imlach

Seems that bicycles can be had cheaply if you buy it through your employer, and the bicycle is "mainly" used for commuting.

I suspect I qualify, and I need a new bike, so would seem a shame to not ask my new employer if they'd partake. Seems to be a financial advantage to them too...

http://www.leedscyclists.org.uk/Tax%20breaks.htm

milo

****.. wish you'd posted that a month ago

SiPie

Nice one Imlach

Don't tell Pauline though........

I want to be the first to ask for a new Stumpjumper at work on Monday

imlach

It seems an absolute gift!
Apparently Halfords (yes, I know, but at least someone is doing it.....) is about to launch an ad campaign (instore or press, I don't know) which will publicise this tax benefit. So expect more people to ask about this in your offices soon!

imlach

More info from the Guardian a couple of weeks ago.....

http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardian_j...307151,00.html

imlach

Oh, and it also applies to home PC equipment bought for employees....

See here for both bike & pc schemes....

http://www.booost.uk.com/

GM

Just got stuff through today about my flexible benefit options for 2005 - and the Halfords bike "mainly for commuting" offer has now been added.

Suresh

The Dutch have been running such schemes for years. I bought a good spec laptop last year and got 50% of the price back as a tax refund. Unfortunately they abruptly stopped the scheme last month before we had ordered the new desktop..

Still, can always get a new bike provided the employer certifies that it is used for commuting. Would it count if I carried on the back of the Forrester every day??

My advice : take advantage before your schemes are withdrawn!

Suresh

MarkO

How do they prove whether you use it for commuting or not?

Tiggs

how do they prove any of those "tax perks". they prob dont, but if they bothered to investigate you may be in troub...how likley is that?

MarkO

Very true.

ozzy

It's like using your car for business. I kept records and fuel receipts for my Impreza for 3 years when it was used for work and all they ended up looking for was a total milage and cost. Not one was I asked to "prove" the figures and I was claiming £4K for a 3 year period in one go.

Stefan

MarkO

Yes, but the difference is that they could, at any stage, ask for petrol receipts, and a mileage check on the car to see that the figures were in some way valid.

Whereas with a bike they can't exactly check whether you rode it at all, can they?

ozzy

Exactly. My point was that they never bothered with me and that was with 4 grand of tax and a method of actually checking the claim was valid.

So, unless someone follows you to work I can't see how they could check.

Tiggs

this being SN im surprised someone hasnt suggested some sort of GPS tracking device that will monitor the bike and send out the tax bill accordingly!

dome

Just emailled my HR people, I'll keep you posted. i take it its at my employers discretion though and they can just say 'No, B*gger off'?

the moose

If they look at the state of my bike - any of my bikes - they'd see that they've been ridden. And I've actually commuted to work on every one of my bikes this year, if only to check things are properly installed or for a change.

MarkO

My bike's been ridden too, and my new one will be obviously ridden as well. Of course neither of them's ever been near my office or a road.

flat4

i'm just waiting for the new year so i can get my hands on the new LX stuff, i already get 40% off through the cycle company we do work for

Dunk

iTrader: (1)

If the revenue don't check that the interest you declare on your tax return is the same as the bank notify them, then you can rest assured that they won't notice you doing a paper round on your co bike.

D

gsm1

I wonder how much evidence is required (or checked) to obtain these discounted bikes and PCs. I'm sure there are plenty out there already working out the loopholes to totally screw the system.

imlach

I'm sure I read in the one of the articles I posted (or one I haven't!) that the Inland Revenue would not be checking up on this one....after all, the goverment is probably happy enough to encourage it EVEN if it means people use their bikes NOT for commuting - it encourages a healthier lifestyle.