THE 2018 Budget will be distinctly different this year in that it will come on a lunchtime Monday for the first time.
It will be delivered on October 29 by Chancellor Philip Hammond against the backdrop of continuing uncertainty about whether the UK can reach a deal on Brexit, and if so, how it will look.
But what remains a constant is PKF-FPM's free post-Budget breakfast, due to take place in Newry on Wednesday November 7 and again expected to draw an audience in the many hundreds, just as it's done for the last decade or more.
Chancellor Hammond has promised to deliver an economic plan to “build a stronger more prosperous economy”, which comes after Prime Minister Theresa May claimed that “austerity is over”.
She has also pledged to boost the NHS budget by an extra £20 billion a year by 2023 and freeze fuel duty for at least another year.
Whatever's in the red box, though, will be dissected in full by the award-winning PKF-FPM tax team and panel at the event in the Quays (breakfast from 7.30am, with the formalities commencing at 8.10am).
Paddy Harty, chairman of the NI tax committee of Chartered Accountants Ireland, will join fellow PKF-FPM director Malachy McLernon among the speakers.
There will also be a keynote address from Brian Keegan, director of taxation at the Chartered Accountants Ireland, who has worked as a tax adviser in 'big four' and medium-sized practices for the past 20 years and who is a regular contributor to the Irish media on taxation affairs.
Mr Harty said: "Business owners and tax payers face enormous uncertainties with the implementation of Brexit and the introduction by HMRC of its Making Tax Digital initiative, both of which are likely to feature heavily in the Chancellor's statement next week.
"There's no doubt we're going through stormy waters on a number of fronts right now, but we hope to navigate delegates through that maze."
Other areas already flagged up as possible headlines next Monday include an income tax rise (Mr Hammond has said that taxpayers “will have to contribute a bit more in a fair and balanced way to support the NHS we all use”) while a possible VAT rise for small businesses is also on the cards.
To book a free space on November 7 email Lauren Quinn at l.quinn@pkffpm.com or call 02830261010.
