Ford Management Role Cars and HMRC

Ford Management Role Cars and HMRC

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Extra 300 Driver

Original Poster:

5,281 posts

246 months

Monday 24th October 2016
quotequote all

I have a friend who is a LL5 in Ford, so a lower level manager, but one of the perks of his job is he gets 2 new cars, every 3 months or so for him and his partner, Ford obviously.

The cars take 3 months to be delivered, so as he takes delivery of a new one, he orders his next. Currently he had a Mondeo and C Max, both top of the range, all extras possible and he pays £290 for BOTH! Yes, £290!

So, if I went to a Ford dealer and wanted a Mondeo with all the bells and whistles it would cost about £300 and C Max about £280, before all the options. So lets say £650 all in, but this will exclude road tax and maintenance, which would be minimal over 3 months anyway (and the £650 is over 3 years and 10,000mls p.a). So, £650 v £290?

If I wanted a Mondeo as a Company car, with options it would cost me nearly £300 a month in TAX, so how is the Ford MR car, not a BIK? I fail to understand how he gets away with not paying any company car tax, but rents his cars at a massive discount each month. It’s not available to most Ford employees, nor the general public, so it’s a benefit of his employment. He doesn’t need a car to do his work, nor his wife, who doesn’t work for Ford.

Can someone explain how this works, I just don’t get it, but I clearly see that ford use it to flood the market with used cars, at good specs (which I would never buy, he never washes his or looks after them at all!!!!)

rsbmw

3,464 posts

105 months

Monday 24th October 2016
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Mondeo is only £300 for you as you will be taking a fuel card with it. If he doesn't get a fuel card, £290 for 2 cars BIK is fair.

If he's leasing them by separate arrangement, and essentially just a staff discount, I doubt it's classed as a benefit. Do Tesco employees have to declare their 10% discount for taxation purposes?

giger

732 posts

194 months

Monday 24th October 2016
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Is it salary sacrifice? So a private arrangement with his work place that he gets to pay for the cars pre-tax, and therefore not a mandatory 'perk of the job'. Can Ford then depreciate the car and write this off against their tax liability? (not sure about that last bit).


Extra 300 Driver

Original Poster:

5,281 posts

246 months

Monday 24th October 2016
quotequote all
giger said:
Is it salary sacrifice? So a private arrangement with his work place that he gets to pay for the cars pre-tax, and therefore not a mandatory 'perk of the job'. Can Ford then depreciate the car and write this off against their tax liability? (not sure about that last bit).
I understand that if you are entitled to the scheme then you are 'encouraged' to take it (you have to)

giger

732 posts

194 months

Monday 24th October 2016
quotequote all
It could still be salary sacrifice - Ford will be lowering the annual pay of the employee which will in turn reduce Ford's NI contributions.

Rutter

2,070 posts

206 months

Monday 24th October 2016
quotequote all
I would imagine that they are loaning the car to the employee at a rate that they can still make a profit on it when it is returned.

Extra 300 Driver

Original Poster:

5,281 posts

246 months

Monday 24th October 2016
quotequote all
giger said:
It could still be salary sacrifice - Ford will be lowering the annual pay of the employee which will in turn reduce Ford's NI contributions.
I suppose then, that if you do not take the cars, you get more a month in your salary? I know this isn't the case.

PurpleTurtle

6,983 posts

144 months

Monday 24th October 2016
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Lots of large manufacturers do this or something similar.

If it is anyhting like the non-Ford scheme that I am familiar with , the key thing is that it is Employee Car Ownership: the cars are registered to your friend, not to the manufacturer.

Your friend nominally pays for the cars under a preferentially low-rate loan provided by Ford'd finance co.

The BIK is the subsidy on the loan, I believe. Something along those lines anyway.

Extra 300 Driver

Original Poster:

5,281 posts

246 months

Monday 24th October 2016
quotequote all
PurpleTurtle said:
Lots of large manufacturers do this or something similar.

If it is anyhting like the non-Ford scheme that I am familiar with , the key thing is that it is Employee Car Ownership: the cars are registered to your friend, not to the manufacturer.

Your friend nominally pays for the cars under a preferentially low-rate loan provided by Ford'd finance co.

The BIK is the subsidy on the loan, I believe. Something along those lines anyway.
Theyre registered to Ford Motor Company, not the individual. Believe me I have looked at this from most angles and I cant figure it out. As a business owner I would love to know how they do it. They insurance is also provided by Ford.

Podie

46,630 posts

275 months

Monday 24th October 2016
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Ford have a deal with HMRC - or it did when I was there a decade ago.

The cars remain owned by Ford and then top up the used cars at dealerships (or you can buy them)


ruggedscotty

5,626 posts

209 months

Monday 24th October 2016
quotequote all
Its a perk.....

Ford make cars, they know the market and the way it works. Heavily optioned ? brings the resale price up. very short term use before its disposed to market - remember they have garages to sell them through so they save. its almost a new car for all intensive purposes.

Ford insurance ? they have their own. this makes it very very simple to complete.

Anyways see nothing wrong with it and also don't see why he shouldn't benefit through working for them.

