White Van Man faces shock tax demands in ‘sneaky’ Labour Budget smallprint, Reform warns

WHITE Van Man risks being stung by sneaky costs in the small print of Labour’s Budget, Reform has warned.

The party’s Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick blasted plans to force them to make more regular income tax self-assessment payments.

He said the resulting estimated earnings would see traders pursued for cash they had never received.

Writing in The Sun, Mr Jenrick said: “So if they lose work, or a client doesn’t pay, they could end up with the taxman chasing them for money they never had.

“It feels like the tax system is being set up purely for the convenience of the taxman.”

The policy, due to start in April 2029, was buried on page 124 of the Budget.

Ministers argue more frequent self-assessment reporting will recoup lost tax receipts and bring in almost £2billion a year by 2031.

Chancellor John Healey said he had helped tradesmen by freezing fuel duty and ripping up red tape.

But Mr Jenrick said: “John Healey is trying to con the British public.

“Diesel prices are £2 a litre. Energy prices are going up by £460 in January. Dig into the facts, and the truth becomes clear.”

Reform has pledged to raise the personal tax allowance from £12,570 to £15,000 in an effective tax cut for 40 million workers.

Nigel Farage’s party has also criticised Labour for freezing income tax thresholds and failing to slash the welfare bill that will hit £431billion by 2031.

A government spokesman said plans relating to income tax self-assessment payments were “about swapping the shock of a big January tax bill for smaller, more manageable payments through the year”.

“Tradespeople won’t owe a penny more tax than they do now,” he said.