What is BIK: Everything you need to know

Company cars are often essential for business critical operations and make great incentives for attracting top quality staff. They are also taxable benefits, in addition to an employees or directors monthly salary.

Company car tax is known as Benefit in Kind, which is based on how harmful it is to the environment. Every car has a BIK tax banding based on the vehicles CO2 emissions, and the amount of company car tax you will pay depends on the car's official list price and your annual salary.

How to calculate company car tax

The company car tax payable by an employee is based on:

1. The P11D value of the vehicle
2. Multiplied by the car’s company car tax rate (dependent on the vehicles CO2 emissions and fuel type) – this gives you the BIK amount.
3. Multiplied by your personal tax rate, according to your salary (basic rate of 20% or higher amount of 40%).

HMRC offer a Company Car Tax Calculator to make working out BIK easier. You can also download the car tax bands in the document below:

Download our Company Car Tax Bands – 2015-2021 Fact Sheet Here

This download also includes the company car tax bands for 2020/2021 announced in the Spring Budget in April 2017, where the government will introduce new lower bands for the lowest emitting cars (‘ULEVs’).

Unlike a company car, LCVs (including Vans) are taxed depending on how you use the vehicle. You will pay no tax on the vehicle if you use it for work purposes and what’s termed by HMRC as ‘insignificant private use.’ If the vehicle is used for ‘private use’, you will be required to pay BIK company van tax at a fixed rate of £3170.

How to calculate company van tax

The company van tax amount is based on:

1. A set BIK rate of £3,170
2. Multiplied by your personal tax rate, according to your salary (basic rate of 20% or higher amount of 40%).

This will give you the figure for the year you will need to pay.

Double cab and crew cab pick-up tax rules

For these vehicles the same company van tax rules apply, subject to additional guidelines. To be classified as an LCV, any vehicle that has more than one row of seats, they must have a 1 tonne payload capability.

Download our Benefit in Kind and LCVs fact sheet here.

Van/LCVs - a vehicle that carries a burden or goods (not people), not exceeding 3,500kg when fully laden.

Insignificant private use - effectively commuting to and from work, with minor exceptions such as stopping at a shop on the way.

Significant private use - examples include regular trips in the van to do supermarket shopping, taking the van on holiday or using for social activities.

Call 01332 267 389 or contact us via email to speak to one of the team for a free consultation.

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Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of this article, Pendragon Vehicle Management Limited and any of its group companies (together "Pendragon"), do not give any representation or warranty as to the legal, regulatory, tax or accounting implications of the matters referred to in this document, nor for the accuracy of the information provided herein. Pendragon is not providing you with tax or other professional advice in this document. You and your employees (as applicable) should take independent advice where necessary. Pendragon is not responsible or liable to you, your employees or any third party for any liability, loss, claim, cost or expense incurred by you, your employees or any third party as a result of relying on any information contained in this article.