The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak
Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has delivered his budget statement for the year 2021, which includes measures that will impact the construction and merchanting sectors directly. Here is a list of some of those measures.
As the implementation of the Government’s roadmap to recovery is about to start and as local elections loom, the Chancellor, having to tread a fine line between supporting an economy still ailing from the repercussions of pandemic and restart it after almost a year of restrictions, has announced a series of measures he hopes will “protect the jobs and livelihoods of the British people.”
Support to employment
The government is extending the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), also known as the Furlough Scheme, for a further five months from May until the end of September 2021. Employees will continue to receive 80% of their current salary for hours not worked. There will be no employer contributions beyond National Insurance contributions (NICs) and pensions required in April, May and June. From July, the government will introduce an employer contribution towards the cost of unworked hours of 10% in July, 20% in August and 20% in September, as the economy reopens.
The government will extend the income tax exemption and NICs disregard for COVID-19 antigen tests provided by, or reimbursed by, employers and for employer reimbursed expenses covering the cost of home office equipment, to the 2021-22 tax year.
Support to businesses
From 6 April 2021 the Recovery Loan Scheme will provide lenders with a guarantee of 80% on eligible loans between £25,000 and £10 million to give them confidence in continuing to provide finance to UK businesses. The scheme will be open to all businesses, including those who have already received support under the existing COVID-19 guaranteed loan schemes.
Small and medium-sized employers across the UK will continue to be able to reclaim up to two weeks of eligible Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) costs per employee. This scheme is a temporary COVID-19 measure intended to support employers while levels of sickness absence are high. As with other business support schemes, the government will set out steps for closing this scheme in due course.
Any business that took advantage of the original VAT deferral on VAT returns from 20 March through to the end of June 2020 can now opt to use the VAT Deferral New Payment Scheme to pay that deferred VAT in up to eleven equal payments from March 2021, rather than one larger payment due by 31 March 2021, as originally announced.
From 1 April 2021 until 31 March 2023, companies investing in qualifying new plant and machinery assets will benefit from a 130% first-year capital allowance. This upfront super-deduction will allow companies to cut their tax bill by up to 25p for every £1 they invest, ensuring the UK capital allowances regime is amongst the world’s most competitive. Investing companies will also benefit from a 50% first-year allowance for qualifying special rate (including long life) assets.
The government will offer a new UK-wide management programme to upskill 30,000 SMEs in the UK over three years. Developed in partnership with industry, the programme will combine a national curriculum delivered through business schools with practical case studies and mentoring from experienced business professionals. Over 12 weeks, and 90% subsidised by government, this programme will equip SMEs with the tools to grow their businesses and thrive.
Similarly, a new UK-wide scheme will be launched in the autumn to help 100,000 SMEs save time and money by adopting productivity-enhancing software, transforming the way they do business. This will combine a voucher covering up to half of the costs of approved software up to a maximum of £5,000, and free impartial advice, delivered through an online platform
Following a public consultation by the Financial Conduct Authority, the government has approved an increase to the legal contactless payment limits. This will allow banks to support single contactless payments up to £100, and cumulative contactless payments up to £300, without the need for customers to input their chip and pin. The government looks forward to the banking industry implementing the new limits later this year.
Taxation
The rate of corporation tax will increase from April 2023 to 25% on profits over £250,000. The rate for small profits under £50,000 will remain at 19% and there will be relief for businesses with profits under £250,000 so that they pay less than the main rate. In line with the increase in the main rate, the Diverted Profits Tax rate will rise to 31% from April 2023 so that it remains an effective deterrent against diverting profits out of the UK.
For the eleventh consecutive year, fuel duty will be frozen in 2021-22. Future fuel duty rates will be considered in the context of the UK’s commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
The government will uprate VED rates for cars, vans and motorcycles in line with RPI from 1 April 2021, although it will freeze the HGV VED for 2021-22 and will suspend the HGV Levy for another 12 months from August 2021. From 6 April 2021, fuel benefit charges and the van benefit charge will increase in line with CPI.
The government will freeze the Aggregates Levy rate for 2021-22 but intends to return to index-linking in future.
Apprenticeships and training
The government will provide an additional £126 million in England for high quality work placements and training for 16-24 year olds in the 2021/22 academic year. Employers who provide trainees with work experience will continue to be funded at a rate of £1,000 per trainee. It will extend and increase the payments made to employers in England who hire new apprentices.
Employers who hire a new apprentice between 1 April 2021 and 30 September 2021 will receive £3,000 per new hire, compared with £1,500 per new apprentice hire (or £2,000 for those aged 24 and under) under the previous scheme. This is in addition to the existing £1,000 payment the government provides for all new 16-18 year-old apprentices and those aged under 25 with an Education, Health and Care Plan, where that applies.
A £7 million fund will be introduced from July 2021 to help employers in England set up and expand portable apprenticeships. This will enable people who need to work across multiple projects with different employers to benefit from the high quality long-term training that an apprenticeship provides. Employers themselves will also benefit from access to a diverse apprenticeship talent pipeline. Employers will be invited to bring forward proposals here, and in particular the Creative Industries Council will be asked to do so in recognition of the potential benefits of this new approach for the creative sector.
Infrastructure
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) will establish an Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) Taskforce, backed by £10 million of seed funding, to accelerate the delivery of MMC homes in the UK. The Taskforce will consist of world-leading experts from across government and industry to fast-track the adoption of modern methods of construction. It will be headquartered in MHCLG’s new office in Wolverhampton. The Taskforce will work closely with local authorities and Mayoral Combined Authorities, including the West Midlands Combined Authority and the Liverpool City Region who have already brought forwards ambitious proposals.
The government will commission a new National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) study on towns and regeneration, which will consider how to maximise the benefits of infrastructure policy and investment for towns in England. Any recommendations in reserved areas will be relevant to the whole of the UK.
