Day: April 28, 2012

What are the tax benefits of Low Emmission and Electric Cars?

If you have a company car the chances are Benefit in Kind tax will be a concern for you, HMRC have a calculator to work this out

http://cccfcalculator.hmrc.gov.uk/CCF0.aspx

But both you and your company could be better off with a Low Emmission or Electric Car.

Capital allowances

If you buy a new car for your business that has CO2 emissions of 110 grams or less per kilometre (g/km) driven, or is electric, you can qualify for a 100 per cent first-year capital allowance. This allows you to offset the whole cost of the investment against taxable profits in the year you make the purchase until 31 March 2013.

Vehicle taxes

New cars have fuel economy labels which show how fuel efficient they are. The label shows how much CO2 the car emits and also how much vehicle tax you will have to pay each year. Lower CO2 emissions mean lower vehicle tax and lower running costs.

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?itemId=1080532548&type=RESOURCES

Benefit in Kind

Currently zero emmission electric cars have zero benefit in kind but this is set to change in 2015 when the rate will be 13%.

A 5% Benefit in Kind band is now in place for cars that emit below 75g/km CO2, but this will also change in 2015.

steve@bicknells.net

Are you claiming your Flat Rate Expense Allowance tax refund?

Back in December I did a Blog about how to make your claim http://stevejbicknell.com/2011/12/20/how-to-claim-tax-relief-for-employment-expenses/

 

But many employees don’t seem to realise that they could be entitled to Flat Rate Expenses

If you have to spend money on tools or specialist clothing for your job you may be entitled to either:

  • tax relief for the actual amounts you spend
  • a flat rate deduction

Flat rate deductions are amounts that HM Revenue & Customs agreed nationally – or sometimes locally if conditions are very different – with trade unions or other bodies.

The deductions cover what’s typically spent each year by employees in different trades. For example, someone working in the clothing industry can get a deduction of £60 each year. A cabinet maker can get a deduction for £140 while the deduction for a stone mason is £120.

You don’t have to be a member of a trade union to get the deduction. You’ll also benefit from less paperwork – you won’t have to keep a record of all the individual amounts you spend.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/Taxes/BeginnersGuideToTax/IncomeTax/Taxallowancesandreliefs/DG_078378

There is a full list of the Flat Rates at

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/eimanual/EIM32712.htm

For example, I am the FD of SCA Group, we employ Scaffolders and the rate for Scaffolders is £140 per year, at 20% tax that means £28 as a tax refund.

steve@bicknells.net

How to claim VAT back using Fuel Advisory Rates

Mileage for the current tax year can be reclaimed at a maximum  of 45p per mile for the first 10000 miles then 25p after that

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/rates/travel.htm

Most people are already using these rates, but a large number of businesses don’t reclaim the VAT on the Fuel element – see VAT Notice 700/64

8.7 My employees are paid a mileage allowance, how do I work out my input tax?

You work out your input tax by multiplying the fuel element of the mileage allowance by the VAT fraction. You can do this for all fuel bought

The allowance paid to employees must be based upon mileage actually done.

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageVAT_ShowContent&id=HMCE_CL_000090&propertyType=document#P159_17774

 

Company cars: advisory fuel rates
The rates below apply from 1 December 2011.

Engine size

Petrol

LPG
1400cc or smaller 15p 10p
1401cc to 2000cc 18p 12p
Bigger than 2000cc 26p 18p

Engine size

Diesel
1600cc or smaller 12p
1601cc to 2000cc 15p
Bigger than 2000cc 18p

So this is how to work out the claim:

1000 business miles = 1000 x 45p = £450

On which VAT (assuming a 2000cc (bigger) Diesel) 1000 miles x 18p divided by 1.2 x 20% VAT = £30 VAT to reclaim

For large businesses there could be a lot of VAT to reclaim

steve@bicknells.net