Government BIK changes for company cars.
Discussion
That's exactly what I mean. Yes I could just pick a Ford focus estate but when you spend around 5 to 8 hours a day in your car driving around the UK and Europe you want something comfortable and capable. I currently drive an Octavia but boy has it hurt my back. I have problems with so many manual transmission cars that have pedals too far right, for instance I sat in a Jag XF manual and was shocked at how the clutch is positioned central to the seat so you find yourself sitting in a horrible position. The only two cars I have found that have pedals central and a good driving position are Skoda Superb and Ford Mondeo. So I will go along the route of comfort and not so much style. But I do think company car drivers have become an easy silent target for HMRC, so much so that I will be leaving my job as Field Engineer as soon as I can. It will get to a point where no one in their right mind will consider company vehicles. I also pay for a family car for my wife and kids and hardly ever use my company car for personal so it's just not worth it for me. HMRC say that to be exempt I would have to leave my car at the company office but I am Field based working from home so my home is my office and my companies office is in Germany so in reality I am leaving it at the office.
sickoftheoffset said:
But I do think company car drivers have become an easy silent target for HMRC, so much so that I will be leaving my job as Field Engineer as soon as I can. It will get to a point where no one in their right mind will consider company vehicles. I also pay for a family car for my wife and kids and hardly ever use my company car for personal so it's just not worth it for me.
You're coming across as a bit hysterical, to be honest. It's a bummer if it really is an additional car and you get no personal benefit out of it but the reality is that if you leave and take some other job then chances are you'd need a second car. I know people think they can buy a car for £250 and run it for £50 a year but the reality is that buying and running something reasonable would cost as much, if not more, than you pay in tax. And it wouldn't be an A6.Plenty of people spend more on fuel and parking for commuting than you're paying in tax in total. What about the people spending £6K/yr on season tickets to get into London? They don't get tax relief on that cost.
There's also the intangible "peace of mind" benefit of having a company car. Not having to worry about where it's parked and if it makes a funny noise, turn the radio up.
I know you are right and I have already been told this believe it or not by colleagues. So I basically wanted to explore every imaginable way to reduce or get rid of it but it looks like I have to deal with it and just get on with life.
I can see you point on cost that others have to pay so yes I believe that no other possible stones have been left unturned.
Thanks for your advice and for putting up with me moaning. Hopefully I will soon be able to discuss how great my new car is.
Thanks
Softree.
I can see you point on cost that others have to pay so yes I believe that no other possible stones have been left unturned.
Thanks for your advice and for putting up with me moaning. Hopefully I will soon be able to discuss how great my new car is.
Thanks
Softree.
My money would go on a Volvo V90 every day of the week, 44k will get you a AWD D4 or a D5 is about £400 over budget.
It's massive, beautiful, you won't get better seats and it will basically drive its self on the motorway.
I'm a traveling tech as well, and I don't pay BIK on my car, as it's a tool for the job if you declare no private millage you don't pay anything. They do say it should be left at a office overnight if possible and safe to do so, but my office is in the midlands and I live in South Wales so it's fine. If you cover a call out rota then that doesn't apply and you can keep it at home.
Although if I could choose something better than a focus I would choose to use it privately. As there no way I could run a £44k car with insurance, tax and fuel for 2k a year.
We have guys on our fleet doing 100k a year, we are in fire protection for heavy industries and some guys travel from Cornwall to Inverness regularly. They have insignias to do it in though.
It's massive, beautiful, you won't get better seats and it will basically drive its self on the motorway.
I'm a traveling tech as well, and I don't pay BIK on my car, as it's a tool for the job if you declare no private millage you don't pay anything. They do say it should be left at a office overnight if possible and safe to do so, but my office is in the midlands and I live in South Wales so it's fine. If you cover a call out rota then that doesn't apply and you can keep it at home.
Although if I could choose something better than a focus I would choose to use it privately. As there no way I could run a £44k car with insurance, tax and fuel for 2k a year.
We have guys on our fleet doing 100k a year, we are in fire protection for heavy industries and some guys travel from Cornwall to Inverness regularly. They have insignias to do it in though.
Edited by Nickbrapp on Thursday 14th September 08:24
Nickbrapp said:
I'm a traveling tech as well, and I don't pay BIK on my car, as it's a tool for the job if you declare no private millage you don't pay anything.
Hmmm....could you use the car for private use if you wanted to? Or does your employer prohibit that?HMRCs normal stance is you pay BIK if the car is available for private use, regardless of whether you actually use it or not.
If it's a matter of a simple personal declaration, then the OP is home free.
Sheepshanks said:
Hmmm....could you use the car for private use if you wanted to? Or does your employer prohibit that?
HMRCs normal stance is you pay BIK if the car is available for private use, regardless of whether you actually use it or not.
If it's a matter of a simple personal declaration, then the OP is home free.
Well I could if I wanted too, my emopyler is a bit lax on policing it, but previous companies have had trackers in them so you couldn't, other people I know have to keep a daily log of their miles at the start and finish and you also give your miles at the petrol station, so they can track miles against the jobs you've been to.HMRCs normal stance is you pay BIK if the car is available for private use, regardless of whether you actually use it or not.
