Tax and Your Company Car
There are many factors which will influence your choice of company car. These can include the distance you travel, terrain covered, the price, your lifestyle and perhaps even your clients. However, is tax ever a consideration?
The start of the tax year saw an increase in the company car rates and indeed the rates are increasing quite significantly year on year. Assuming however that you have some degree of choice over the car make and model, you can influence the tax that you pay.
The two factors which determine the tax charge attached to a company car are the list price of the vehicle and its CO2 emissions.
The table below shows the benefit in kind charge for cars with various, hypothetical, list prices and CO2 emissions. The rates applicable to the current tax year (2017/18) have been used.
| List price | CO2 emissions | Fuel type | Benefit in kind value |
| £17,000 | 102g/km | Petrol | £3,230 |
| £25,000 | 99g/km | Petrol | £4,500 |
| £25,000 | 117g/km | Diesel | £6,250 |
| £35,000 | 0g/km | Electric | £3,150 |
| £50,000 | 41g/km | Electric/Petrol | £4,500 |
| £50,000 | 155g/km | Diesel | £16,500 |
In addition to the company car benefit there is also a fuel benefit if the employer provides fuel for private use; the value of the fuel benefit is affected by the CO2 emissions but not by the list price.
Although tax will not be the only issue affecting your choice of company car, perhaps it ‘auto’ be a consideration?
If you’d like any more information please contact Green & Co Accountants.
Please note: This article is a commentary on general principles and should not be interpreted as advice for your specific situation.
