Our 17 page special report is now available for free download at box.net/shared/258tvjcz80.

Within this free report you will find details and commentary about the main Pre-Budget Report changes to income tax, National Insurance, pensions, banker’s bonuses and inheritance tax, as well as implications for businesses.

We hope you find this special report useful. If reading it prompts you to update your own Financial Plans, please do get in touch to arrange an initial meeting.

Here are some of the highlights:

-Alistair Darling sets the scene, describing a critical time for our economy and our country. He describes the task to ensure recovery, promote long-term growth. Wants a fairer society and opportunity for all.

-VAT will return to 17.5% on 1st January 2010 as planned. No other changes to VAT.

-’Time to pay’ scheme for companies deferring tax has been extended for as long as it is needed.

-Empty property relief extended for 2010/11 for rateable value below £80,000 exempt for business rates.

-Defers 1p increase in corporation tax for smaller companies, 2010/11 rate remains unchanged.

-Not right to withdraw all support for homeowners as unemployed rises. Extending mortgage support to those who lose their jobs for a further six months. Stamp duty holiday is ended as planned.

-Under 24′s guaranteed work or training after six months of unemployment. Specialist support for over 50′s to get back into work.

-Reducing minimum number of hours to be eligible for working tax credit for those over 65.

-Basic State pension will rise by 2.5% from April 2010. Not a new measure – already guaranteed minimum increase under legislation!

-Guarantee that people in work will always be better off than they would be on benefits.

-Darling predict short term increase in inflation due to VAT rise before it falls back.

-Estimated cost to taxpayer of bank bailouts cut from £50bn to £10bn.

-Net debt as share of GDP predicted to rise to 78% by 2014.

-Trying to secure £500m from the banks to create capital growth fund for SMEs.

-Announces boiler scrappage scheme, as leaked to the BBC this morning. Other ‘green’ measures also announced.

-Electric cars exempt from company car tax for five years. 100% first year capital allowance on electric vans.

-Decided against a windfall tax on banks. Introduces from today a one-off levy on any discretionary bonus over £25,000 of 50%, paid by the bank not the employee. Expected to yield over £500m.

-Pension tax relief – includes employer pension contributions in definition of income for anti-forestalling measures, introduces floor so nobody earning less than £130,000 will get caught up in this.

-Freezes inheritance tax nil-rate band at £325,000 for 2010/11.

-Freezes 40% income tax band for next tax year, will bring more people into higher rate of income tax as a result of earnings inflation.

-Changes to pension tax relief anti-forestalling measures will now include employer pension contributions in definition of relevant income, catching up people earning £130,000 or more.

-Phasing-in of introduction of pension Personal Accounts.

-State contributions to public sector pensions will be capped by 2012, saving £1bn a year, those earning over £100,000 will have to contribute more to maintain their pension benefits.

-Public sector pay increases capped at 1% for two years from 2011.

-National Insurance contributions up by 0.5% from April 2011 across the board, those earning less than £20,000 protected from this tax rise.

-Extending free school meals to a further 500,000 primary school children.

You can find links to the Pre-Budget Report at prebudget.treasury.gov.uk.

With the government facing a tough General Election within a matter of months, most pundits are expecting the fight back to start in earnest with the announcements made in the Pre-Budget Report.

Darling could deliver a very political statement to the House of Commons as he attempts to attract voters back to Labour.

Predictions include the removal of higher rate tax relief on pension contributions, freezing the personal allowance for income tax and raising capital gains tax. We also look forward to hearing about plans for a new ‘super tax’ on bonuses for bankers.

You can follow our live coverage of the Pre-Budget Report on Twitter @informedchoice where we will be using the hashtag #pbr09.

You can also pose any questions you have about investments, pensions or financial planning by using the comments facility below.

At midday tomorrow (Thursday), Informed Choice chartered financial planner Martin Bamford will be part of an expert panel for the Guardian, answering questions about the financial planning and pension implications of the Pre-Budget Report. You can post your own questions once the clinic opens at guardian.co.uk/money/blog.