The chancellor was accused of a stealth tax on jobs as he raised more than £5 billion a year from businesses by freezing for five years the salary threshold above which employers pay national insurance.
Most employers in the private and public sectors will be affected, but 40 per cent — all smaller employers — can avoid the rise by claiming an existing £5,000 annual tax-free allowance.
Separately, thousands of small businesses are being drawn into the VAT regime after the registration threshold was held at £85,000 until 2026, which will raise about £375 million a year.
• Autumn statement 2022: a summary of the key points
• What does the autumn statement mean for me? Use our tax calculator
Employer groups were angry with
