.
• The latest news on changes to agricultural property relief and business property relief.
• The extension of Inheritance Tax to unused pension funds and death benefits.

We explain these changes here, and suggest practical points for action.

As always, if you have any questions or want to delve deeper into your tax planning, please get in touch. We’re here to help!

Please note: This generic summary is not intended as a replacement for a detailed conversation regarding your personal circumstances with a technically qualified advisor. If you’re a client of ours, please get touch with us to discuss these pointers before taking action, to ensure they take full account of your affairs, or speak to your own advisor if you have one.