| United Kingdom Budget | |
| Year: | 2009 |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Previous Budget: | 2008 United Kingdom budget |
| Previous Year: | 2008 |
| Next Budget: | March 2010 United Kingdom budget |
| Next Year: | March 2010 |
| Presented: | 22 April 2009 |
| Parliament: | 54th |
| Party: | Labour |
| Chancellor: | Alistair Darling |
| Total Revenue: | £496 billion‡ (29% of 2008 GDP) |
| Total Expenditures: | £671 billion (40% of 2008 GDP) |
| Deficit: | £175 billion (10.5% of 2008 GDP) |
| Url: | Budget 2009: Building Britain's Future |
| Below: | ‡Numbers in italics are projections. |
The 2009 United Kingdom Budget, officially known as Budget 2009: Building Britain's Future, was formally delivered by Alistair Darling in the House of Commons on 22 April 2009. It introduced new tax, spending and debt rises in a financial environment of rising unemployment and recession.[1]
To stimulate the motor industry, a £2,000 scrappage allowance was announced for a car more than 10 years old, if it is traded in for a new car and if it has been in the car buyer's ownership for the previous 12 months. £1,000 of this is to be provided by the government, and £1,000 by a motor manufacturer. The scheme started about mid-May 2009 and was planned to finish at the end of February 2010; however, before it was due to end, it was extended by one month, to the end of March 2010.[2]
For high earners, a 50% tax band was announced for earners of over £150,000 per year to start in April 2010,[3] and tax relief on pension contributions was reduced progressively from 40% to 20% for annual incomes between £150,000 and £180,000 and to 20% above £180,000 commencing April 2011.[4]
Starting in April 2010, those with annual incomes over £100,000 would see their Personal allowance reduced by £1 for every £2 earned over £100,000, until the Personal allowance was reduced to zero, which (in 2010) would occur at an income of £112,950. This had the effect of creating an anomalous effective 60% marginal tax rate in the income band between £100,000 and £112,950, with the marginal tax rate returning to 40% above £112,950. As the Personal allowance has grown over the years, this has resulted in a corresponding increase in the size of the anomalous effective 60% tax band. As of 2018, the effective 60% marginal tax rate now arises for incomes between £100,000 and £123,700.
For savers, limits in Individual Savings Account (ISA) accounts were increased in two phases to a total of £10,200, including an additional £1,500 to the previous upper limit of £3,600 in a cash ISA. The first phase is for those over age 50 years, who can contribute additional amounts from 6 October 2009.[3]
| Receipts | 2009-10 Revenues (£bn) | |
|---|---|---|
| Income Tax | 141 | |
| Value Added Tax (VAT) | 64 | |
| National Insurance | 98 | |
| Excise duties | 44 | |
| Corporate Tax | 35 | |
| Council Tax | 25 | |
| Business rates | 24 | |
| Other | 67 | |
| Total Government revenue | 496 |
| Department | 2009-10 Expenditure (£bn) | |
|---|---|---|
| Social protection | 189 | |
| Health | 119 | |
| Education | 88 | |
| Debt interest | 28 | |
| Defence | 38 | |
| Public order and safety | 35 | |
| Personal social services | 31 | |
| Housing and Environment | 29 | |
| Transport | 23 | |
| Industry, agriculture and employment | 20 | |
| Other | 72 | |
| Total Government spending | 671 |