New fuel scale charge flat rates apply from next week
The fuel scale charge is one option for accounting for VAT where an employer pays for fuel costs and there is a mix of business and private use. The figures you have to use will change from 1 May. What do you need to know?
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Deadline to pay Class 1B NI
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Company owners' personal tax affairs under scrutiny
Company owners are being urged to check their personal tax affairs as a new compliance campaign focuses on transactions between limited companies and the people who control them. Loans, personal expenses and the use of company assets are among the areas attracting attention. Could you have overlooked a tax liability?
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HMRC speeds up National Insurance refunds
HMRC has confirmed that it is using a new automated process to speed up National Insurance refunds. Where its records suggest that someone may have overpaid, HMRC will write to them asking them to check their employment and contribution details before any refund is processed. Could you be due money back?
Using the fuel scale charge means you can reclaim VAT on all fuel costs, including that for private travel. However, you must then account for VAT on a notional sale of fuel set by HMRC (the scale charge) which varies according to the CO2 emissions of each car. The higher the CO2 figure, the greater the charge. If there’s more than one vehicle, a scale charge applies for each. The scale charge reduces your paperwork for each quarter, as there's no need to keep detailed mileage records. As an added perk, there will be fewer records for an officer to pick through in the event of a business records check.
On the downside, the scale charge can be inefficient if the private mileage is relatively low. In these circumstances you may be better off if you require employees to keep detailed records, or have them reimburse the private proportion. If you do want to use the scale charge, ensure you change the flat rate with effect from 1 May as these have now been published.
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