The New Tax Year Is Here — Every April Change Is Now Live
The 2026/27 tax year started on 6 April and all the changes trailed over previous weeks are now in force. Dividend tax rates are up 2 percentage points across the board (basic rate now 10.75%, higher rate 35.75%). The CGT rate on Business Asset Disposal Relief has jumped from 14% to 18%. Employer National Insurance sits at 15% with the secondary threshold cut to £5,000. And Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is officially live for anyone self-employed or a landlord earning above £50,000. If any of these affect you and you haven't adjusted yet, now is the time.
Source: GOV.UK — Income Tax Rates and Personal Allowances | Related: Last week's pre-tax-year checklist
Energy Bills: April Cap Down, but July Rise Expected
Households saw a small reduction in bills when the new Ofgem price cap took effect on 1 April, set before the Middle East conflict escalated. However, the relief is likely short-lived. UK wholesale natural gas prices have surged roughly 75% since late February following disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Energy suppliers are now forecasting the July price cap will rise by around 9%. The Bank of England warned in March that CPI inflation is now expected to sit between 3% and 3.5% through Q2 and Q3 2026 as higher energy costs feed through.
Source: Octopus Energy — Global Gas Prices Update | BoE March 2026 Minutes
Capital Gains Tax Searches Spike After Tax Year Change
Our Search Console data shows a sharp increase in queries related to capital gains tax calculators this week — searches for terms like "cgt calculator shares", "capital gains tax calculator uk", and "shares tax calculator" jumped from near-zero to double-digit impressions. This is a predictable new-tax-year effect: investors reviewing portfolios at the start of the year and checking their CGT position under the new 18%/24% rate structure. If you're selling shares or other assets this year, use our calculator to model your liability before you trade.
Related: Capital Gains Tax Calculator | Bed & Breakfast Rule Guide
BoE Rate Decision on 30 April — Hold Expected
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee meets on 30 April to set Bank Rate, currently at 3.75% since the February 2025 cut. Market consensus is heavily tilted toward a hold: 45 of 50 economists surveyed expect no change, with 5 forecasting a 25-basis-point hike. The Middle East-driven energy price shock has complicated the outlook — cutting rates now would risk fuelling inflation, while hiking could hurt an already cautious economy. Mortgage holders on trackers and those remortgaging will be watching closely.
Source: HomeOwners Alliance — Rate Predictions | Related: Mortgage Calculator
Key Dates
19 April 2026 — Final Employer Payment Summary deadline for the 2025/26 tax year. Employers must submit any corrections to PAYE by this date.
30 April 2026 — Bank of England MPC interest rate announcement (currently 3.75%).
31 May 2026 — P60 deadline. Employers must issue P60s to all employees for the 2025/26 tax year by this date.