Extra 300 Driver

Original Poster:

5,281 posts

246 months

Monday 24th October 2016
quotequote all
ruggedscotty said:
Its a perk.....

Ford make cars, they know the market and the way it works. Heavily optioned ? brings the resale price up. very short term use before its disposed to market - remember they have garages to sell them through so they save. its almost a new car for all intensive purposes.

Ford insurance ? they have their own. this makes it very very simple to complete.

Anyways see nothing wrong with it and also don't see why he shouldn't benefit through working for them.
So if I take a benefit from my business should I not pay tax?

Rutter

2,070 posts

206 months

Monday 24th October 2016
quotequote all
Extra 300 Driver said:
So if I take a benefit from my business should I not pay tax?
Find a good tax accountant and ask them i'd guess.

Zoon

6,698 posts

121 months

Monday 24th October 2016
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ruggedscotty said:
its almost a new car for all intensive purposes.
What about intents and purposes?

ruggedscotty

5,626 posts

209 months

Monday 24th October 2016
quotequote all
not if it is classed as work related ? cars are being given to employee to make an assessment on through normal day to day driving etc. employee gives report back when hands car back. customer clinic style.

They will have it all covered. duration of use ? if it is a short term use could it not be deemed to not be a perk as such ?

I did hear that if they have an accident they get all excited and have the technical team all over it. nowt like a real life accident to see how the car performs.

Extra 300 Driver

Original Poster:

5,281 posts

246 months

Monday 24th October 2016
quotequote all
ruggedscotty said:
not if it is classed as work related ? cars are being given to employee to make an assessment on through normal day to day driving etc. employee gives report back when hands car back. customer clinic style.

They will have it all covered. duration of use ? if it is a short term use could it not be deemed to not be a perk as such ?

I did hear that if they have an accident they get all excited and have the technical team all over it. nowt like a real life accident to see how the car performs.
I don't get it, he gets a new car every 3 months, of his choice, even colour. He is not being told he has to use a particular car. So that throws that argument out the window. Also, what about his wife? And this is normal for all managers at Ford, he's hot a special case.

RobXjcoupe

3,169 posts

91 months

Monday 24th October 2016
quotequote all
Extra 300 Driver said:
I have a friend who is a LL5 in Ford, so a lower level manager, but one of the perks of his job is he gets 2 new cars, every 3 months or so for him and his partner, Ford obviously.

The cars take 3 months to be delivered, so as he takes delivery of a new one, he orders his next. Currently he had a Mondeo and C Max, both top of the range, all extras possible and he pays £290 for BOTH! Yes, £290!

So, if I went to a Ford dealer and wanted a Mondeo with all the bells and whistles it would cost about £300 and C Max about £280, before all the options. So lets say £650 all in, but this will exclude road tax and maintenance, which would be minimal over 3 months anyway (and the £650 is over 3 years and 10,000mls p.a). So, £650 v £290?

If I wanted a Mondeo as a Company car, with options it would cost me nearly £300 a month in TAX, so how is the Ford MR car, not a BIK? I fail to understand how he gets away with not paying any company car tax, but rents his cars at a massive discount each month. It’s not available to most Ford employees, nor the general public, so it’s a benefit of his employment. He doesn’t need a car to do his work, nor his wife, who doesn’t work for Ford.

Can someone explain how this works, I just don’t get it, but I clearly see that ford use it to flood the market with used cars, at good specs (which I would never buy, he never washes his or looks after them at all!!!!)
Different jobs have different perks. Ford give this grade that entitlement, lesser grades have a lesser entitlement. You don't work for Ford so of course you won't get those prices. I can't see why Ford should let you have the same entitlement if you don't work for them?
It was mentioned about getting cars in the market. That is correct. A new model is always pushed. When the first Kuga came out Ford did an employee offer of £900 for 13 months to get the cars on the road and seen by the public. They could be bought after or just given back. I gave mine back after 11 months so I didn't have to service it.

Extra 300 Driver

Original Poster:

5,281 posts

246 months

Monday 24th October 2016
quotequote all
RobXjcoupe said:
Different jobs have different perks. Ford give this grade that entitlement, lesser grades have a lesser entitlement. You don't work for Ford so of course you won't get those prices. I can't see why Ford should let you have the same entitlement if you don't work for them?
It was mentioned about getting cars in the market. That is correct. A new model is always pushed. When the first Kuga came out Ford did an employee offer of £900 for 13 months to get the cars on the road and seen by the public. They could be bought after or just given back. I gave mine back after 11 months so I didn't have to service it.
My point is that its a benefit of working for Ford, so, just like any other business, your benefits are taxed. I have private health taxed, I have my work summer parties taxed. Everything is taxed! So if I give my position within my business a 'perk' of a highly discounted company car, I wont have to pay tax? Of course I would! So how does it work for Ford?

markoc

1,084 posts

196 months

Monday 24th October 2016
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Ford make cars, their managers get a good car benefit. Go figure.

rsbmw

3,464 posts

105 months

Monday 24th October 2016
quotequote all
In reality, his employer and the company he pays the for car will be entirely separate legal entities. See my first reply, it's simply a personal arrangement he happens to be eligible for because he works for Ford, his employer won't be directly providing it, no tax implications.