As the 2026 Spring Forecast Statement on 3 March draws closer, business leaders, CEOs and campaign groups across the UK have lobbied Chancellor Rachel Reeves to make changes to tax policy and address some of the key issues affecting firms. Here, we round up the latest Spring Forecast Statement speculation ahead of the big day.
Pre-Forecast announcements
Five major banks have agreed an £11 billion lending package aimed at SMEs to support small business growth, the government recently announced. It says this represents an 'historic show of confidence in the UK economy' which will help boost investment. Pubs and music venues in England were given a 15% discount on their business rates bills from April 2026 and will not see increases for two years. The move came in response to backlash against the 2025 Autumn Budget, which meant many saw increases to their business rates bills as a consequence of the withdrawal of Covid-related support from the UK hospitality industry.
This announcement was welcomed by the pub sector but has led for calls for the measure to be extended further across the hospitality industry.
Priorities for business
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) recently said that businesses were 'hit hard' in 2025 by the increase to National Insurance contributions (NICs), with many facing further pressure brought on by rising labour costs.
Patrick Milnes, Head of People and Work Policy at the BCC, stated that businesses want to see concrete action to reduce costs, boost exports and encourage investment at the Spring Statement.
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) warned the government that it must 'do more' to help restore confidence levels among small firms.
Late payments and cost pressures on small businesses and the self-employed have meant pressure has 'built and built', the FSB said. Combined with margin pressures set to hit in April, including higher business rates bills, increases to energy bills and a higher National Living Wage (NLW), small firms face 'real danger', according to the business group.
Additional requests
In addition to appeals from leading business groups, campaigns have been created which urge the Chancellor to double the Income Tax threshold for state pensioners and scrap the so-called 'holiday tax'.
A petition calling for the Chancellor to increase the Income Tax threshold has received over 90,000 signatures. The current threshold sits at £12,570 – the campaign urges the government to grant pensioners a separate tax code which would permit them to earn £25,140 before having to pay tax.
Meanwhile, over 200 leading hospitality and leisure CEOs have called on the government to abandon plans for a so-called 'holiday tax'. The Visitor Levy would apply in England and would be applied to overnight stays in hotels, B&Bs, guesthouses and holiday lets. The proposed Visitor Levy would mean that Brits would face an extra £100 or more for a two-week holiday in the UK.
Keep up to date
Whatever changes are made we will be watching and will provide detailed analysis of the day's announcements. Please return to this section following the announcement for a full analysis.