When will Chancellor John Healey announce the 2026 Budget?

The Autumn Budget is just fast approaching, with Andy Burnham’s government preparing to set out its plans for the country's finances.

From possible tax changes to help for first-time buyers and a shake-up of the state pension, there is plenty to watch out for.

But what do we know so far, and what could be on the Chancellor's agenda?

Chancellor John Healey

PA

When is the Autumn Budget?

The Autumn Budget will take place on Wednesday, October 28, with Chancellor John Healey due to deliver his statement in the House of Commons shortly after midday following Prime Minister's Questions.

It will be the first Budget under Prime Minister Andy Burnham and should offer a clearer picture of Labour’s economic priorities and how it intends to pay for them.

He promised a Budget that will "move money and power out of Westminster and into every postcode around Britain".

The Chancellor has also stressed the importance of "fiscal discipline", saying the government wants to give businesses and families the stability they need to plan ahead.

Could taxes go up?

One of the biggest questions heading into the Budget is whether households and businesses could face higher taxes.

Burnham refused to rule out tax rises when challenged by the Tories during PMQs in September, leaving the door open to potential changes.

There has already been discussion around reforming inheritance tax and potentially introducing a land value tax, which would tax the value of land rather than the buildings on it.

For now, no further tax changes have been confirmed.

What do we already know?

While much of the Budget remains under wraps, the government has already announced several policies that could affect household finances.

State pensions: The government plans to change the Triple Lock from April 2030 to help fund a national care service. Under the proposals, pensions would rise in line with the highest of inflation or 2.5%, rather than by the highest of inflation, wage growth or 2.5%. There will also be a mechanism in place to make sure the State Pension keeps up with earnings growth over time.

First-time buyers: A new scheme called "Your First Home" aims to make getting onto the property ladder easier. First-time buyers putting down a deposit of just 2.5% would be able to access a 20% equity loan to help with the cost of buying a home.

Energy bills: In one of his first moves as Prime Minister, Burnham pledged to remove VAT from domestic energy bills from October 1, in a move aimed at easing pressure on household budgets.

What else could be announced?

Beyond the policies already outlined, there are still plenty of unanswered questions.

Further changes to inheritance tax, a possible land value tax and additional defence spending have all been discussed, although it remains unclear whether any will feature in the Chancellor's statement.

It highlighted the threat of more tax rises, which would almost certainly hit London hardest, or welfare cuts on a scale already rejected by Labour MPs, or Prime Minister Andy Burnham imposing significant cuts to public services which would be a highly surprising move.

The IFS stressed that Donald Trump’s Iran war meant inflation in coming years will be higher than was expected in the spring, when the Office for Budget Responsibility published its most recent comprehensive report on the UK economy.

The Budget will be an important test of how the government intends to balance its spending ambitions with its promise of fiscal discipline.