The Chancellor Philip Hammond presented the last Spring Budget on Wednesday 8 March 2017. In his speech the Chancellor was keen to point out that he wanted the tax system to be fair, particularly in relation to the distinction between employed and self-employed individuals. In this article, we look at how the Chancellor’s Spring Budget impacts the transport and logistics sector.

In the Budget speech the Chancellor announced that he has requested a report to be delivered in the summer on the wider implications of different employment practices. Also, the Budget included changes to NICs and the Dividend Allowance.

In December and January the government issued a number of the clauses, in draft, of Finance Bill 2017 together with updates on consultations.

The Budget updates some of these previous announcements and also proposes further measures. Some of these changes apply from April 2017 and some take effect at a later date.

Our summary focuses on the issues likely to affect you and your business.

Main Budget tax proposals

Our summary concentrates on the tax measures which include:

• increases to the Class 4 National Insurance rates – Update 15/03/17 – Chancellor withdraws plans to increase NI.
• a reduction in the Dividend Allowance
• changes to the timing of Making Tax Digital for smaller businesses.

Previously announced measures include:

• increases to the personal allowance and basic rate band (a decreased band for Scottish residents)
• the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy
• changes to corporation tax loss relief
• the introduction of an additional inheritance tax residence nil rate band
• changes for non-UK domiciled individuals.

Main Budget announcements (transport & logistics specific)

• £690m fund for councils to improve local networks – £490m of which will be available by Autumn 2017
• £220m fund to improve congestion pinch points (as announced in Autumn Statement 2016)
• £270m fund to keep UK at the front of disruptive technology
• 12 month freeze in VED rates for hauliers and the HGV road user levy from 1st April 2017
• Increase in National Insurance Contributions (NICs) – Update 15/03/17 – Chancellor withdraws plans to increase NI.
• £435m to support businesses affected by the increase to business rates from April 2017

Transport and Logistics 2017 Budget impact

A relatively quiet Budget for the sector?

It certainly seems so. The two biggest headlines from the Budget came in the form of the NIC rates, the first being that they were increasing; and the second being the Chancellor withdrawing the increase a week later. Class 2 NICs are currently paid on profits of £5,965 or more and Class 4 NICs at 9% are paid on profits between £8,060 and £43,000 (and at 2% on profits over £43,000). Class 2 NICs are to be abolished from 2018, but the main rate of Class 4 NICs was to increase by 1% to 10% in April 2018, and then by a further 1% in April 2019. Only the self-employed with profits above £16,250 would have been adversely affected by the new rates, However, as previously stated, these will now not be going ahead.

Improvement to local road networks

By Autumn 2017, £490m of a £690m fund will be available for councils to improve local road networks and reduce congestion.

Improvement to congestion pinch points

£220m has been allocated in order to improve congestion pinch points on national roads. £90m of this is to be allocated to the North, and more than £23m for the Midlands. This measure was previously announced in the 2016 Autumn Statement and full details of individual schemes funded by this initiative will be announced in due course. Yorkshire and the North East will benefit from a £30m upgrade of the A69 between Hexham and Newcastle as well as £14.8m invested in enhancing seven congested junctions, along with a further £18.2m on other “areas to be identified shortly”. In the Midlands, four schemes worth £9.9m will reduce queues at Old Stratford and Ogley Hay on the A5, junction 3 of the M42 and junction 27 on the M1.

Disruptive technology

The Chancellor also announced a £270m fund to keep UK at the front of disruptive technology, including driverless cars and helping the development, design and manufacture of batteries that will power the next generation of electric vehicles.

Paul Wormald, Partner and Transport specialist at Hawsons, had this to say: “A relatively quiet Budget for the sector with some of the investment programmes announced having been well trailed in the Autumn Statement. Programmes to reduce congestion both locally and nationally are welcomed, but whether these are enough to make a material improvement remains to be seen, particularly in light of reported plans to reduce rail freight subsidies and the knock-on effect that may have on HGV movements.”

Paul added: “The publishing of the review on modern Employment Practices in the summer is awaited with interest as this may lead to changes in how many in the sector who operate via Personal Service Companies are taxed. The planned reduction in the tax free dividend allowance from £5,000 to £2,000 from April 2018 will also affect these individuals.”

Paul Wormald is a partner at Hawsons, working in the Doncaster office. He worked previously with two national firms of Chartered Accountants prior to joining Hawsons in 2001. For more information or advice on anything covered in this article, please contact Paul on pw@hawsons.co.uk or 01302 367 262.[/author_info]