If it's a matter of a simple personal declaration, then the OP is home free.
So if you've been working locally in the week but filled up the car 3 times they know something is a miss.
sickoftheoffset said:
Audi A6 £43000
Skoda Superb SE-L Executive
The company i work for has been very generous and will allow very nice vehicles.
I am a medical Engineer dealing with MRI machines etc so tools are pretty delicate but about 6 toolbox do fill the boot of my current Octavia Hatchback.
I'd just look at getting something as cheap as possible rather than a £43k A6.Skoda Superb SE-L Executive
The company i work for has been very generous and will allow very nice vehicles.
I am a medical Engineer dealing with MRI machines etc so tools are pretty delicate but about 6 toolbox do fill the boot of my current Octavia Hatchback.
Nickbrapp said:
My money would go on a Volvo V90 every day of the week, 44k will get you a AWD D4 or a D5 is about £400 over budget.
It's massive, beautiful, you won't get better seats and it will basically drive its self on the motorway.
I'm a traveling tech as well, and I don't pay BIK on my car, as it's a tool for the job if you declare no private millage you don't pay anything. They do say it should be left at a office overnight if possible and safe to do so, but my office is in the midlands and I live in South Wales so it's fine. If you cover a call out rota then that doesn't apply and you can keep it at home.
Although if I could choose something better than a focus I would choose to use it privately. As there no way I could run a £44k car with insurance, tax and fuel for 2k a year.
We have guys on our fleet doing 100k a year, we are in fire protection for heavy industries and some guys travel from Cornwall to Inverness regularly. They have insignias to do it in though.
Very nice but also massively expensive.It's massive, beautiful, you won't get better seats and it will basically drive its self on the motorway.
I'm a traveling tech as well, and I don't pay BIK on my car, as it's a tool for the job if you declare no private millage you don't pay anything. They do say it should be left at a office overnight if possible and safe to do so, but my office is in the midlands and I live in South Wales so it's fine. If you cover a call out rota then that doesn't apply and you can keep it at home.
Although if I could choose something better than a focus I would choose to use it privately. As there no way I could run a £44k car with insurance, tax and fuel for 2k a year.
We have guys on our fleet doing 100k a year, we are in fire protection for heavy industries and some guys travel from Cornwall to Inverness regularly. They have insignias to do it in though.
Edited by Nickbrapp on Thursday 14th September 08:24
Sheepshanks said:
Nickbrapp said:
I'm a traveling tech as well, and I don't pay BIK on my car, as it's a tool for the job if you declare no private millage you don't pay anything.
Hmmm....could you use the car for private use if you wanted to? Or does your employer prohibit that?HMRCs normal stance is you pay BIK if the car is available for private use, regardless of whether you actually use it or not.
If it's a matter of a simple personal declaration, then the OP is home free.
k you like.Disco Infiltrator said:
Not sure what Nick is suggesting is legal. That's certainly not my experience. Lower BIK with no private use but certainly not zero. OP, go self employed. Drive what the fk you like.
When I spoke with HMRC at length about the situations that is what they told me, I covered all the bases and used the guidance on the HMRC website and the advisor on the phone told me the same. If you take it home steps have to be taken to show you don't use it. I.e. Writing down the miles or tracking. But it is up to the company to enforce this. k you like.Nickbrapp said:
Disco Infiltrator said:
Not sure what Nick is suggesting is legal. That's certainly not my experience. Lower BIK with no private use but certainly not zero. OP, go self employed. Drive what the fk you like.
When I spoke with HMRC at length about the situations that is what they told me, I covered all the bases and used the guidance on the HMRC website and the advisor on the phone told me the same. If you take it home steps have to be taken to show you don't use it. I.e. Writing down the miles or tracking. But it is up to the company to enforce this. k you like.Nickbrapp said:
Well I could if I wanted too, my emopyler is a bit lax on policing it, but previous companies have had trackers in them so you couldn't, .
A tracker would be ideal as proof but it does mean you really cannot use the car at all for private use.The OPs problem seems to be that his firm are not up for a private use prohibition. I imagine most people would find it hard to stick to it 100%.
Disco Infiltrator said:
Very nice but also massively expensive.
V90 D4 AWD R design Pro - £41,100BMW 520d m sport touring x drive -£43,095
Merc e220d AMG line estate £41,940
Audi A6 s line estate 2.0 tdi Quattro - £41,940
It's the cheapest of its rivals, and cheaper still if you don't have the pro.
Personally I would have the inscription of the v90 which is the top of the range and £43k
After looking at all the options it looks like I don't have many so for me the best option is to go for a Skoda Super SE-L Business 150 , it comes with a lot of kit as standard and is comfortable and large enough for me (6'3") and is not bad on BIK for the size. It feels the size of an A6 inside and has an enormous boot. I fell into the trap that a lot of people do in wanting a car that looks good on my drive and sets an image but there is a price to pay for that and for a work horse vehicle it's a big price to pay. Thanks for all your advice guys!
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