The Welsh government published its Budget for 2025/26 last week. This included a number of tax announcements. What are the key points?
Wales has a devolved government with limited powers to make and amend tax law. One tax that is fully devolved is land transaction tax – the equivalent of stamp duty land tax for land and buildings physically located in Wales. The 2025/26 Welsh Budget included the announcement that higher rates, i.e. those that apply to purchases of additional dwellings by an individual (or any purchase by a company), will increase by 1% with effect from 11 December 2024. The rates, which apply to the consideration at the date of completion, are now as follows:
| First £180,000 | 5% |
| Next £70,000 | 8.5% |
| Next £150,000 | 10% |
| Chargeable to IHT | 12.5% |
| Next £350,000 | 15% |
| Next £750,000 | 17% |
No change has been made to the Welsh rate of income tax meaning that Welsh taxpayers remain aligned with the main UK rates for at least another year.
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