Legislation - Page 20

Fines to enforce the new law, which was introduced earlier this year, were due to come into effect on 1st November, but this has now been delayed until March 2013.

The Government is examining a proposal to replace vehicle excise duty (VED), with a one-off environmental tax on new cars that would impact benefit-in-kind (BIK) calculations.

An influential ‘think tank’ is proposing replacing vehicle excise duty (VED) with a one-off charge on new cars based on CO2 emissions, which would be included in benefit-in-kind (BIK) calculations for company cars.

Employees offered a company car or a cash alternative should focus on the ‘true value’ of a company car, according to a tax expert.

The Government says it is still considering the merits of increasing the motorway speed limit from 70mph to 80mph, despite reports that a U-turn could be in the offing.

The vast majority of drivers want to see much higher fines and tougher enforcement to tackle the risky and selfish drivers who repeatedly flout laws and get away with it, a survey suggests.

Keeping abreast of Government policy and running a low carbon fleet are the top priorities for maintaining a tax-efficient fleet., says Matt Dyer, commercial director, LeasePlan UK.

The Daily Star has reported that Prime Minister David Cameron was ‘ready to put the brakes on raising the motorway speed limit to 80mph’ following comments from new Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin that ‘safety is paramount’.

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has welcomed the news that the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has called for information on the UK petrol and diesel sector.

Nearly half of motorists (48%) say they would not consider a more eco-friendly vehicle if Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) tax breaks were increased, according to a poll by the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists).

A leading accountancy firm has contradicted the views of many fleets by claiming that cash allowance schemes could rise in popularity as a result of planned Government changes to the benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax system from April 2015.

Housing Associations can now buy low carbon hybrid light commercial vehicles (LCVs) for the same price as a standard diesel vehicle, thanks to a Government initiative.

Businesses are potentially wasting hundreds of millions of pounds supporting a ‘zombie benefit’ that could be costing employees money, official figures suggest.

Motor mechanics have claimed back thousands of pounds from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) thanks to a partnership between supplier of automotive tools Mac Tools and tax refund specialist Refunds Direct.

Gary Killeen, fleet services commercial leader, GE Capital UK, on why a radical change could potentially create confusion for the industry.

Government figures on Benefit in Kind (BIK) reveal that the number of company cars has been steadily declining over recent years.

After six years’ work, new lease accounting standards are still a long way off.

The BVRLA has written to the Treasury to express concern over business car tax measures and has assembled a ‘Business Car Taxation Taskforce' to develop lobbying strategies and technical arguments against what it sees as discrimination against the sector.

The fears of fleet operators are being realised: since the requirement to supply a P46 (Car) form on a quarterly basis ended in April 2010, the number of incorrect tax codes related to company car taxation has risen.

Around 130 million Europeans have planned a holiday in another European Union country this year.

Wheel clamping without lawful authority will be banned in England and Wales from 1 October 2012.

The average sentence for causing death by dangerous driving is just four years – 62% shorter than the average sentence for manslaughter, according to road safety charity the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists).

Businesses will be forced to report their greenhouse gas emissions from next year, putting the environmental performance of fleets under greater scrutiny.

Despite several financial incentives designed to encourage the uptake of ultra-low emission vehicles, there has been little take up so far, reports the Campaign for Better Transport.

The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) is calling on the Government to reverse its decision to scrap the removal of the tax exempt status of ultra-low emission cars.

The DVLA says that motorists will benefit from a better, quicker service after Roads Minister Mike Penning gave the go-ahead for wide-ranging reforms to improve how the Agency works.

Recording fuel use, vehicle mileage and journey distances is becoming compulsory following the Government’s decision to introduce mandatory greenhouse gas emission reporting for publicly quoted companies from next April, according to Jaama.

Jaama has made further improvements to the benefit-in-kind reporting capability of its Key2 Vehicle Management system, which now provides employees’ with the ability to ‘pre-validate’ their annual P11D declaration.

Online driving licence checking could become more important to fleets following new driving licence changes, says CFC Solutions

The driving licence is facing a major overhaul after the European Commission paved the way for it to be based on smart card technology.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has issued a consultation paper on proposed changes to its driving licence fees, which would apply in Great Britain from April 2013.

Careless drivers will be targeted under new proposals announced for consultation today by road safety minister Mike Penning.

Fleets could be punished for leading the environmental agenda and choosing cleaner cars in an overhaul of Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) rules.

The Highway Code is joining the digital age by launching it as an interactive app for smartphones, making it easier for road users to keep up to date with the rules of the road.

The European Commission has issued guidelines warning that under EU law road charging schemes must not discriminate against foreign drivers.

Employees who, because of the nature of their employment, have a security enhanced company car, are to be given benefit-in-kind tax relief on the cost of fitting potentially life-saving features.

Thousands of company car drivers are paying the wrong amount of taxation due to errors made by HM Revenue & Customs.

The changes to the capital allowance thresholds announced in the 2012 Budget could change fleet acquisition methods for the lowest CO2 emitting cars.

One in four mileage claims – a staggering 26.4% – is made without a valid receipt, research suggests.

John Lewis, chief executive of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association responds to today's Budget.