The Scottish Government has announced its latest fiscal plans in its 2026-2026 Budget, branding it as as a "budget for families". Prioritising immediate support for households while introducing future reforms to property taxation, the proposals focus heavily on supporting the NHS, enhancing public s
Scottish Budget
Deputy First Minister and Finance Secretary Shona Robison will present the Scottish Budget to MSPs this afternoon. Ms Robison is scheduled to make a ministerial statement to the Scottish Parliament from around 2.20pm.
Shona Robison delivers tomorrow's Scottish Budget in a challenging fiscal environment with limited room for manoeuvre, financial experts say. The pre-election budget comes later than usual as a result of the timing of the UK government's Autumn statement in November and the time required to assess i
The Scottish Chambers of Commerce has warned that sharp business rate increases due to take effect this April will push otherwise viable businesses of all sizes, in every part of Scotland, “to the brink". Businesses across every sector and region are facing rate bills several times higher than
Ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament election, CBI Scotland has issued a clear challenge to Scotland’s party leaders to make growth and competitiveness the central pillar of the election campaign, as well as asking parties to commit to tangible pro-business policies in their respective manife
As Scotland awaits announcement of its budget on January 13, Ross Stupart, gives his view on what could be in store from a Scottish tax perspective. As Scotland’s election looms in May, the Scottish Government’s draft budget announcement will make the cross-party negotiations required to
Ahead of the draft Scottish Budget, due to be unveiled in Holyrood on 13 January 2026, Donald Parbrook, tax partner at Azets, argues now is the ideal time to simplify Scotland’s complex tax rules and achieve better alignment between the country and England. Mr Parbrook said: “While our f
Five Business Improvement Districts have added their voices to that of the Scottish Retail Consortium in calling on Scottish Government and MSPs to introduce a permanent business rate discount for all retail, hospitality, and leisure premises. The joint plea comes ahead of the unveiling of the Scott
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has urged the Scottish Government to use January’s Scottish Budget to protect small businesses facing significant non-domestic rates rises. Some of the stalwarts of local high streets, including independent pubs and post offices, are facing huge rates r
Ahead of January’s Scottish Budget, the Scottish Chambers of Commerce has urged the Finance Secretary to deliver a pro-growth package of measures that restores business confidence and strengthens Scotland’s competitiveness. SCC Chief Executive Liz Cameron called on the Scottish Governmen
Ahead of the upcoming Holyrood elections and January’s Budget, the CBI and Addleshaw Goddard have released their sixth annual Scottish Productivity Index, with a clear call for all political parties to make 2026 the year Scotland gets its economy firing on all cylinders. The report, compiled b
Scotland’s Budget for 2026-27 is set to be delayed until 15 January, a move Finance Secretary Shona Robison has described as "unavoidable" due to the late scheduling of the UK government's Autumn Statement. Ms Robison had originally preferred a December date for the Holyrood budget. However, w
Bruce Cartwright CA, CEO of ICAS, has responded to Holyrood's approval of The Scottish Government's 2025-26 Budget, describing it as a "short-term fix" lacking a long-term tax strategy and a clear reform roadmap for public services. The budget includes £21.7 billion for health and social care,
Among the SNP’s Scottish Budget proposals for the coming tax year, Finance Secretary Shona Robison announced increases to the income tax starter rate and basic rate thresholds, however these small tax savings do very little to ease the pain of fiscal drag for many. The starter rate threshold h
Wbg has responded to the Scottish Government’s Budget by noting that while it offers some good news for the hospitality sector, the lack of any changes to tax rates means that many Scots will still be paying higher rates than taxpayers in the remainder of the UK. Finance Secretary Shona Robiso

