Scotland’s Finance Secretary, Shona Robison delivered her third Budget statement to the Scottish parliament on 13 January 2026. This is the final Budget before the Holyrood elections due to take place in May.

There were no changes announced to the Scottish Income Tax rates. Following the UK Government’s extension of personal tax threshold freezes, the Higher, Advanced and Top rate thresholds will also remain unchanged until 2028–29. The Starter rate band is set to increase by 40.3% and the Basic rate band by 13.6% in 2026-27. This means that a larger portion of people's income will be taxed at the starter and basic rates helping to protect lower income households.

The Scottish rates and bands for 2026-27 are as follows:

The standard personal allowance remains frozen at £12,570. 

No changes were announced to the residential and non-residential rates and bands for the land and buildings transaction tax (LBTT). The standard rate of Scottish landfill tax will rise to £130.75 per tonne and the lower rate to £8.65 per tonne from April 2026 maintaining alignment with the corresponding taxes in the rest of the UK. It was also announced that new council tax bands will be introduced from April 2028 for residential properties valued at £1m more. The Budget measures are subject to final approval by the Scottish parliament.

The Welsh Final Budget for 2026-27 was published on 20 January 2026. The Budget sets out the Welsh government’s revenue and capital spending plans, including detailed portfolio spending plans.

Mark Drakeford MS, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language confirmed that the Final Budget provides £27.5bn for people, public services and businesses across Wales. This is £1.2bn more than in 2025-26 and £400m more than at the Draft Budget. The additional funding includes resources for local government, the NHS and other Welsh Government priorities.

There have been no changes announced to the Welsh rates of Income Tax (WRIT) which will continue to be set at 10p for 2026-27. This means that the rates of Income Tax paid by Welsh taxpayers will continue to be the same as those paid by English and Northern Irish taxpayers in the new tax year.

The Budget also confirms no changes to the current residential and non-residential rates and thresholds for Land Transaction Tax (LTT) for 2026-27. Some changes to the Multiple Dwelling Relief (MDR) regime for LTT will take effect and a new limited refund provision for the higher residential rates of LTT aimed at supporting more affordable homes.

In addition, Landfill Disposals Tax (LDT) rates will continue to mirror UK landfill tax rates in 2026-27.

With so many online accounts now in daily use, including banking, shopping, email and HMRC services, password security has never been more important. A weak or reused password can lead to fraud, identity theft, or unauthorised access to personal and business information.

A good first step is to use strong, unique passwords for every account. Avoid using the same password across multiple websites, as criminals often reuse stolen login details from one breach to access other accounts. Strong passwords are usually at least 12 characters long and do not rely on obvious words or personal information. Many people find passphrases easier to remember than random characters.

A password manager is one of the easiest ways to improve security. It securely stores passwords in an encrypted vault, generates complex passwords for you, and can warn you if you are using weak or repeated passwords. This means you only need to remember one strong master password.

Where possible, enable two-factor authentication (2FA). This adds a second step when logging in, such as a code from an authentication app or a prompt on your phone. Even if someone obtains your password, they may still be unable to access your account without the second factor.

Be cautious with password reset emails and links. Your email account is often the gateway to all other accounts, so secure it with a strong password and 2FA. Also watch for phishing emails and fake login pages designed to steal your details. If unsure, type the website address directly into your browser rather than clicking a link.

Finally, avoid sharing passwords by email or text message, especially in a business setting. Where possible, use separate logins for each person and restrict access appropriately.

The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves has confirmed that she will deliver the Spring Statement to the House of Commons on Tuesday, 3 March 2026.

The Spring Statement is used to give an update on the state of the economy and will respond to the economic and fiscal forecast published by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). The Spring Statement also presents an opportunity for the government to publish consultations, including initiating early-stage calls for evidence and consultations on long-term tax policy issues.

The OBR has executive responsibility for producing the official UK economic and fiscal forecasts, evaluating the government’s performance against its fiscal targets, assessing the sustainability of and risks to the public finances and scrutinising government tax and welfare spending.

Usually, major policy and tax changes are announced at the Budget, and it remains to be seen whether there will be any significant announcements in the upcoming Spring Statement. The next Budget is expected to take place later this year in the Autumn.

A person’s credit rating (often referred to as a credit score) is a measure used by lenders to assess how reliably someone manages borrowing and financial commitments. It can affect whether credit is offered at all, the interest rate charged and even the size of deposit required for certain products. Although each lender uses its own scoring system, most look at similar underlying factors.

One of the biggest influences is payment history. Missing payments on credit cards, loans, overdrafts, mobile phone contracts or buy now pay later agreements can have a negative impact. Even one late payment can reduce a score, while repeated late payments suggest ongoing financial pressure.

The level of borrowing also matters. Lenders consider overall debt, how much available credit is being used and whether borrowing is increasing over time. For example, using most of a credit card limit may indicate higher risk, even if payments are made on time.

A person’s credit history length can also affect their rating. Someone with a longer track record of managing credit sensibly often scores better than someone with little or no borrowing history, even if they are financially secure.

Frequent applications for credit can reduce a score in the short term. Multiple searches in a short period may suggest financial difficulty or over reliance on borrowing.

Another key factor is the stability of personal details. Being registered on the electoral roll at the current address can improve a credit profile, as it helps lenders verify identity. Regularly moving home or having inconsistent address records, can make a person appear higher risk.

Errors can also play a part. Incorrect information, financial links to another person (such as a former partner) or outdated details can damage a credit rating unfairly, so it is worth checking a credit report from time to time.

Finally, it is important to remember that credit scoring is not just about debt, it is about behaviour. A steady pattern of borrowing, prompt repayments and tidy records generally leads to a stronger credit rating over time.