IFS director warns of 'months of speculation' over Autumn tax rises

Likely that taxes could be raised further, thinktank director warns

Sahar Nazir
clock • 2 min read

The government could face months of economic uncertainty and market speculation over potential tax rises ahead of an anticipated Autumn Budget, according to Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) director Paul Johnson.

Johnson highlighted the limited fiscal headroom available to chancellor Rachel Reeves, warning that any economic downturn in the coming months could force further tax increases. "There is a good chance that economic and fiscal forecasts will deteriorate significantly between now and an Autumn Budget," Johnson said. "If so, she will need to come back for more; which will likely mean raising taxes even further." He pointed to the risks of prolonged speculation over which taxes could be targeted, citing pensions, wealth, and capital gains tax as potential areas of concern. "With no se...

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