article_snippet: But shops hoping for a large tax cut could be disappointed, as ministers have already warned any changes are likely to be ‘fiscally neutral’, meaning the Treasury would still generate the same amount of tax.
article_snippet: £143-a-year tax break for 4.6million who work for £143-a-year tax break for 4.6million who work for themselves .
article_snippet: The self-employed were given a £143-a-year tax break yesterday.
article_snippet: But it emerged the tax break could be a sweetener before a huge shake-up of NI, which funds benefits such as the State pension and maternity leave.
article_snippet: The small print of the Budget revealed ministers were planning a ‘contributory benefit test’ – suggesting the self-employed may soon have to pay more for benefits such as the State pension.
article_snippet: Joanna Elson, of the Money Advice Trust, said: ‘The scrapping of class 2 NICs will provide welcome relief for the self-employed, at least in the short term.
article_snippet: The self-employed traditionally pay less national insurance because The self-employed receive less in benefits, including the second State pension, sick pay and holiday pay.
article_snippet: But, from April 2015, everyone will receive a flat-rate State pension irrelevant of contributions – which could put the self-employed at an unfair advantage.
article_snippet: It is possible Government could off-set the tax break by asking [the self-employed] to contribute more towards the flat-rate State pension.