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Reeves Tells OBR to Model Income Tax Rise and Pension Salary‑Sacrifice Cap

The watchdog is assessing proposals that would shift more of the tax burden onto people who do not benefit from National Insurance cuts.

Overview

  • Multiple outlets report the chancellor has signalled plans to increase personal taxation for the 26 November Budget, with the OBR due to present its assessment to the Treasury on Monday.
  • One option under review is a 2p rise in income tax paired with a 2p cut to employee National Insurance on earnings up to £50,270, which the Resolution Foundation says could raise about £6bn.
  • The Treasury is also weighing a cap of roughly £2,000 a year on NI‑free salary‑sacrifice pension contributions, mainly affecting private‑sector schemes, with some estimates putting the yield at up to around £2bn.
  • Analysts say such measures would leave many employees’ take‑home pay broadly unchanged but increase liabilities for pensioners, landlords and the self‑employed who do not gain from NI cuts.
  • Modelling points to significant hits for retirees, with LCP estimating an average pensioner could pay about £380 more a year and AJ Bell warning some additional‑rate pensioners could face increases of roughly £2,503.