Van tax on double cabs and pick ups

WE all like a double cab. But do you have to pay tax on a double cab or pick up. Answer: yes if you have a company provided double or single cab pick-up and use it for private mileage. But the silver lining to this is that you don’t have to pay company car levels of benefit in kind taxation. Currently, HMRC classifies these pick-ups as vans – as long as they have a payload of 1 tonne (1000kg) or more. A payload means the vehicle’s gross vehicle weight less its unoccupied kerb weight. Where a pick-up has a hard top, this is given a generic weight of 45kg. So a pick-up that has a payload of 1010kg will convert to a car under these definitions. So it’s important to ensure your pick up qualifies

So how much do you have to pay?

The Van Benefit Charge is £3150 for the 2015/16 tax year. Which means:

• The van tax on double cabs and pick ups is £630 for a 20% tax payer
• The van tax on double cabs and pick ups is £1260 for a 40% tax payer

If you also get paid for all your fuel – private and business – then there is the fuel benefit charge to pay. The Van Benefit Charge including free fuel is £3744 for the 2015/16 tax year. Which means:

• The van tax on double cabs and pick ups including free fuel is £749 for a 20% tax payer
• The van tax on double cabs and pick ups including free fuel is £1498 for a 40% tax payer