Cyclescheme is the UK's most popular cycle to work benefit, creating more cyclists than any other provider.

HMRC VAT Update (Summary)

HMRC VAT Update (Summary)

Revenue & Customs Brief 28/11

VAT: Changes to the treatment of certain supplies made by employers under salary sacrifice arrangements following the CJEU Judgment in Case C-40/09

Background
Astra Zeneca operated a flexible remuneration package scheme under which employees could opt to take part of their remuneration in the form of goods and/or services rather than as salary. The case before the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) concerned the correct VAT treatment of high street shopping vouchers provided to employees as one of the options of the scheme.

The Court found that the provision of vouchers amounted to a supply of services effected for consideration. As a consequence, whilst Astra Zeneca was able to recover VAT incurred on acquiring the vouchers, output tax was due on the consideration received from its employees.

Although this case was concerned with the supply of vouchers to employees, the principles considered by the Court are of general application and will apply to other supplies of goods and services to employees.

The UK position on the provision of goods and services via salary sacrifice or deductions from salary
Following earlier decisions by the UK courts, HM Revenue & Customs' (HMRC) policy was to make a distinction between the VAT treatment of supplies of goods and services to employees by a deduction from salary, and those provided under a salary sacrifice arrangement.

Deduction from salary
This occurs where an amount is deducted from an employee’s pay in return for a supply of goods or services by the employer. Output tax has always been and continues to be due on the amount deducted from salary. Input tax is recoverable in accordance with the normal rules.

Salary sacrifice
For VAT purposes 'salary sacrifice' has a very narrow and specific meaning. It describes an arrangement such as in the Co-operative Insurance Society case [1992] (VTD 109) where an employee opts to receive services and forgoes part of their salary in return. The employee enters into a new employment contract or has their existing contract amended to reflect the new arrangement which they are tied into.

In relation to such schemes HMRC have, to date, accepted that the reduction in the salary did not constitute consideration for the benefits received and output tax was not due. Employers were able to recover the related VAT as input tax, subject to the normal rules.

In cases where the employee has been provided with the use of a good (for example a home computer) and opts to purchase it at the end of the scheme it has always been HMRC’s view that VAT is due (where applicable) at that stage.

The Judgment of the CJEU
The Court considered whether the provision of the vouchers was a supply for a consideration. It found that there was a direct link between the provision of the retail vouchers by the company to its employees and the part of the cash remuneration which the employees gave up.

As far as arrangements involving deductions from salaries are concerned, the judgment supports HMRC’s existing policy that these are consideration for a supply for VAT purposes.

However, HMRC considers that the rationale used by the CJEU goes wider than deductions from salary, and as a consequence of this there is no longer a distinction between deductions from salary and a salary sacrifice. Therefore, the amount of salary foregone is consideration for supplies of the benefits whether provided under a salary sacrifice or by a deduction from salary.

It is clear that the principles applied by the CJEU are not confined to vouchers, but are equally applicable to many other situations where employers offer benefits to their staff. Where the benefit is subject to VAT, output tax will be due from, and input VAT recoverable by the employer in accordance with the normal rules.

Implementation: Revised VAT treatment of salary sacrifice
Businesses providing benefits under arrangements, which qualify as salary sacrifice schemes for VAT purposes, must account for output VAT on these supplies, where they are subject to VAT. In order to allow businesses time to make the necessary adjustments, HMRC will not require output tax to be accounted for on taxable benefits provided under salary sacrifice schemes, until 1 January 2012.

See the annex for details of how this change of practice will apply in particular circumstances.

Valuation
In most cases the value of the benefit for VAT purposes will be the same as the amount of salary deducted or the amount foregone under a salary sacrifice arrangement. Where this is less than the true value (for example where employers supply the benefits at below what it cost to buy them in), the value should be based on the cost to the employer. 

 

Effect of the CJEU judgment in particular circumstances

Cycle to Work Scheme
Under the Cycle to Work Scheme employers purchase bicycles and safety equipment and provide them to employees. Where this has been done under a salary sacrifice arrangement, the effect of the judgment is that employers must account for output tax based on the value of the salary foregone by the employee in exchange for the hire or loan of a bicycle.

Affected businesses should apply this treatment from 1 January 2012. Employers can continue to recover VAT on the purchase of the bicycle and associated equipment.

Employers who have provided bicycles under deduction from salary arrangements are unaffected by the judgment as payments received from employees have always been subject to VAT and will continue to be so.

VAT remains due when a bicycle is disposed of and its value should normally be based on the price of an identical or similar item, taking into account the age and condition etc.

We are aware that valuing bicycles has caused difficulties for Scheme operators and therefore, to reduce administration burdens, the table used to value bicycles for direct tax purposes may be used. This table provides valuations for bicycles based on the age and original price. Any bicycles that fall outside of the table (such as antique or specialist bicycles) should be valued using the normal VAT valuation rules. If businesses choose to use lower values, they may be challenged in which case evidence will be required to support the valuation.


HMRC VAT update FAQs

Is the Cycle to Work Scheme still a valid and worthwhile benefit?

