Changes to Benefit-in-Kind: Private Use of Company Vans
Normally, where a van is available for the private use of an employee as a result of their employment, the employee is chargeable to PAYE, PRSI and USC in respect of that private use. Travel to and from work is considered private use.
The notional pay in which PAYE, PRSI and USC must be applied is determined the ‘cash equivalent’ of the private use of the van. The cash equivalent is 5% of the (OMV) Original Market Value of the vehicle.
No taxable benefit will arise in relation to the use of a company van where all the below conditions are met:
- The van is supplied by the employer for the purpose of the employee’s work.
- The employee is required to bring the van home after work.
- Apart from travelling to and from work, other private use of the van is forbidden by the employer.
- During work, the employee spends at least 80% of his or her time away from the premises of the employer to which he or she is attached.
An exemption to the Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) rule takes place from 1 January 2018 and applies to used and new company vans. If an electric van is made available for an employee’s private use, then no taxable benefit will arise in relation to that private use. This only includes vans that derive their motive power solely from electricity.
Definition of a van
A van is a mechanical vehicle which:
- Is made solely/mainly for the transport of goods or other burden, and
- Has a roofed area to the rear of the driver’s seat, and
- Has no side windows or seating fitted in that roofed area.
Where a crew cab or other similar type of vehicle meets all these criteria, it is regarded as a van rather than a car.
Please contact us if you require assistance with the above.
