The 1986 United Kingdom budget was delivered by Nigel Lawson, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to the House of Commons on 18 March 1986.

It was the third budget to be presented by Lawson, and saw the start of a programme of tax cuts initiated under the leadership of Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Lawson's idea with "popular capitalism" was to create a society "in which more and more men and women have a direct personal stake in British business and industry", building on the already growing trend of employee share schemes, as well as the government's programme of privatisation.

He announced the creation of the personal equity plan (PEP) which would allow members of the public to "shelter" from tax of up to £2,400 per year in stocks.

Tax relief for charity donations made by companies or individuals, described as "Give as you Earn", was announced.