Dubbed ‘a budget for the pandemic’, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has delivered the Government’s 2021 budget. Below are 10 things in Rishi Sunak’s speech that will affect individuals and businesses alike.

Continuing to pay wages of those on furlough

Announced in advance, furlough has been extended until September. The scheme – which pays 80% of employees’ wages for the hours they cannot work in the pandemic – is significant for millions of people. While this is designed to protect their jobs from redundancy, many will have found that their income has been reduced by more than they had anticipated over the course of the pandemic. The National Living Wage will rise to £8.91 as of April, from £8.72. That is a 2.2% rise for people aged 23 and over.

Jabs and jobs

The extra £1.65bn Government spending to help vaccinate every adult by the end of July should mean people can get back to work and the economy can start to recover. Quicker jabs will allow more jobs to be protected, which means that incomes can recover or be maintained.

Support for the self-employed

Whilst furlough supports employed people, the equivalent for the self-employed comes in the form of grants through the Coronavirus Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS). From next month, claims can be made for a fourth grant worth 80% of three months’ average trading profits, up to £7,500 in total. This will be followed by a fifth grant later in the year, commencing in May. However, the amount paid will depend on the amount of turnover lost. People whose turnover has fallen by less than 30% will receive a grant that is equivalent to 30% of average trading profits. While many self-employed people remain ineligible, those who can show they were trading in 2019-20 from their tax returns will now be eligible for the first time. They can receive the fourth and fifth grants.

Extra £20 a week on Universal Credit continues

Described as a financial lifeline during the pandemic for many of those who have lost jobs or whose finances were already stretched, the Chancellor said this would continue for another six months. Those on working tax credits will receive a one-off £500 payment.

Pay rises may bring a tax shock

The Government pledged in its manifesto not to raise income tax, National Insurance or VAT and although income tax is not rising, the tax bill that people may face in future years could go up. At present, people start paying 20% income tax when they earn £12,500 a year. The starting point for paying the higher 40% rate is £50,000. These thresholds will go up to £12,570 and £50,270 in April, but will then be frozen for five years. With these thresholds maintained at the same level until April 2026, many people receiving a pay rise may find themselves in a new tax bracket and having to pay more. Scotland has some tax-raising powers of its own.

Mortgage deposits for first time buyers

The Chancellor confirmed that a Government guarantee means first-time buyers should get a wider choice of mortgages that require a deposit of just 5% of the loan. This will be available when buying properties worth up to £600,000. The new products will be available from next month.

Stamp duty holiday extended

This tax break for homebuyers in England and Northern Ireland – as well as a similar relief in Scotland and Wales – was due to finish at the end of March. This created a rush, as well as difficulties for some buyers to complete in time. The Chancellor has now said that the current stamp duty holiday in England and Northern Ireland – which means no stamp duty is paid on the first £500,000 of a property purchase – will be extended until 30th June. This relief will be reduced to the first £250,000 of a purchase until the end of September, before returning to its pre-pandemic level of £125,000 from the start of October.

Wine and beer duties frozen

All duties on alcohol will stay as they are, for a second year in a row. These had been earmarked to rise.

Cost of petrol duties unchanged

There has been a freeze on fuel duty for a decade and this will continue for at least another year. About 60% of the price you pay for fuel is tax – a mixture of fuel duty and VAT.

Insurance Premium Tax

The Chancellor did not announce any changes to Insurance Premium Tax (IPT). This will be of particular relief for companies who face increases in their business insurances due a hardening market.

Key business updates

• There will be tax breaks for firms to ‘unlock’ £20bn worth of business investment
• Businesses will be able ‘deduct’ investment costs from tax bills, reducing taxable profits by 130%
• Incentives are being introduced for firms to take on apprentices; they will rise to £3,000 for apprenticeships and £126m for traineeships
• Lower VAT for hospitality businesses is to be maintained at a 5% rate until September. The interim 12.5% VAT rate will then apply for the following six months
• The business rates holiday for firms in England is to continue until June with a 75% discount afterwards
• £5bn is to be issued in restart grants for shops and other businesses in England, which have been forced to close during the pandemic
• £6,000 will be available per premise for non-essential outlets due to re-open in April and £18,000 for gyms, personal care providers and other hospitality and leisure businesses
• A new visa scheme to help start-ups and rapidly growing tech firms source talent from overseas is to be set up
• The contactless payment limit will rise to £100 later this year.

Arts and sports

• £400m will be available to help arts venues in England, including museums and galleries, to re-open
• A £300m recovery package is to be introduced for professional sport and £25m for grassroots football
• £1.2m will be spent to help stage a delayed Women’s Euros football tournament in England in 2022