I try to run my business on green principles so all the company cars are hybrid petrol/electric models. But I’ve heard that the car benefit is going to increase for all these cars from April, how is this going to affect my employees?
The good news is where your hybrid cars have CO2 emissions levels of 120g/km or less, the taxable benefit will remain at 10% of the list price. The tax increase will only apply to cars with higher CO2 emissions. Hybrid petrol/electric cars in this category currently get a 3% reduction in the percentage of list price that forms the basis of the car benefit charge for employees. From 6 April 2011 that discount will be removed, and the regular 1% increase in list price percentage will apply to all cars. For example, the taxable benefit for a hybrid car with CO2 emissions of 179g/km is currently 21% of the list price. From 6 April 2011, the benefit for this car will increase to 25% of its list price.
