Taxes
A car allowance and a mileage allowance are both related to the use of a personal vehicle for work. But, they have different purposes and are subject to different rules.
Let’s go over the difference between a car allowance and a mileage allowance. We’ll also discuss whether you’re better off taking them or opting for a company car instead.
Car allowance vs mileage allowance
A car allowance is a contribution towards the cost of buying a vehicle. It’s added to your salary and it attracts tax at the usual rates. A mileage allowance, on the other hand, is tax-free. That’s the primary difference but here are some more details.
What is a car allowance?
Your employer may offer you a car allowance instead of a company car. They may also provide this as an alternative to providing a company car.
A car allowance is a one-time cash sum you can use to buy a personal vehicle. The choice of vehicle is usually up to you. Yet, your employer may give you the minimum specifications for the vehicle.
These specifications may include age, CO2 emissions, number of seats and more. You’ll be responsible for the costs associated with taxing the vehicle, servicing and maintenance.
A car allowance may be a better option than a company car if you:
- Already own a car and don’t need to upgrade
- Have a specific vehicle you'd like to buy
- Want an asset that you can sell at a later date
Your car allowance is taxed at source at your personal income tax rate. This means that, if you’re a higher rate taxpayer, you’ll be paying 40 percent tax on the allowance. The amount of cash you end up with after taxes could be significantly lower than the value of a company car.
