Company Cars – How Your Company Car Affects The Tax You Pay

Car

First of all, lets see how Company Car Tax works

If you drive a Company Car, you are liable to pay tax as it is classed as a Benefit In Kind.

Company Car Tax or Benefit In Kind Tax must be paid on your company car if you, or a member of your family, use it for private use. This would include travelling to and from your place of work. If you drive a company van, the rules are slightly different in that you should not be liable for tax if the only private use is to go between work and home.

How much Company Car Tax will you have to pay?

There are a number of things that affect how much Company Car Tax you pay. The Benefit In Kind tax you pay on your Company Car is based on the P11D value of the car (its list price including any extras or options), the CO2 Emissions of the car (the lower the better), the rate you pay tax on your income, and whether your car can run on an alternative fuel. Furthermore, if your employer provides you with fuel and you use some of it for personal travel, you would also be liable for Benefit In Kind tax on this Car Fuel Benefit.

Further Information on Company Car Tax & Benefit In Kind

To help you work out how much Company Car Tax and Car Fuel Tax you will have to pay, why not check out the Company Car Tax Calculator provided by HM Revenue & Customs. Also, there is a Government website all about Company Cars which provides useful information and guidance for both employees and employers. It explains the rules about Tax and National Insurance relating to Company Cars and company car fuel. Changes in the rules relating to Company Car Tax are usually declared at Budget time. If youre interested in finding out how future changes might affect you, take a look at the Governments Forthcoming Changes To Car Benefit site.

Of course, there is a way to avoid paying Company Car Tax altogether, and its not illegal! If your employer gives you the choice of having either a Company Car or a Company Car Allowance, you could choose the cash alternative, lease or purchase your own vehicle, and then claim an amount back from your employer for business mileage (currently at a Government set rate of 40p per mile). You might like to check out the sister article to this one, called Company Car Or Company Car Allowance – Which Should I Choose?, which explains the benefits and disadvantages of each option.