Michelle Howles, director, Affinity Leasing discusses what the salary sacrifice changes will mean for employers and HR professionals
In the Autumn Statement, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced new salary sacrifice schemes and benefits in kind schemes will, from April 2017, pay the same taxes as everyone else. Some salary sacrifice schemes that allow employees to give up their salary for a non-cash benefit will be abolished for cars over 75g/km CO2 as Chancellor Philip Hammond described the benefits as “unfair”. As Hammond said: “The majority of employees pay tax on a cash salary. But some are able to sacrifice salary and pay much lower tax on benefits in kind.” He continued: “This is unfair, and so from April 2017 employers and employees who use these schemes will pay the same taxes as everyone else.”
But what does this mean for you or your company if you already have a salary sacrifice scheme or are considering setting one up for your staff?
Vehicle finance specialist Affinity Leasing explains that earlier this year, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) published a consultation paper looking at the salary sacrifice and flexible benefits available, such as cash alternatives in lieu of taking a company car. Hammond last week, backed recent HMRC proposals for a crackdown on salary sacrifice schemes and the announcement is aimed at addressing the rising costs and Income Tax and National Insurance contributions payable on such schemes.
However, for those responsible for existing salary sacrifice car schemes or those thinking of offering this benefit to their staff, this is a cause for concern because cars with such restrictive emission rules may not suit many drivers. For businesses of all sizes and anyone with a staff salary sacrifice car scheme in place, they can now move it to Affinity Leasing free of charge, and they will no longer be restricted to vehicles with such prohibitive rules or tied due to previous scheme constraints.
So the tax change doesn’t need to be all bad. Affinity Leasing is supporting employers who currently offer salary sacrifice schemes to switch to an alternative scheme offering brand new vehicles on personal lease terms and finance as a voluntary benefit, which has no Benefit In Kind tax payable. Industry leaders in car leasing as a voluntary benefit, Affinity Leasing has over the past 12 years provided thousands of cars via their scheme, partnering with leading vehicle manufacturers and funders to match individual need.
Unlike many salary sacrifice car schemes, Affinity Leasing’s scheme is free for companies to join and offers brand new vehicles, often with large discounts, to members of voluntary benefit schemes.
For those responsible for salary sacrifice car schemes already, our scheme is quick and easy to set up, has minimum administration and can supply a wide variety of makes and models to suit the needs of the driver without needing to be restricted by the CO2 emissions of the vehicle or the cost to the driver of BIK tax.
For more scheme information, contact myself at 01299 269521 or by emailing: Michelle.Howles@affinityvehicleleasing.com
