The Chancellor announced his March budget today. 

We knew most of the details in advance, similar to the budgets, autumn statements and ‘non-budget’ statements of the last few years. What we did find out today is that UK PLC is in a better position than feared. Inflation is believed to fall to 2.9% by the end of 2023. 

However, finding staff is a problem faced by most small businesses. This budget was the Chancellor’s way of helping alleviate this shortage. He has done this by:

• Providing more funded childcare. Thirty hours a week of free childcare is extended to working parents of 1 and 2-year-olds. 
• Increasing the pensions lifetime allowance from £1.07m to £2m
• Increasing the amount people can pay into a pension tax-free, i.e. from £40k per year to £60k per year.
• Providing more money to schools to help with wrap-around care

Whilst these will help, the question is whether they will provide the much-needed increase in people returning to work. 

What was hoped was that the chancellor was going to stop the planned corporation tax rise from 19% to 25% for businesses earning between £50k and £250k in profits. Sadly, this tax rise and all its complications still take effect. These will prove very punitive if you run multiple businesses. 

What there was in the budget were the following announcements which will help businesses:

• The 5p reduction in fuel duty is being extended for another year.
• The energy price cap freeze at £2500 for consumers will be extended for another three months. I.e. until the end of June 2023
• The Energy Bills Discount Scheme is maintained until 31st March 2024 for all eligible businesses.
• The 130% super deduction tax for investments in plant and machinery which stopped at the end of March, is being retained at the 100% level but with full expensing. 
• 12 investment zones which will attract tax reliefs and grant funding
• Small companies that spend over 40% of their costs on R&D will receive £27 from HMRC for every £100 of R&D investment.

What is full expensing?

In 2021, the government introduced super-deduction to encourage companies to invest. This was due to end on 31 March 2023. The government is now introducing full expensing, a 100% First Year Allowance, from 1 April 2023 until 31 March 2026. 

For investments in qualifying plant and machinery such as IT equipment, the cost of these are normally taken over years. I.e. If a laptop costs £1000 and is seen to last ten years, its cost would be taken over ten years. I.e. £100 per year. With full expensing, the £1000 cost can be taken in the year it was incurred. 

What do you need to do now?

Given the extra costs the government has now imposed on your small business, the rising cost of energy bills, the minimum wage increases, AND the 10% inflation rate across 2023, you have work to do. Namely:

1. If you haven’t already, put together your business plan for 2023 and model the impact of rising costs. Do you need to:
   1. Increase your prices?
   2. Reduce your overheads?
   3. Increase your wages?
2. Carefully look at your personal and business tax situation. For example:
   1. Would you be personally better off if you paid yourself more via PAYE or made more pension contributions? (particularly now you can add £60k into your pension pot each year tax-free)
   2. Would closing your limited company and trading as a sole trader now make more sense?
3. Who in your staff needs a pay rise to avoid falling foul of the rise in the National Minimum Wage?

Of course, call us if you need help with any of these next steps. We are here to help.