Thoughts on the Autumn Statement?

[SleepDreamThinkHuge]

I think it was good with Pensions and Benefits rising in line with inflation.

But there will be a lot of hardship: energy prices rising again, council tax could increase by 5 percent, petrol prices could rise, frozen tax allowances etc.

The nhs will have to share in cutting waste and inefficiency

You first jezza

Crazy to cut the nil rate dividend band and capital gains exemptions. The amount of tax generated will be dwarfed by the admin costs of literally huge numbers of little old ladies having to register for self assessment and submit tax returns again to declare a few pounds of dividends over the threshold of £500 and small capital gains just over £3,000 on a few share investments. HMRC will never cope with it, their support lines will already be dealing with the stupid "making tax digital" for small business and landlords that's also introduced in 2024. Utterly bonkers.

The stated aim of the dividend nil rate band and the CGT exemption was to reduce admin burdens by reducing the number of people having to complete self assessment tax returns.

I really don't think those running the country (politicians and civil servants) have a bloody clue what they're doing. They have no practical common sense at all!

Cuts to the capital gains tax threshold will dry up lettings availability, as more landlords will sell up next year and new ones won't enter the market.

Still too little tax being paid by tech companies and tax avoiders such as Starbucks.

Tax being paid by the wrong people