Cycle to work scheme with annual travel ticket?

Kildalkey

Quite possibly, and I'm probably not in the right thread, but does anyone know if there is a way around the fact that the bike to work scheme is not open to people (like me) with an annualised travel ticket? Granted, it does indicate that you will not use the bike for commuting, but I have to travel 5 miles to get my bus in the first place and could certainly cycle that.

Lumen

Moved from here to new thread.

droidus

Since when? I have both. It was never an issue.

The only problem is the temptation to get the bus in bad weather (or moderate weather, for that matter)

VERYinterested

Here is the wording:

"4. Qualifying journeys: The bicycle/safety equipment must be used by the employee or director mainly for qualifying journeys. This means the whole or part (e.g.between home and train station) of a journey between the employee’s or director’s home and normal place of work, or between his or her normal place of work and another place of work. While an employer will not be required to monitor the use of the bicycle/safety equipment, the employer will be required to obtain a signed statement from the employee or director that the bicycle is for his or her own use and will be used mainly for qualifying journeys."

I have an annual Luas taxsaver ticket and I have a tax free bike.

Kildalkey

That will teach me to accept something without checking it out for myself. My Finance Manager came back when I enquired about the scheme to say I wasn't eligible as I had an annualised travel ticket. A phone call to Revenue I think. Thanks to both of you for posting so quickly. Out of interest, what bikes did you get / would you recommend at that price level?

Raam

Kildalkey wrote: »

That will teach me to accept something without checking it out for myself. My Finance Manager came back when I enquired about the scheme to say I wasn't eligible as I had an annualised travel ticket. A phone call to Revenue I think. Thanks to both of you for posting so quickly. Out of interest, what bikes did you get / would you recommend at that price level?

Your finance manager is talking nonsense. If such a restriction exists then it would purely be due to your own company. It is certainly not a limitation by the revenue.

VERYinterested

Just print this out, get out the highlighter pen and mark the relevant section and leave it on his desk:http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache%3AqIGlJ0Mn_woJ%3Awww.revenue.ie%2Fen%2Fpractitioner%2Flaw%2Fbik-exemption-for-bicycles.pdf+cycle+to+work+tax+saver&hl=en&gl=ie



I got a Dawes Saratoga, around €350, didn't want to go mad as it's left at the Luas station all day and was afraid something flash would be half inched.

droidus

There is absolutely no restricion on C2W if you have a bus ticket. As mentioned above, you can use the bike to cycle to a train station and still qualify. Sounds like more lazy bean counters to me.

I spent just over a grand on a cannondale bad boy 8. Its a good commuter, very practical in some ways and less so in others. It is pretty flash though - I bring it into the office.

Beasty

Raam wrote: »

Your finance manager is talking nonsense. If such a restriction exists then it would purely be due to your own company. It is certainly not a limitation by the revenue.

... and the company cannot restrict it to certain employees. Once implemented it must be made available to all employees and directors

Kildalkey

Thanks to all who posted and clarified that for me. Happy days - a little bike shopping over the weekend I think!

VERYinterested

droidus wrote: »

Sounds like more lazy bean counters to me.

I think you've hit the nail on the head there! Why is it these guys are always up to speed when it means you get hammered for some or other reduction but when the employee stands to benefit, they are as obstructive as possible!

short circuit

If you get milage allowance for the car, I think this is what you should do ...

Take the car for the 1st 10 miles ...
Cycle the next 3 miles ....
Take the bus/luas/train for the last bit into work
Travel in a taxi for official work if required around town ...

And then claim
1. Milage
2. Cycle to work
3. Annual pass for public transport
4. Expense the taxi bills ...

That will set your finance manager straight.

Absolutely hate it when people make up their own rules without accepting that they don't know what they are talking about. At least start off by saying .. "I think ...."

Victor

VERYinterested wrote: »

I think you've hit the nail on the head there! Why is it these guys are always up to speed when it means you get hammered for some or other reduction but when the employee stands to benefit, they are as obstructive as possible!

Because they are trying to protect their own company car that they never use for going to site (i.e. use for commuting only)?

ludermor

Beasty wrote: »

... and the company cannot restrict it to certain employees. Once implemented it must be made available to all employees and directors

What about if you already have a company car is there a way of qualifying for the bike?

Beasty

ludermor wrote: »

What about if you already have a company car is there a way of qualifying for the bike?

Yes, owning a company car is completely irrelevant. The only requirment is you use the bike "mainly" for commuting. You could drive to work 90% of the time, and still qualify if you intend to use the bike more for commuting than other purposes.

Your employer cannot exclude you simply because you have a company car

Lumen

Beasty wrote: »

... and the company cannot restrict it to certain employees. Once implemented it must be made available to all employees and directors

Are you absolutely sure about this?

Beasty

Lumen wrote: »

Are you absolutely sure about this?

Absolutely sure, certain, positive ....

The legislation requires:

"bicycles or bicycle safety equipment, or

bicycles and bicycle safety equipment, as
the case may be, are made available generally
to directors and employees of the

body corporate."

However, the scheme is not available to anyone who is self-employed (which would include partners in a firm). Such a firm/partnership can make the scheme available to its own employees though.

There is an overriding requirement for the employee/director to be subject to Irish PAYE. Clearly someone working for an Irish company outside Ireland who does not pay Irish tax has no Irish tax to save under the scheme.

The scheme is also not available to external contractors (as they are not employees), although they maybe able to get a bike if their own employer offers the scheme

ludermor

Beasty wrote: »

Yes, owning a company car is completely irrelevant. The only requirment is you use the bike "mainly" for commuting. You could drive to work 90% of the time, and still qualify if you intend to use the bike more for commuting than other purposes.

Your employer cannot exclude you simply because you have a company car

Thanks for that, its completely at odds with what i was told at work though! I will look into it a bit more and see if they can change their position.

Beasty

ludermor wrote: »

Thanks for that, its completely at odds with what i was told at work though! I will look into it a bit more and see if they can change their position.

Just tell them to go and read Section 7 of the Finance (No.2) Act 2008:)