ATO Guidance On Commercial Vehicles (Utes, Panel Vans Etc)
The ATO has provided more certainty around the FBT exemption for small business owners that have commercial vehicles and provide these to their employees for work purposes. Home to work, and work to home travel is exempt from Fringe Benefits Tax (49% tax rate on the employer) for commercial vehicles, including ‘incidental’ travel and ‘minor and infrequent’ private travel. The ATO has watered down some of the restrictions that must be met to have some level of comfort that the ATO won’t pursue employers for FBT where the commercial vehicles meet the exemption criteria set out in their practical guidance PCG 2018/3. A few key points: – it only applies to eligible commercial vehicles – e.g. utes with 1 ton carrying capacity, panel vans, etc (vehicles not designed principally for carrying passengers); – the employer is still required to look at the actual use of the commercial vehicle as the FBT exemption only applies to to ‘home to work, work to home travel’ and ‘inci...