Financial Strategies
January 10, 2024
  •  
5 mins

The Business Owners Guide To Electric Cars

Sam Newton
FCCA
Co-Founder & Director

As an owner-managed business, navigating the transition to electric vehicles isn't just about sustainability; it's about optimising your tax efficiency. In this blog, we'll unravel the world of electric car charging, tailored specifically for owner-managed businesses, considering whether the car is owned personally or by the business and if it is charged at home or the office.

This is a simplified version of the HMRC guide EIM23900 - Car benefit: special cases: issues relating to electric cars.

First of all here are some tips:

·     When you own the car you can continue to charge 45p per mile

·     When the company owns the car the approved mileage rate is 9p per mile - this is almost definitely too low given charging prices 😡

·     Another nice tip is your employer can provide a charge card up to the value of £100

·     You can now reclaim the cost of charging your car at home from your employer (including private and mixed use) -previously private and mixed use mileage would lead to additional taxes due

Key thing is to be able to prove the electric cost relates to YOUR company car

Here are some scenarios and by answering yes or know you can understand the tax implications of charging your car and the company paying for charging costs.

Scenario 1

Employee chargers’ the car at home and the electricity is provided by employer meaning they have a meter at your house for this purpose (unlikely in practice).

Scenario 1

Scenario 2

Employee charges their car at home and their employer reimburses the electricity costs.

Scenario 2

Scenario 3

The employee charger the car at work.

Scenario 3

In conclusion, the transition to electric vehicles for owner-managed businesses isn't solely about embracing sustainability; it's a strategic move that can significantly impact tax efficiency. Navigating the complexities of EV charging, whether the car is personally or business-owned and where it's charged, is crucial. This knowledge empowers owner-managed businesses to navigate the EV landscape with financial caution and eco-consciousness in mind.

For more tips , financial strategies and industry insights, click here!

About the author

Sam Newton
Fellow Member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
Co-Founder & Director

Sam is an award-winning Chartered Accountant and Xero expert. He has built up extensive experience offering Outsource FD support to clients helping businesses scale through collaboration and automation with the end goal of optimising their finances.

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