Vehicle Benefits

Chargeable on employees earning £8,500 or over (including benefits), and directors.

• Car Benefit
• Car Fuel Benefits
• Company Vans

Car Benefit

The taxable benefit is calculated as a percentage of the list price of the car, on the day before it was first registered, plus certain accessories. This percentage depends upon the rate at which the car emits carbon dioxide (CO₂), and the fuel type.

You can find the appropriate percentage for 2009/10 using the following table:

How to find out how much CO₂ your company car emits – see:

Reliable emissions data is not widely available for cars registered before 1 January 1998. For them, the following taxable percentages apply, regardless of fuel type:

Car fuel benefits

If the employee pays for the full cost of all fuel for private journeys (usually including home to work) there will be no car fuel benefit. In all other cases the full tax charge will be due.

The taxable car fuel benefit, for 2009/10, is calculated by multiplying £16,900 by the same percentage as applies (or would apply) for the car benefit.

Example: A company car driver has a car which, on the day before it was first registered, had a list price of £18,000. It runs on petrol, and emits 177 g/km of CO₂.

If we assume the driver pays tax at 40%, the annual tax bill on the car is: £18,000 x 23% x 40% = £1,656

If the employer provides any fuel used for private journeys and is not reimbursed for the cost, the 2009/10 tax bill for the fuel is: £16,900 x 23% x 40% = £1,554.80.

Company vans

The taxable benefit for the unrestricted use of company vans is £3,000 (with no reduction for older vans) plus a further £500 of taxable benefit if fuel is provided by the employer for private travel.

Van drivers can avoid a benefit charge if they agree not to use the van for personal journeys. Driving to and from work is acceptable so long as there is a reasonable amount of business use.