Author: RALPH MORTON
The sonic weapon – the latest in the MoD’s defence armoury for the London 2012 Olympics – probably doesn’t feature in many company car choice lists.
But if it does, worry not. There’s no tax to pay on it.
Capable of sending out a piercing, ear-shattering beam of sound, the sonic weapon – or Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) from America (where else?) – will be deployed from HMS Ocean during the Olympics, according to the BBC’s news website.
The Ministry of Defence says it will be used mainly in ‘loudhailer’ mode during the Olympics.
But this, along with other security enhancements, will get a free passage in company cars on the passing of the Finance Bill 2012.
The government is concerned that drivers who need extra security for their cars – the additions are extras to the P11D value – don’t get penalised disproportionately since the removal of the £80,000 expensive car price cap.
Mind you, the taxman says that you will only receive the company car tax relief if you can truly demonstrate that the nature of your job puts your own personal security in jeopardy.
Does that mean drug barons in blacked-out BMW X5s get the relief too? Maybe not…
So what’s included in the HMRC’s company car policy on security enhanced cars?
- armour designed to protect the car’s occupants from explosions or gunfire;
- bullet-resistant glass;
- any modifications to the car’s fuel tank designed to protect the tank’s contents from explosions or gunfire (including by making the tank self-sealing); and,
- any modification made to the car in consequence of anything which is a relevant security feature by virtue of the proceeding three examples.
Although the measure will be included in the Finance Bill 2012, the company car tax allowance has been available since April 2011 for qualifying company car drivers.
