TFA demands tax overhaul in Autumn Budget
© Tim Scrivener The Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) is demanding sweeping tax reforms ahead of the Autumn Budget, warning that current policies threaten rural investment and land security.
As speculation mounts over whether Andy Burnham’s government will soften its farm inheritance tax policy – potentially raising the relief threshold to £5m or abandoning the family farm tax entirely – the TFA has urged chancellor John Healey to go much further.
See also: TFA urges tenant farmers to seek rent cuts of up to 20%
In its formal Budget submission, the organisation, which represents tenant farmers across England and Wales, calls for a major overhaul to protect the tenanted sector, where only 7% of new farm business tenancies (FBTs) currently last 10 years or more.
TFA chief executive George Dunn said: “The tax framework for agriculture should support secure occupation, productive investment and responsible land management.”
Key demands include:
100% APR relief Granting full agricultural property relief (APR) on land let under Agricultural Holdings Act agreements or 10-year FBTs without scheduled break clauses, encouraging long-term security.
Joint tenancy protection Ensuring surviving joint tenants face no inheritance tax bill on partner deaths if no saleable asset passes to the survivor.
CGT rebalancing Restricting capital gains tax rollover relief on land purchases while extending it to fixed equipment on rented holdings to boost productivity.
SDLT and property relief: Reforming stamp duty land tax by assessing all agricultural tenancies as two-year agreements, and extending replacement main residence relief to retiring tenant farmers.
Universal Credit fix: Assessing self-employed farmers on actual taxable profits rather than a minimum income floor tied to the national minimum wage.
The association also wants tougher HMRC scrutiny of grazing licences and contract farming arrangements that operate as disguised landlord-tenant relationships.
The Autumn Budget will be released on Wednesday 30 October. While the government does not comment on Budget speculation, the farming industry is awaiting potential announcements on agricultural funding, taxation and rural policy.
Tenancy forum chair reappointed
Julian Sayers has been reappointed as co-chair of the Defra Farm Tenancy Forum in England for a further three-year term, starting on 17 September 2026, providing vital leadership continuity.
Established following the Rock Review, the forum brings together industry stakeholders to tackle sector challenges. The TFA welcomed the decision, emphasizing that the forum must now focus on practical change.
TFA national chair Robert Martin said Mr Sayers “understands both the opportunities and the pressures facing the tenanted sector”.
Over the next three years, the TFA wants the forum to prioritise “tenant-proofing” government policy, promoting fair conduct, securing longer agreements and ensuring full tenant participation in environmental schemes.
The forum will also continue to scrutinise the commissioner for the tenant farming sector as it transitions from identifying problems to delivering tangible results.
