Pre-Budget Report 2009 - do we need a Pre-Budget Report?

With all the speculation about the contents of Alastair Darling’s Pre-Budget Report (PBR), The Guardian is questioning the purpose of the PBR.

The paper reminds us that the PBR is an invention of New Labour and, particularly this year, is unnecessary. Given the forthcoming general election it probably only a matter of weeks before we have the 2010 Budget itself.

We will be blogging on SME Plus Blog and Tax Plus Blog on Pre-Budget Report day. If you do not already subscribe to our blogs click here  for SME Plus Blog or here  for Tax Plus Blog to ensure you get our comment and analysis as and when it happens.

Barry Hallam is a senior manager at Mercer & Hole. If you would like to discuss the contents of this post with Barry you can call him on 020 7353 1597. 

Not this week Darling...

Following reports of further meetings with business leaders it now seems that Mr Darling’s long delayed announcement regarding the capital gains tax regime will not now appear until next week according to the FT.

We are also still waiting for the draft legislation for the new Residence and Domicile rules. In a little over 10 weeks both sets of new rules are due to take effect and the uncertainty makes it very difficulty to plan.

Darling Delays Capital Gains Revisions to New Year

It is being reported that Chancellor Alastair Darling will not be able to announce his revised proposals in the three weeks that had been promised. He told MPs today:



"It is not now going to be possible to conclude that process until the New Year,"

This is because he needed more time to study various, differing representations.