Builders, electricians and farmers in Britain are set to be hit by a new stealth tax buried in the Budget.
The new rule set to be introduced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves will classify double-cat pickups – often used by builders, electricians and farmers – as company cars for tax purposes.
The new rule will start from April 2025, the Sun reports.
Currently cab pick-ups are treated as good vehicles and which means they are treated as essential tools of the trade allowing for certain tax benefits.
But under the new rule, they will be categorised as company cars which will come with higher tax implications.
Builders, electricians and farmers in Britain are set to be hit by a new stealth tax buried in the Budget
As a result of the changes, a Nissan Navara Tekna, commonly used by workers, would see its benefits in kind (BIK) tax rise dramatically
This change will increase the tax burden on a typical-cab pick up by as much as 211 per per, according to analysis by the Countryside Alliance.
A Nissan Navara Tekna, commonly used by workers, which costs around £33,265, and emits 167g/km of CO2, would see its benefits in kind (BIK) tax rise dramatically—from £3,960 to £12,308.
On top of this, the BIK on private fuel benefits will also increase from £757 to £10,286, leading to even higher costs for workers.
Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance Tim Bonner told the The Sun: ‘Rachel Reeves’ pick up truck tax will hammer thousands of working people in the countryside and beyond.
‘From farmers and gamekeepers to plumbers and builders the twin cab pickup has become the country’s favourite workhorse.’
A spokesperson for the Conservative Party slammed the Budget of ‘broke promises’ and said it ‘clearly knows no limits’.
It said that across the board working people ‘will pay the price for Rachel Reeves brutal tax raids’ adding that ‘punishing the hard working people’ of Britain is just the ‘latest in a list of Labour’s betrayals’.
A Treasury spokesperson said: ‘We have ensured that tax savings can still be made on purchases of single cab pick-ups, and fuel duty has been frozen for an extra year, saving £126 for van drivers and protecting motorists at the pump.’
