The new 40% First Year Allowance came into force from 1 January 2026. This marks an important development for businesses investing in plant and machinery. The new allowance was first announced at Autumn Budget 2025 and is intended to encourage continued capital investment while changes to other capital allowance rates take effect.
This means that since 1 January 2026, businesses can claim a 40% First Year Allowance on qualifying main-rate plant and machinery expenditure. This provides an immediate deduction against taxable profits in the year the asset is acquired, improving cash flow and bringing forward tax relief.
A key feature of the new allowance is its broad availability. It applies to assets acquired for leasing, which were excluded from full expensing, and it is also available to unincorporated businesses such as sole traders and partnerships, who were unable to benefit from the full expensing regime. The allowance has been introduced on a permanent basis, providing greater certainty for long-term investment and capital planning.
The new 40% First Year Allowance sits alongside existing reliefs, including full expensing for companies and the Annual Investment Allowance. Taking advice before committing to significant investment can help maximise available reliefs and avoid any missed opportunities.
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