Company vehicles can be a valuable benefit, but they come with significant tax implications that employers and employees need to understand. In 2025, the tax treatment of company cars, vans, pickups, and fuel is largely based on CO₂ emissions, usage, and vehicle type. Low-emission cars, especially electric and plug-in hybrids, attract lower benefit-in-kind (BIK) charges, while diesel and high-emission vehicles are taxed heavily, up to 37% of the car's list price. Vans are generally more tax-efficient, but HMRC has tightened the definition, especially around crew-cab and dual-purpose vehicles. Fuel for private use also carries a hefty tax charge unless fully reimbursed. Staying informed on these rules is crucial for making cost-effective choices around business vehicles in the current tax landscape.
Read MoreThe routine services you would expect us to provide are listed below but it’s the important ongoing professional advice that really helps our clients.
HMRC is focusing on undeclared dividends via reaching out to company owners, asking to declare dividend income. Company owners now have to either disclose any previously undeclared dividends or inform HMRC if nothing to be declared.
The revamp of R&D relief will commence from April 2024, combining the two systems and lowering the intensity threshold from 40% to 30% for SMEs with a soft landing. The Chancellor has decided to eliminate Class 2 National Insurance contributions for self-employed individuals and reduce the rate of Class 4 NICs. The Chancellor has announced that full expensing, a tax break for investments in IT equipment, plant, and machinery, will now be a permanent fixture, eliminating the previous uncertainty caused by its three-year limit. Another announcement was in relation to a 2% reduction in the employee National Insurance rate, bringing it down to 10% starting in January. This change will decrease the total tax for basic rate taxpayers to 30%. In addition a £4.3bn support package for small businesses over the next five years has been announced. This includes freezing the small business multiplier at 49.9p for the fourth consecutive year, while the standard multiplier will be increased to 54.6p by September. The small rate multiplier will also be adjusted to match the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation.
So what is the main difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion? Let’s put it simple – Tax avoidance is legal and tax evasion is not.A lot of people already do tax avoidance by having an Individual Savings Account (ISA), or paying some earnings into their Pension pots (like SIPP), which is a legal way to reduce you income tax. Businesses and sole traders can decrease their tax bill by claiming business related expenses, which is perfectly legal and the right way to do business.
As the self-assessment tax return deadline looms within the next 100 days, a concerning revelation emerges: 75% of self-employed individuals lack clarity on the point at which higher rate tax obligations kick in. We need to remind our clients about the importance of gaining control over finances, including tax payment and budgeting, which can alleviate the strain associated with self-employment and make the process of preparing for the January 31 deadline less burdensome.
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