Tax Debate: Company car or car allowance?

Company cars have long played a key role in employee benefits packages, but with taxes on company cars becoming increasingly complicated, many drivers are choosing to take a cash alternative and taking up the increasingly attractive and competitive personal contract purchase (PCP) deals instead.

As a small business accountant equipped with experienced, highly-qualified tax experts, we work with clients to help balance the incentive value of providing benefits in kind (BIKs) to employees with the wider tax implications for both the business and the employee and how each can be optimised.

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Company Car or Car Allowance?

Established logic in recent years has become that a car allowance is better for your wallet than a company car, and allows a greater degree of choice, but does put an additional burden on the employee to maintain the car and track business mileage to make best use of the arrangement – it is their car after all.

With a car allowance, the most common route chosen by employees is to enter into a PCP agreement.

The amount of credit taken out for the PCP covers only the depreciation of the vehicle over the duration of the agreement, rather than its full value.

This keeps the monthly cost down, however, it does also tie the employee into a fixed term agreement spanning several years which can represent a risk to those whose employment is not considered secure.

When the customer reaches the end of the agreement, they have the choice to either hand the keys back, buy the vehicle or begin a new PCP agreement. In the meantime, they can claim business mileage back from their employer or against their income tax bill as incurred.

However, despite the tax efficiency and flexibility, according to figures released by HMRC in 2017, the number of employees paying company car tax has reached a five-year high.

Compared with a PCP deal, the company car offers greater security as the driver doesn't need to worry about maintenance, insurance or servicing costs.

From a tax perspective, rather than being taxed on the value of the cash allowance, the employee is taxed on a theoretical value of the benefit, a blend of the list price and emissions of the vehicle and whether or not they pay for private fuel used.

Calculating the benefit tax

Every car has a BIK percentage band based on CO2 emissions, and a P11D value which is the list price, including extras and VAT, but without the first year registration fee and vehicle tax.

To calculate the BIK tax, multiply the P11D value by the BIK percentage banding, then multiply that figure by your top rate of tax - i.e. 20%, 40%, 45% or a super nasty marginal rate of 60% if you earn between £100k-£123k.

Consider a couple of different options for company cars. Option 1, a Toyota Prius, has a P11d value of £28k and a percentage charge of 17% (because of its low emissions) giving a tax charge of £959 for a basic rate taxpayer per annum or £1,918 if you are a high rate taxpayer.

Option 2, a Range Rover, has considerable CO2 emissions so a percentage charge of 37% on a P11d value of £78k results in a benefit in kind tax of £5,820 for a basic rate taxpayer per annum or nearly £1,000 per month for a high rate taxpayer.

By comparison, a Prius can be had for £350 per month a and a Range Rover for £800 per month and you get to offset this by claiming 45p per mile income tax relief for the first 10,000 and 25p thereafter per annum.

What if I own my own company?

The decision changes a lot if you own your own company and the tax consideration vary dramatically based on your individual circumstance and the car you wish to drive.

Cars leased or purchased by a company can be used as a tax deductible expense of the company, offsetting the income tax charge on the benefit with a reduction in the corporation tax of the company.

Low emission vehicles attract enhanced allowances too so choosing the right car is vital.

Furthermore, VAT registered businesses may be able to claim back some of the VAT suffered on the lease costs or purchase price too.

The main thing that will affect whether drivers go for a company car or a personal lease deal is their company car scheme.

If this isn't structured properly, then that's when people may start looking at PCPs with their cash allowance; it may allow them more manufacturer choice and therefore greater flexibility.

Taking the cash option gives you a wider variety of choice - if not complete freedom - when choosing to buy a car via a PCP over the company car option.