The UK Budget 2026 is on Wednesday 28 October 2026. If you run a UK limited company from Morocco, Vietnam, Türkiye or anywhere else, the Budget can change what your company pays in tax and what reaches you when you take profits. This guide explains what the Budget is, the rates it can change, and what has already been announced, without guessing at what the Chancellor will say.
What is the UK Budget?
The Budget is the government’s main yearly statement on tax and spending. The Chancellor of the Exchequer presents it to Parliament, and the documents are published on GOV.UK the same day. HM Treasury confirmed the date in a letter published on 31 July 2026: Budget 2026 date.
A Budget can change tax rates, allowances and thresholds. Some changes start straight away, but most start later, often from the next tax year on 6 April. Until it is announced, nothing is decided. Treat any forecast you read before 28 October as a guess.
When is it, and how will it be announced?
The Budget is on Wednesday 28 October 2026. On the day, the Chancellor gives a speech in the House of Commons, and HM Treasury publishes the full set of documents on GOV.UK straight after. These include the main Budget report, a summary of tax changes, and detailed notes on each measure. The tax notes, often called the “overview of tax legislation and rates”, are where you will find exactly what changes, for whom, and from when. Headlines on the day often simplify these details, so the documents are the place to check.
Why should a director abroad care?
Your company is a UK company, so UK company tax rules apply to it wherever you live. And when you pay yourself through dividends, UK dividend rules can apply too, alongside the rules of the country where you live.
That means a Budget announcement in London can change the numbers in your company accounts in Casablanca or Ho Chi Minh City.
The four numbers to watch
These are the current figures, from GOV.UK, as of October 2026:
| What | Current figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Corporation Tax main rate | 25% | Corporation Tax rates |
| Small profits rate (profits up to £50,000) | 19% | Same page |
| Dividend tax rates (above the £500 allowance) | 10.75%, 35.75% and 39.35% | Tax on dividends |
| VAT registration threshold | £90,000 of taxable turnover | When to register for VAT |
If any of these change on 28 October, check when the change starts before acting on it.
What has already been announced or consulted on?
Some things are already public before the Budget:
- Online marketplace VAT. A consultation on making online marketplaces account for VAT on sales by UK-established sellers ran from 23 June to 18 August 2026. The government has not yet published its response. If you sell on Amazon, eBay or similar platforms through a UK company, watch for this.
- Low-value imports. Customs duty relief on goods worth £135 or less is being removed, with the change due by October 2028.
- Tax update 2026. Published on 23 June 2026, it includes consultations on the rules for distributions such as dividends, and confirms that e-invoicing becomes mandatory in 2029.
Key dates around the Budget
The Budget does not sit on its own. These are the other dates in the same weeks that matter to a UK company run from abroad:
| Date | What | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 31 October 2026 | Annual accounts due at Companies House for companies with a 31 January 2026 year end | GOV.UK |
| 31 October 2026 | Paper Self Assessment returns for 2025 to 2026 | GOV.UK |
| 1 November 2026 | Corporation Tax payment for a 31 January 2026 year end | GOV.UK |
| 7 November 2026 | VAT returns and payments for the quarter to 30 September | GOV.UK |
| 17 November 2026 | The identity verification transition period closes | GOV.UK |
Late filing penalties for annual accounts start at £150 and rise to £1,500, and they double if accounts are late two years in a row.
How to read Budget news safely
Budget day brings a wave of headlines, social posts and videos. Some will be accurate. Some will be wrong, or about rules that only apply to people who live in the UK.
A few habits help:
- Read the GOV.UK documents, not screenshots of them.
- Check the start date of every change.
- Check whether a change applies to companies, to individuals, or to UK residents only.
- Be wary of anyone selling a product on the back of a Budget headline.
Your Budget week checklist
- Note your company’s year end and its next Corporation Tax payment date (9 months and 1 day after the year end).
- Read the official Budget documents on GOV.UK on 28 October, not just headlines.
- Check whether any change affects Corporation Tax, dividends or VAT, and when it starts.
- If you pay yourself dividends, ask your accountant whether the timing of your next dividend should change.
- Keep your Companies House filings moving: identity verification and confirmation statements do not pause for the Budget.
After the Budget: what to do in November
Once the Budget is announced, most changes will not affect you on the day. A sensible order in the weeks after is:
- Note any change to Corporation Tax, dividend tax or VAT, and its start date.
- Ask your accountant whether your year-end planning, dividends or VAT registration should change.
- Keep your normal deadlines: accounts, Corporation Tax payments, VAT returns and confirmation statements carry on as before.
- Make sure every director has verified their identity before your next confirmation statement, and before the transition period closes on 17 November 2026.
If you are new to running a UK company from abroad, the Budget is also a good moment to check the basics: who prepares your accounts, when your year end is, and whether your registered office and contact details are current.
Frequently asked questions
What time is the Budget?
The Chancellor usually speaks in Parliament around midday UK time, and the documents appear on GOV.UK straight after.
Will the Budget change my identity verification deadline?
The Budget is about tax and spending. Identity verification is a Companies House requirement under separate law.
Do I pay UK tax on dividends if I live abroad?
It depends on your situation and the country where you live. This is a question for a qualified tax adviser.
Where can I read the official Budget?
On GOV.UK, on the day. Search for “Budget 2026”.
Where Launchese fits in
Launchese helps founders around the world run UK companies: formation, UK address services, Companies House filings, identity verification as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), and accounting through our partners. We do not give tax advice, but we can help you keep your filings on time and connect you with accountants who can.
Related reading
- Your Autumn UK Compliance Checklist: Every Deadline Founders Need to Know
- Companies House identity verification for overseas directors: the real deadline and your three options
Sources
This is general information, not legal or tax advice. For anything beyond the rules explained here, check with a qualified professional.
