Government Eyes Salary Sacrifice Schemes in Autumn Budget Plans to Boost Finances

The government is reportedly considering changes to salary sacrifice schemes for pensions and benefits in kind, as pressure mounts to address the growing fiscal deficit. Recent surveys commissioned by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) suggest that Chancellor Rachel Reeves may need to explore new measures to increase revenue and balance the books during the upcoming autumn budget.

Salary sacrifice arrangements currently allow employees to exchange a portion of their salary for employer-provided benefits, such as pension contributions. This system reduces both employers’ and employees’ tax liabilities, as the sacrificed salary is exempt from income tax and national insurance contributions. However, with the cost of these tax reliefs hitting £23.5 billion for national insurance and £28.5 billion for income tax on pensions last year, the Treasury appears to be reassessing their long-term sustainability.

Feedback gathered through HMRC’s surveys points to potential changes to these tax exemptions. One proposal under review involves maintaining the national insurance exemption only on salary sacrifices up to £2,000 per year, with contributions exceeding that amount subject to taxation. Employers, though concerned about staff morale, consider this option to be the most practical if reform becomes unavoidable.

Beyond pensions, HMRC is also examining benefits in kind, which allow workers to trade part of their salary for perks such as electric vehicles, bicycles, or parking permits. These arrangements, popular among medium to large organisations, also provide significant tax benefits to both employees and employers. HMRC’s findings indicate 26 per cent of larger businesses currently utilise salary sacrifice options for benefits in kind, making this area a potential target for reform.

Tax experts suggest that the chancellor could focus on salary sacrifice reforms as a viable way to raise additional funds, although they caution against undermining schemes crucial for employee retention and engagement. While government officials labelled the discussions as “speculative,” the growing fiscal squeeze has increased the likelihood of adjustments being made to these popular schemes.

The government’s challenge lies in balancing the need for additional revenue with preserving taxpayer-friendly policies that support workers and businesses. How much these potential reforms will affect employees and employers alike remains to be seen, but any changes to salary sacrifice schemes are likely to generate significant debate in the coming months.