Company car/taxable benefit
Discussion
Just started a new business, ltd company/vat registered, just starting to be revenue generating. Got a 2 day/week consulting gig for the next 6 months which will cover basic overhead so not going to pay myself a salary from the company for 6 months.
Need to lease a car. If I put it through the company I can deduct cost from profit and reclaim 50% of the VAT. Obviously this would make it a company car which should be a taxable benefit, but if I'm not getting a salary then I wouldn't pay tax on the car? After 6 months I can switch the lease to my name pay from post tax income and claim mileage allowance from the company. Lease company are fine with this - they don't care as long as they get paid but they're not going to advise me on the tax position.
Is there some reason I can't do it this way?
Need to lease a car. If I put it through the company I can deduct cost from profit and reclaim 50% of the VAT. Obviously this would make it a company car which should be a taxable benefit, but if I'm not getting a salary then I wouldn't pay tax on the car? After 6 months I can switch the lease to my name pay from post tax income and claim mileage allowance from the company. Lease company are fine with this - they don't care as long as they get paid but they're not going to advise me on the tax position.
Is there some reason I can't do it this way?
The BIK charge is based on the list value and charge bracket of the car, as well as the time it was provided for i.e. if it was made available as a company car for exactly 6 months it would attract half the charge as if it were provided for the full year.
In your situation any BIK charge arising would just get added to your income for the year, for tax purposes. I assume the tax charge would just get added to your P11d and filed next year, and any tax owed would be collected by SA or by adjusting your tax code next year.
Obviously if you pay yourself little or no salary this year, the BIK charge would get offset against your allowance.
In your situation any BIK charge arising would just get added to your income for the year, for tax purposes. I assume the tax charge would just get added to your P11d and filed next year, and any tax owed would be collected by SA or by adjusting your tax code next year.
Obviously if you pay yourself little or no salary this year, the BIK charge would get offset against your allowance.
jonsp said:
Just started a new business, ltd company/vat registered, just starting to be revenue generating. Got a 2 day/week consulting gig for the next 6 months which will cover basic overhead so not going to pay myself a salary from the company for 6 months.
Need to lease a car. If I put it through the company I can deduct cost from profit and reclaim 50% of the VAT. Obviously this would make it a company car which should be a taxable benefit, but if I'm not getting a salary then I wouldn't pay tax on the car? After 6 months I can switch the lease to my name pay from post tax income and claim mileage allowance from the company. Lease company are fine with this - they don't care as long as they get paid but they're not going to advise me on the tax position.
Is there some reason I can't do it this way?
I've not had a company car for years, so I don't know if the rules have changed.Need to lease a car. If I put it through the company I can deduct cost from profit and reclaim 50% of the VAT. Obviously this would make it a company car which should be a taxable benefit, but if I'm not getting a salary then I wouldn't pay tax on the car? After 6 months I can switch the lease to my name pay from post tax income and claim mileage allowance from the company. Lease company are fine with this - they don't care as long as they get paid but they're not going to advise me on the tax position.
Is there some reason I can't do it this way?
With a company car, you work out the Benefit In Kind value, based on the cars value and CO2 emissions. The BIK value is the corresponding cash value of the company car, and the BIK is then added to your salary, as if you were earning that additional amount.
If you don't take a salary, the BIK amount will still be treated as income, and will just reduce your personal allowance. When you do come to take a salary for the second half of the year, you will be paying tax sooner, since part of your personal allowance has already been used.
In summary, you are not really gaining anything, apart from using your tax allowance, the same way that every other tax payer is able to do so.
theboss said:
Obviously if you pay yourself little or no salary this year, the BIK charge would get offset against your allowance.
OK, that seems to answer the question. So I'd have to declare the BIK from the car even with no salary and pay tax later.To be fair thought I was probably missing something obvious. Thanks.
Do you have a car of your own at all? If so, two options may be possible. First, and simplest, use your own car and charge 45p/mile. Second, it may be possible to have a car as a pool car, insurance must be business use only. If your company is based at home your accountant may advise this is not an option.
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