Mileage rates from July:
In TT129 we reported on the new rates to be used for paying the fuel-only element to employees who claim for business miles driven in company cars. (Remember, this applies only when the employee with a company car pays for all their fuel and claims back only the business element). The rates stated in that issue of Topical Tips should be used from 1 January 2009. However, from 1 July 2009 the rates have been altered as shown below.

Advisory Fuel Rates

You should update your systems to match the new rates or you might inadvertently pay employees the wrong amount and create a tax and National Insurance bill for the company.
Future changes:
HMRC will consider changing the rates if fuel prices fluctuate by 5 per cent from the published rates when each review is made and where they consider the price change will be sustained.

Employers can check this at: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cars/advisory_fuel_current.htm

The next potential review of these figures will be from 1 January 2010.

Barnes Roffe Topical Tips

• Please refer to TT127 and consider reviewing all staff’s company car benefit to see if the fuel benefit is worth it – often scrapping it could benefit both you and your employees!
• Ensure you update the above rates to avoid underpaying staff the highest potential tax-free amount for their business mileage, or to avoid overpaying staff and creating an unexpected tax and National Insurance bill for the company.
• If in doubt then please speak to your Barnes Roffe LLP partner for guidance.