The Autumn Budget 2026 included a number of announcements that accountants and business advisers may need to consider when discussing future plans with owner-managed businesses and their shareholders.
Changes affecting Business Asset Disposal Relief, founders, company distributions and share transactions could lead to conversations around business disposals, succession planning, shareholder arrangements and corporate restructuring.
While several measures will not take effect immediately, and some remain subject to consultation and legislation, advisers may want to consider which clients could potentially be affected.
Autumn Budget 2026: Key points for advisers
For accountants and business advisers working with owner-managed businesses, some of the key developments include:
- Business Asset Disposal Relief: changes to the lifetime limit from April 2027 could affect clients contemplating a future business disposal.
- Founders’ Relief: a new relief is proposed for certain qualifying disposals of shares and securities.
- Company distributions: reforms are planned, with further consultation ahead of implementation.
- Share transactions: changes to the taxation of share transfers will need to be considered as the new framework develops.
- Corporate restructuring: these developments could prompt some clients to review their existing company structures and shareholder arrangements.
What is changing with Business Asset Disposal Relief from April 2027?
The Autumn Budget 2026 announced a reduction in the lifetime limit for Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR) from £1 million to £500,000 from 6 April 2027.
For accountants advising owner-managed businesses, the change could be particularly relevant to clients considering the future disposal of all or part of their business.
It may also prompt discussions around succession planning and existing ownership arrangements ahead of April 2027.
Where a client’s professional advice results in a proposed restructuring or changes to a company’s share structure, it is important that the corporate implementation accurately reflects the advice provided.
Businesses should not undertake restructuring purely in response to a tax announcement without considering the commercial rationale and obtaining appropriate professional advice.
What is the new Founders’ Relief?
The Autumn Budget proposes a new Founders’ Relief for qualifying disposals of shares or securities from 6 April 2027.
The proposed relief is particularly relevant to advisers working with founders and qualifying early investors in growing UK businesses.
However, the detailed rules are still developing. A technical consultation is underway, so eligibility will need to be considered carefully once the final rules are established.
From a corporate perspective, developments affecting the taxation of shares also place attention on the underlying share structure and the accuracy of a company’s statutory records.
For accountants and advisers working with founder-led businesses, this can provide a useful opportunity to ensure that share allotments, transfers, shareholder information and Companies House records accurately reflect the intended position.
What is changing with the taxation of company distributions?
The Government has announced plans to modernise the UK’s company distributions framework, with further technical consultation expected before the changes are introduced.
For accountants and business advisers, this is an area worth monitoring, particularly where clients are considering succession, a future disposal or changes to their shareholder arrangements.
Changes to the treatment of company distributions and related transactions could become relevant when considering how future transactions are structured.
With implementation still some way off, there is no suggestion that companies should make immediate changes purely because of the announcement.
Instead, advisers have an opportunity to monitor the developing rules and identify clients whose existing arrangements may warrant consideration as further details emerge.
Where professional advice ultimately requires changes to the underlying corporate structure, FCLS can work alongside the adviser to undertake the necessary corporate procedures and documentation.
What do the Budget changes mean for share transfers and corporate transactions?
The Government also plans to modernise the taxation of securities transfers, replacing the existing Stamp Duty and Stamp Duty Reserve Tax framework with a new Securities Transfer Tax.
For accountants, business advisers and solicitors involved in corporate transactions, this will be an important area to monitor as the implementation details develop.
Share transfers frequently form part of wider transactions, whether involving a change in ownership, business succession, a group reorganisation or a wider corporate restructure.
While the tax and commercial advice surrounding those transactions should sit with the appropriate professional adviser, implementing the resulting corporate changes can involve specialist company law and company secretarial work.
Depending on the transaction, this could include:
- changes to a company’s share capital;
- share allotments and transfers;
- creating different classes of shares;
- share-for-share exchanges;
- group reorganisations;
- capital reductions;
- updating statutory registers;
- preparing resolutions and other corporate documentation; and
- completing the appropriate Companies House filings.
Getting the corporate mechanics right is an important part of putting the original professional advice into practice.
Which clients should accountants and business advisers consider reviewing?
The Autumn Budget does not mean every client needs to take action. However, it provides a useful opportunity to identify clients whose future plans may be affected by the announced changes.
This could include clients who are:
- considering selling their business;
- planning for succession;
- bringing family members or other shareholders into the business;
- reviewing their existing shareholding structure;
- contemplating a group reorganisation;
- changing their company’s share capital; or
- planning another corporate transaction.
In some cases, no structural changes will be required.
In others, the review could identify a genuine commercial requirement to restructure an existing company or group.
Where that happens, coordination between the client’s accountant or tax adviser and the specialists implementing the corporate arrangements can help ensure the agreed structure is properly documented and put into effect.
How can FCLS support accountants with corporate restructuring?
At First Corporate Law Services, we regularly work alongside accountants, business advisers and solicitors to provide the specialist corporate support required to implement their advice.
Our team can assist with:
- Share restructures
- Group reorganisations
- Share allotments and transfers
- Share-for-share exchanges
- Capital reductions
- Changes to share capital
- Corporate documentation
- Companies House filings
- Ongoing company secretarial support
Our role is to support, rather than replace, your existing relationship with the client.
We can work behind the scenes as an extension of your team, allowing you to retain and manage the client relationship while FCLS handles the specialist corporate work required to implement the agreed structure.
What should accountants and business advisers do now?
With a number of the Budget measures taking effect at a later date or remaining subject to consultation and legislation, the immediate priority is awareness rather than rushing clients into action.
Accountants and business advisers may want to identify clients with upcoming disposals, succession plans, shareholder changes or existing restructuring discussions and consider whether the Autumn Budget announcements should form part of those conversations.
Where your advice identifies the need for a share restructure, group reorganisation or other change to a company’s corporate arrangements, FCLS can help with the implementation.
If you’re reviewing the Autumn Budget with your clients and identify a corporate restructuring or company secretarial requirement, speak to the FCLS team about how we can support you.
