Autumn Budget 2026: what Bromley and Orpington business owners should do before and after 28 October

The Chancellor, John Healey, delivers his first Budget on Wednesday 28 October 2026. If you run a business from Chislehurst, Orpington, Bromley or Swanley, it's natural to wonder what's coming and whether you should act now. The honest answer is that nobody outside the Treasury knows the detail yet. You can still use the next week well, though, and be ready to respond quickly once the announcements land.

This guide is for sole traders, landlords, contractors and directors of small limited companies across the BR postcodes and the wider South East London and North West Kent area.

What we already know for 2026/27

Some important changes were set in the previous Budget and are already law. They're worth keeping in mind, because the new Budget will build on them rather than replace them:

• Dividend tax went up on 6 April 2026. The ordinary rate is now 10.75% (it was 8.75%) and the upper rate is 35.75% (it was 33.75%). The additional rate stays at 39.35%, and the £500 dividend allowance remains.
• Property and savings income get their own rates from 6 April 2027. These will be 22%, 42% and 47% for property income in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and 22%, 42% and 47% for savings income across the UK.
• Making Tax Digital for Income Tax started on 6 April 2026 for sole traders and landlords with qualifying income over £50,000. The threshold falls to £30,000 from April 2027.
• Simplified mileage rates for cars and vans rose from 45p to 55p a mile for the first 10,000 business miles, backdated to 6 April 2026. The government has said it will set out its review of mileage rates beyond 2026/27 at this Budget.

Before 28 October: three sensible checks

We don't recommend making big decisions purely on speculation. Commentators have suggested several possible changes, but rumours before a Budget are often wrong. Instead, use this week to get your numbers straight, so you can act on facts once they're published.

• Know your year-to-date figures. If you use Xero or other cloud software, run a quick profit and loss report for the year so far. If your bookkeeping is behind, now's the time to catch up.
• Directors: review your salary and dividend mix. With higher dividend rates in force since April, the balance between salary, dividends and employer pension contributions deserves a fresh look. Don't change anything until you've seen what the Budget says.
• Note any planned big purchases or disposals. If you're thinking about buying equipment or a van, or selling a property or shares, write down the rough timing and amounts. That way we can tell you quickly whether the Budget affects your plans.

On Budget day

The Budget speech usually starts around lunchtime. The detailed documents are published on GOV.UK straight afterwards, along with the Office for Budget Responsibility's forecast. Headlines tend to focus on the big numbers. For small businesses, the detail that matters is usually in the supporting documents: when each change starts, what transitional rules apply and which thresholds move.

Some changes take effect immediately, some from the next tax year (6 April 2027) and some further ahead. The start date often matters more than the headline itself.

After the Budget: what to look at

Sole traders and contractors

Check for any changes to Income Tax thresholds, National Insurance for the self-employed, mileage rates and the timetable for Making Tax Digital. If you're heading towards the £30,000 MTD threshold for April 2027, any change to the rollout will affect when you need to get your software ready.

Limited company directors

Look for changes to Corporation Tax, employer National Insurance, the Employment Allowance and dividend taxation. Together, these decide how much it costs to take money out of your company. We'll rerun the numbers for our clients once the rules are confirmed.

Landlords

The new property income rates from April 2027 are already legislated. Watch for anything further on Capital Gains Tax, finance cost relief or property taxes generally, especially if you hold buy-to-lets around Bromley and Orpington personally rather than through a company.

How Muftals can help

We're a chartered firm based in Chislehurst, and our team holds ACCA and CIMA qualifications. We work digitally with clients across the BR postcodes and further afield. After the Budget, we can review your position against the new rules, update your tax estimates and tell you plainly whether you need to do anything. That might mean adjusting dividends, pension contributions or the timing of a purchase.

See how we support limited company directors and sole traders, or read our guide to tax advice and planning.

Frequently asked questions

Should I take a dividend before the Budget in case rates rise again?

Not without advice. Dividend rates already rose in April 2026, and nobody knows whether this Budget will change them. Taking a dividend early can bring tax forward unnecessarily, and your company needs enough distributable profits to pay one in the first place.

Will Budget changes apply straight away?

Some do, but most tax changes start on a set future date, often 6 April. The published documents give the date for each measure, and we'll tell clients which dates matter for them.

Where can I read the official Budget documents?

HM Treasury and HMRC publish everything on GOV.UK on Budget day, including an overview of the tax changes and policy papers for individual measures.

Talk to us after 28 October

If you'd like a clear view of what the Budget means for you or your company, book a free first call with Muftals. Call 020 7078 7546 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm) or get in touch online.

This article reflects the rules as at 20 October 2026, before the Budget. It is general information, not personal advice.