Autumn Budget 2026: 6 Money Moves to Make Before October 28

Chancellor John Healey has declined to rule out tax rises ahead of the Autumn Budget on 28 October 2026, and that leaves UK savers, investors and homeowners with fewer than 3 weeks to get their finances in order. The autumn budget 2026 what to do question has shot to the top of personal finance searches, so this article sets out 6 concrete money moves worth making before Budget Day, drawn from what analysts and the chancellor's own statements have been signalling.

What the Budget actually contains will only become clear when Healey stands up. But the steps below are worth taking whether the announcements turn out to be sweeping or relatively minor.

What the Autumn Budget 2026 Could Mean for Your Money

What will budget 2026 mean for me personally? That depends heavily on your financial position: whether you hold investments outside an ISA, a workplace or private pension, property, or substantial cash savings. This guide works through each area.

Here is the picture heading into October 28:

Confirmed (already announced):

• Income tax rates, VAT and employee National Insurance are not going up

• The state pension triple lock stays in place until 2030

• VAT on electricity bills was removed on October 1

• The ISA annual allowance holds at £20,000 for 2026/27

Widely expected by analysts:

• Capital gains tax reform, either through higher rates or reduced reliefs

• Pension tax changes, covering inherited pots, tax-free cash, or the rate of relief

• Inheritance tax adjustments, most likely targeting agricultural and business property reliefs

Ruled out:

• Stamp duty abolition

• Council tax replacement this year

The autumn budget 2026 what to do question bites hardest in that middle "widely expected" column, because those are the areas where taking action in the next 20 days could make a real financial difference.

Autumn Budget 2026 Capital Gains Tax: Should You Sell Investments Now?

The autumn budget 2026 capital gains tax picture has attracted more search traffic this week than almost any other Budget topic. Analysts broadly expect the chancellor to push rates higher or pare back reliefs on October 28.

A bit of background. CGT already climbed from 20% to 24% in October 2024. Lord Jim O'Neill, appearing on LBC this week, singled out CGT as a "prime target" for further increases. Grant Thornton's Budget preview, published in the first week of October, placed CGT in its top three revenue-raising forecasts alongside pension tax relief and inheritance tax.

Timing is the key risk. When CGT rose in October 2024, the higher rate took effect from Budget Day itself, not from a future date. Anyone who disposed of assets after the chancellor sat down paid the new rate immediately, with no transition period. If the same approach is used on 28 October 2026, the practical window to sell before any increase runs out in 20 days.

Who this affects most:

• Investors with accumulated gains sitting in a general investment account, outside an ISA or pension

• Holders of company shares, investment funds, or second properties carrying significant unrealised gains

• Business owners in early discussions about a sale who have not yet reached a formal process

What to consider:

Anyone with gains outside a tax wrapper should speak to a financial adviser or tax accountant before October 28. The decision is not simply about whether CGT will rise; it also depends on the scale of your gain and whether crystallising it now is the right move for your specific circumstances. There is no universal answer, but the deadline for making that call is 20 days away, not six months.

Investments held inside an ISA or pension are not affected by CGT, and no action is needed on this point for those assets.

Budget 2026 Pension Changes: What Could Change and What to Do

Budget 2026 pension changes have featured heavily in analysts' forecasts, with the chancellor reported to be looking at inherited pension pots, tax-free cash limits and the rate of pension tax relief as part of his revenue-raising options.

The most discussed reform is pulling inherited pension pots within the scope of inheritance tax. At present, pension funds sit outside your estate for IHT purposes. Bringing them in would create significant unexpected tax exposure for families planning to pass on pension wealth to the next generation.

A change to pension tax relief is a second candidate. Higher-rate taxpayers currently claim 40% relief on contributions. Reducing this to a flat rate, most commonly discussed at 20% or 25%, has circulated as a Treasury option for years and represents a large revenue opportunity.

The state pension triple lock reform Andy Burnham announced on October 1 (switching the earnings element from a single-year measure to a smoothed multi-year average from 2030) is a separate, already-confirmed change. It has no bearing on the April 2027 rise, which goes ahead under the existing formula.

Check our Guide on What the state pension triple lock change really means

What to consider before October 28:

• If retirement is close and you intend to take your 25% tax-free lump sum, talk to your pension provider or an independent financial adviser about whether to do so before the Budget, in case the limit is reduced

• Higher-rate taxpayers may want to maximise contributions now while 40% relief still applies

• Anyone with a large pension pot earmarked for family should take advice on whether IHT planning is worth exploring in their situation

Check our Guide on How to claim Pension Credit if your income is low

Budget 2026 Inheritance Tax: Who Is at Risk and How to Prepare

Budget 2026 inheritance tax has dominated the conversation in tax planning circles this week. A YouGov poll published on October 5 found that a majority of the British public want IHT scrapped altogether, adding a degree of political pressure on the chancellor.

