Your first Self Assessment tax return as a van driver is mostly about getting the record-keeping habit right from day one — the return itself is straightforward once you have clean numbers.
Register and know your deadlines
Register for Self Assessment as soon as you start trading. The tax year runs 6 April to 5 April, online returns are due by 31 January following the end of the tax year, and any tax owed is due the same date — along with a first "payment on account" toward next year's bill in many cases.
Mileage: simplified rate or actual costs
You can claim 45p per business mile for the first 10,000 miles in a tax year, then 25p per mile after that, covering fuel, wear, insurance and more in one flat rate — simple, and usually the better choice for a single van used mainly for work. Alternatively you can claim actual costs (fuel, insurance, repairs, finance interest) apportioned by business-use percentage, which can work out better for an expensive van with high running costs, but needs far more record-keeping. Pick one method per vehicle and stay consistent.
What else you can claim
- Phone and data used for the round
- Protective clothing and safety equipment
- Accountancy and admin software costs
- Parking (not fines) and toll charges while working
- A portion of home-office costs if you handle admin from home
National Insurance
Self-employed drivers pay Class 4 National Insurance on profits above the relevant threshold, calculated automatically through Self Assessment. Class 2 contributions, which protect your State Pension record, are also handled through Self Assessment for most self-employed people now.
VAT: probably not yet, but check
You only need to register for VAT once your taxable turnover passes £90,000 in a rolling 12-month period. Most single-van operators stay well under this, but if you're close, check every quarter — the requirement is based on turnover, not profit.