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.
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.