Darling's sneaky tax rise

Ruth Jackson picks out the one measure from the Budget that will really hit the average person's wallet - and that the Chancellor failed to mention: the freeze in personal income tax allowances. Here, she suggests how you can fight back and make the most of your other tax allowances.

After going through the budget with a fine-tooth comb, it looks as though there is only one new measure that will really hit the average person's wallet. And Darling didn't actually mention it in his Budget speech.

He intends to freeze all personal allowances at their current levels. That's the amount of money you're allowed to make before he starts taxing it. You might think that doesn't sound like much of a big deal, but it is.

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Ruth Jackson-Kirby

Ruth Jackson-Kirby is a freelance personal finance journalist with 17 years’ experience, writing about everything from savings accounts and credit cards to pensions, property and pet insurance.

Ruth started her career at MoneyWeek after graduating with an MA from the University of St Andrews, and she continues to contribute regular articles to our personal finance section. After leaving MoneyWeek she went on to become deputy editor of Moneywise before becoming a freelance journalist.

Ruth writes regularly for national publications including The Sunday Times, The Times, The Mail on Sunday and Good Housekeeping, among many other titles both online and offline.