​​The draft Budget 2016 was lodged on 20 October 2015 and proposes measured changes to taxation which secure long-term sustainable public finances while pursuing the States’ health, social and environmental policies.

This Budget is designed to:

• build on the foundations agreed by the States Assembly with the adoption of the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) 2016 to 2019
• address the long-term sustainability of public finances
• address inequities and promote fairness in the tax system
• allow for flexibility over the MTFP 2016 to 2019 in the level of any additional public charges
• provide contingency against downside risks to future tax revenues
• further the priorities of the Council of Ministers through capital investment in IT and infrastructure

The proposed taxation measures outlined in the Budget include:

• a 0.9% increase in exemption thresholds, with the exception of age enhanced exemptions for taxpayers aged 65+ which will be maintained at current levels
• limiting entitlement to age enhanced exemption thresholds from 2018 year of assessment
• phase out mortgage interest tax relief from 2017 over a 10 year period
• phasing out of standard child allowance and additional personal allowance for standard rate taxpayers while maintaining the higher education allowance. This will be subject to plans brought forward by the Council of Ministers to help Islanders with the cost of higher education
• increase the relief available on regulated child care for pre-school children from £12,000 to £14,000
• reduce the £1,000 tax exemption on benefits in kind to £250
• the removal of tax relief for people not resident in Jersey who receive income from Jersey
• initial steps to prepare the income tax system for the introduction of same-sex marriage
• invest in online services for tax administration to allow online declarations and self-assessment
• changes to the Vehicle Emissions Duty bands, rates and exemptions
• impôts have been increased by 1p per pint on standard beer and cider, 2p on wine, 3p per pint on strong beer and cider, 35p on a packet of cigarettes and 1p on a litre of fuel

The draft Budget 2016 will be debated by the States Assembly on 15 December 2015.