Employed - Vehicle Expenses

[jgallinzx]

Hi,

I have been working as a Community Care Worker since March last year. I am required to use my vehicle to visit clients in their own home to provide care.

My previous employer paid me 32p per mile and have been told to claim the remaining 8p per mile at the end of the year from HMRC. I had a general query about the P87 form the other day and the man at the tax office said I was only entitled to claim back 20% of what I was owed. I thought this a bit odd but asked him to confirm which he did, This means that I'll only be able to claim back 1.6p per mile from HMRC.

My current employer pays no vehicle expenses at all (my fault I should have checked this with them at the beginning). So if I am entitled to 40p per mile then drop down to 25p after 10,000 miles, who do I get the 40p from?

I know this may sound slightly confusing but if anyone could shed any light on this I would appreciate it. If I can't claim then I've drawn the short straw and need to find a new employer!

Many Thanks

[mullet]

You don't claim back the balance of 8p per mile from HMRC ... you get tax relief on that amount. So yes, it's 8p @ 20% = 1.6p per mile. If HMRC "handed back" travel money at 40p per mile then employers would pay 0.00000000001p per mile wouldn't they?

So if I am entitled to 40p per mile then drop down to 25p after 10,000 miles, who do I get the 40p from?

Sadly, only your employer could or should pay you at those rates. If you receive nothing, then you can claim tax relief. But it will work out at only 8p per mile, and your fuel alone probably costs 15p per mile.

It is not really fair for employers to expect private vehicles to be used but not be willing to pay at all. Are you sure that you don't have a car allowance built in to your salary?

[jgallinzx]

There is nothing built into my salary and the contract doesn't even mention travel expenses. I have spoken to ACAS who say there is no law which says I have to be paid mileage/vehicle expenses. if we go to visit a private client it says 30p per mile but it usually 30p for the whole journey, if we go to an authority client we get 40p for the whole journey. This journey has been as far as 10 miles each way before. Maybe it is time I looked for another employer who pays fairly and correctly.

Many Thanks for your reply, only jujst saw it as I didn't get an e-mail notification will come back and check again every couple of days