What effect does the new VAT ruling have on employer and employee savings?

How can I communicate the changes and the benefits to employees?

When does the ruling come into effect?

Will the changes be applied retrospectively?


 
Is the Cycle to Work Scheme still a valid and worthwhile benefit?

Cyclescheme continues to offer one of the most effective cost saving staff benefits in existence, delivering unparalleled savings to employees whilst generating income for employers.

Cyclescheme’s free-of-charge service will continue to help employers and employees save money, promote healthy living and improve productivity, and create positive environmental impact.

Employers will still be able to reclaim VAT, so this benefit remains revenue positive with Class 1 Employer National Insurance Contribution (NIC) savings as before.

Furthermore, Cyclescheme’s free-of-charge service reduces employer and participant’s administration to a minimum through provision of a market-leading automated process that includes the most straightforward and robust end of hire options available.

 


 
What effect does the new VAT ruling have on employer and employee savings?

Employee savings - Still 32% up to 42%!!

Many employees work for organisations that have never been able to pass a VAT saving on as part of the Cycle to Work benefit; hence, their savings will not be affected by this update.

For organisations that currently pass on a VAT saving, employees’ savings will be reduced, but not by 20% (the current rate of VAT). This is because the increase in gross salary sacrifice created by the additional VAT charge makes for greater Income Tax and National Insurance Contribution (NIC) Savings. Here’s an example of the difference in savings based on a standard and basic rate taxpayer:

Basic Rate Taxpayer

  Post VAT ruling,
1st Jan 2012
Inc VAT savings
pre 1st Jan 2012
Certificate Value £1,000.00 £1,000.00
Gross Monthly Salary Sacrifice payments £83.33 £69.44 (including 20% VAT saving)
Income Tax Savings £16.67 £13.89
NI Savings £10.00 £8.33
Net Salary Sacrifice £56.67 £47.22
Overall Saving £320.00 £433.36
Overall Saving 32% 43%


High Rate Taxpayer

  Post VAT ruling,
1st Jan 2012
Inc VAT savings
pre 1st Jan 2012
Certificate Value £1,000.00 £1,000.00
Gross Monthly Salary Sacrifice payments £83.33 £69.44 (including 20% VAT saving)
Income Tax Savings £33.33 £27.78
NI Savings £1.67 £1.39
Net Salary Sacrifice £48.33 £40.27
Overall Saving £420.04 £516.76
Overall Saving 42% 52%

 

Employer savings - 13.8% NI Saving!!

Employers will still be able to benefit from Class 1 Employers’ National Insurance Contribution (NIC) savings as before. Additionally, as all VAT registered businesses are able to recover the VAT on the purchase of a Cycle to Work Scheme package, the benefit remains revenue positive for the employer.

The standard Employers’ NIC saving will increase with the inclusion of VAT in participants’ salary sacrifices from the 1st January 2012:

  Without employee VAT saving,
1st Jan 2012
With employee VAT saving,
pre 1st Jan 2012
Certificate Value £1,000.00 £1,000.00
Gross Total Salary Sacrifice payments £1,000.00 £833.33
Total Employers' NIC Saving £138.00 £114.96

 


 
How can I communicate the changes and promote the benefits of the scheme to employees?

Cyclescheme also provides employers with free-of-charge promotional material, which may include the following;

   • Posters and leaflets
   •On site Roadshows*
   •Electronic scheme advertising, i.e., emails, website banners etc.
   •Paper and electronic copies of Cyclescheme’s Cycle Commuter magazine
   •Wage slip inserts

*Roadshows are available for employers with sites with more than 400 employees in regular attendance.

Cyclescheme is ready to help all employers communicate the continued benefits of the scheme to their employees; please contact our Helpdesk on info@cyclescheme.co.uk to discuss your promotional material needs.

 


 
When does the ruling come into effect?

The new guidance states that any employer who is registered for VAT is required to account for the VAT included in the amount of salary sacrifice received on or after 1st January 2012 on their VAT return and pay it to HMRC (Output Tax). HMRC have published this announcement (in their Revenue & Customs Brief 36/11) here.

Following representations by Cyclescheme and our Tax consultants Grant Thornton, we now have confirmation from HMRC that for hire agreements entered into on or before 27th July 2011, employers are not required to account for VAT on the salary sacrifice payments that are made after 1st January 2012.

Employers will be able to continue to recover VAT when a bicycle is purchased, subject to the normal rules for claiming VAT, because from 01/01/2012 they will be onward supplying that bicycle and charging VAT. Additionally, VAT exempt employers will be able to recover VAT on Cycle to Work Scheme purchases from 1st January 2012.

 


 
Will the changes be applied retrospectively?

Employers will only have to account for VAT for salary sacrifice payments received on or after 1st January 2012 for hire agreements entered into after 27th July 2011.

For hire agreements entered into on or before 27th July 2011, employers are not required to account for VAT on the salary sacrifice payments that are made after 1st January 2012.

Any salary sacrifice payments made prior to the 1st January 2012 will not be subject to any VAT liability. 


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