Analysts are not expecting abolition. The base case is targeted relief reforms rather than a headline rate change. The two reliefs attracting most attention:

• Agricultural Property Relief (APR): Currently lets farmland pass with up to 100% IHT relief. Critics say the benefit has become concentrated among large landowners rather than working farms.

• Business Property Relief (BPR): Lets qualifying business assets, including AIM shares held for more than 2 years, pass with up to 100% relief. If AIM shares lose this protection, the impact on some portfolios could be immediate.

The standard nil-rate IHT threshold has sat at £325,000 since 2009. Given how much property values have risen in that time, the number of estates now caught by IHT has grown significantly since the threshold was set.

Who is most at risk from October 28 changes:

What to consider:

If your estate sits near or above the IHT threshold, getting your will reviewed before October 28 makes sense whatever the Budget brings. Gifts to children (up to £3,000 per year under the annual exemption), charitable bequests and assets placed in trust are established planning tools that stay valid regardless of what the chancellor announces. Talk to a solicitor or financial adviser before making any changes.

Autumn Budget 2026 Savings: The ISA and Cash Decisions to Make Now

On autumn budget 2026 savings, two specific points are worth acting on before October 28.

Point 1: The cash ISA limit is falling in April 2027

Right now the full £20,000 ISA allowance can go into a cash ISA. From April 2027, the cash component is capped at £12,000. The 2026/27 tax year, running until 5 April 2027, is the last full year in which the entire £20,000 can be placed in cash. If your ISA allowance is unused or only partially used, adding to it before October 28 both secures the money under current rules and takes advantage of the higher cash limit before the change kicks in.

Point 2: NS&I rates are competitive at this moment

NS&I confirmed a rate of 5.17% on October 6. That sits among the best guaranteed savings rates available anywhere in the market. NS&I deposits carry a 100% government guarantee, making them particularly appealing to savers who value certainty over higher-risk returns. Rates can shift at any time, so committing cash to NS&I now, ahead of any post-Budget adjustments, is worth factoring into your savings review.

What to consider before October 28:

1. Find out how much of your ISA allowance has been used this tax year

2. If unused allowance exists alongside accessible savings, consider contributing before Budget Day

3. Stack your current savings rate against NS&I's 5.17% and the leading easy-access cash ISA rates

The removal of VAT from electricity bills, which came into effect on October 1, is already reducing household energy costs. Check our Guide on How the Ofgem energy price cap affects your household budget

Your 6-Step Budget 2026 Checklist (Before October 28)

The autumn budget 2026 what to do list, in a practical sequence. Not one of these six steps bets on a specific Budget outcome. All of them improve your financial position regardless of what the chancellor delivers.

1. Use your ISA allowance before Budget Day. The £20,000 annual allowance for 2026/27 is confirmed. Money inside an ISA sits outside the reach of income tax on interest and CGT on growth. If you have unused allowance and cash in a standard savings account, shifting it before October 28 removes it from any new rules before they land.

2. Review investments with gains held outside an ISA. Shares, funds, or other assets in a general investment account that carry unrealised gains deserve a look now. Assess whether selling before October 28 makes sense given your situation, and take advice from a tax specialist if the amounts involved are large.

3. Check your pension contributions and tax-free cash position. If you pay higher-rate tax, contributing more before the Budget protects 40% relief in the event it is reduced. If you are close to retirement, weigh up whether taking your tax-free cash beforehand makes sense.

4. Review your will if your estate approaches the IHT threshold. The £325,000 nil-rate band (rising to £500,000 with the residence nil-rate band when a home passes to direct descendants) has been frozen for years. Estates near or above that level benefit from a will review irrespective of what October 28 brings.

5. Confirm you are on the right energy tariff. VAT on electricity was taken off bills on October 1. If you are on a standard variable tariff, running a comparison against fixed deals now could yield real autumn budget 2026 savings on top of whatever else the Budget delivers.

6. Check Pension Credit eligibility before December. Around 880,000 people who qualify for Pension Credit are not claiming it. Pension Credit tops up income for those above state pension age on a low income, and it also unlocks the Winter Fuel Payment. October is the key application window for the December payment, so do not put this off.

Final Word

Nobody knows exactly what will be in the Budget until 28 October, but the six steps above are worth doing regardless of what the chancellor announces because they protect your money in any scenario. Bookmark this page and return after the Budget for a follow-up article on exactly what changed and what to do next.

The autumn budget 2026 what to do answer is less about predicting Healey's announcements and more about making sure your money is already in the strongest possible position when he stands up. Whatever he says, the steps above are ones you control.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Tax rules and Budget announcements are based on confirmed and widely reported information available as of 8 October 2026. Always check gov.uk for the latest confirmed figures and consult a qualified financial adviser or tax accountant before making decisions based on your personal circumstances.