Scottish income tax bands 'won't change' as Cabinet Secretary gives 'certainty'

Shona Robison has vowed that income tax in Scotland will not be increased under next year's budget.

The Scottish Government's Cabinet Secretary for Finance also said that tax bands will also stay as they currently are.

But higher earners may still end up paying more tax, due to decisions on the actual threshold within each band.

The MSP spoke today - in a bid to provide "certainty" - following Chancellor Rachel Reeves announcing the UK Budget yesterday, Wednesday, November 26, 2025.

Reeves described her plans as "fair", with the proposals meaning Scots will pay more income tax and National Insurance.

Scotland has a distinct income tax system, with seven bands compared to the UK's four bands, thanks to rules brought in by holyrood ministers using devolved powers.

Robison said the Scottish government's tax strategy would remain the same, ahead of the Holyrood election in May.

But, speaking on BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast, she did not comment on whether pay thresholds may change.

She said: "I've already set out in the tax strategy the position we wanted around stability with no changes to rates and bands."

The former Deputy First Minister added: "That is the position we had and that the position we maintain."