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Bike to Work scheme - the Megathread - Read post #1 before posting

Beasty

Firstly this thread is not about which bike should you get under the BTW scheme – there are too many variables to try and cover this in a single thread. It is to provide a summary of the scheme, some do’s and don’ts and act as a single thread for all technical aspects of the scheme.

Any new threads created covering the rules and application of the scheme will either be locked or transferred to this thread. Please ensure you review the whole thread before posting a new query

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CramCycle

RugbyLover123 wrote: »

Quick question regarding the scheme:

I’m currently on it and have been for a few months. I am switching jobs and my new employer has agreed to pay off the remaining balance. I presume this is possible? And is just paid up to my current employer?

Thanks.

The scheme is operated between you and your employer, it does not transfer between employments. If you leave, they can ask for the remainder to be taken in a lump sum from your last paycheque which is the norm ( I have heard of tsome just forgettign about it but I imagne this is rare). If your new employer is offering to pay it off, then they would simply be handing you a bonus to make up for the loss of wages from your last paycheque.

If you have a balance of 500euro left, lets say 6 months of payments. Your current employer will simply take 500euro from your last paycheque, s your take home pay will be 500 - tax etc. less. If your new employer wants to make this upto you, they would add 500euro onto the gross of your first paycheque, basically a bonus.

Personally, I would be cautious that your new employer is not basically running the scheme again for you in their eyes, so you can't use it with them for 5 years.

MJohnston

Surely you can’t run it with them anyway for 5 years? As in, the 5 year limit is not per-employer, it’s per-person

iwillhtfu

MJohnston wrote: »

Surely you can’t run it with them anyway for 5 years? As in, the 5 year limit is not per-employer, it’s per-person

That's a bit of a grey area the wording of the scheme could be read either way.

CramCycle

MJohnston wrote: »

Surely you can’t run it with them anyway for 5 years? As in, the 5 year limit is not per-employer, it’s per-person

iwillhtfu wrote: »

That's a bit of a grey area the wording of the scheme could be read either way.

Indeed, it reads as per employment to me, I have used it more than once in a 5 year period when I switched jobs. Happy to pay it back if revenue tell me I am wrong. Others read it as per person, which the way the system is implemented, with the employer holding the records and not revenue, is untenable to police in its current form.

MJohnston

Oh interesting. I always read it as per-person! It's been more than 5 years for me anyway, but my wife needs an e-Bike and only just used hers with another employer about 1-2 years ago, so this will be very welcome news.

Idioteque

Revenue states you can only use the “scheme” once every 5 years so I think it’s pretty clear what the intention is regardless of switching employer.

In saying that, I do think it should be reduced to every 2 years as some people commute a lot on their bikes but then I guess the hard-core eco warriors would probably complain of the extra materials being used on new bikes due to the increased demand for new bikes. I think I heard somewhere before the UK scheme is every 1 or 2 years

[Deleted User]

Idioteque wrote: »

Revenue states you can only use the “scheme” once every 5 years so I think it’s pretty clear what the intention is regardless of switching employer.

In saying that, I do think it should be reduced to every 2 years as some people commute a lot on their bikes but then I guess the hard-core eco warriors would probably complain of the extra materials being used on new bikes due to the increased demand for new bikes. I think I heard somewhere before the UK scheme is every 1 or 2 years

There should certainly be some exemption for those who've had a bike stolen (though I know it would be very hard to police this).

It's interesting to contrast the subsidy available for electric vehicles of thousands of euro, and the negligible support for cyclists - no subsidy for eBikes.

Mc Love

I'm currently in the process of moving jobs, and I'll be trying to go for an e-bike despite only having my current bike for just over a year. my distance will be going from 5km to 12km and I'd rather have the assistance of a e-bike for that extra bit.

magicbastarder

what sort of route? and do you have showers in work?

Mc Love

magicbastarder wrote: »

what sort of route? and do you have showers in work?

First 6km is road, last 6km is pathway. Mostly flat. If there are showers in my new place, then I probably wont bother, but hate arriving in sweaty as it can take a while to cool down.

magicbastarder

12km is very doable, though, electric or normal bike.

Mc Love

Yeah went for a test run, I could go a shorter route but it's hilly and has the added bonus of not having any cycle lane/dealing with motor traffic the whole way.

grogi

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

There should certainly be some exemption for those who've had a bike stolen (though I know it would be very hard to police this).

No, there shouldn't. Insure your bike and should it get stolen, you'll get the retail price back.

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

It's interesting to contrast the subsidy available for electric vehicles of thousands of euro, and the negligible support for cyclists - no subsidy for eBikes.

Indeed, there should be an additional allowance for an e-bikes.

[Deleted User]

grogi wrote: »

No, there shouldn't. Insure your bike and should it get stolen, you'll get the retail price back.

It's an interesting idea, but bike insurance is very expensive for non home owners who don't have the option to add it to their home insurance - about 10% of the cost of the bike per annum.

So over a five year BTW period, you'll have paid half the retail cost of the bike on insurance, which doesn't really make sense.

SmartinMartin

Just a heads-up for anyone in education using this scheme to purchase from Halfords.
Halfords use One for All for the scheme, so when you apply the Department gives OFA the go ahead who issue a debit card to the required amount in your name. However, due to GDPR the Department will not pass on your address or contact details to them, so the card will sit in their office until you ring OFA.

FFVII

I thought I read something bout it being shortened but revenue website still 5 years it says but it's not updated in a year?

juicer

i think they're planning on shortening it but don't think anything actually happened yet.

Seth Brundle

How often can I use the scheme?
Once every five years. This applies even if the cost of the bicycle and safety equipment was less than €1,000.

The tax year in which the bicycle is provided counts as the first year. For example, if you used the scheme during any month in 2014, you can use the scheme again from 1 January 2019.

https://www.revenue.ie/en/jobs-and-pensions/taxation-of-employer-benefits/cycle-to-work-scheme.aspx

mod note - no advising on how to commit tax fraud, thank you!

Rezident

There's a post on the first page saying that if you are public sector, they only use an approved list of retailers, but the link seems to have expired. Is that still the case i.e. does the public sector allow you to use online retailers like Canyon?

They use one4all, apparently.

iwillhtfu

Rezident wrote: »

There's a post on the first page saying that if you are public sector, they only use an approved list of retailers, but the link seems to have expired. Is that still the case i.e. does the public sector allow you to use online retailers like Canyon?

They use one4all, apparently.

I'm not sure about the public sector stance but I doubt canyon accept one4all vouchers and they don't accept part payments.

[Deleted User]

Rezident wrote: »

There's a post on the first page saying that if you are public sector, they only use an approved list of retailers, but the link seems to have expired. Is that still the case i.e. does the public sector allow you to use online retailers like Canyon?

They use one4all, apparently.

You'd need to be more specific. The public sector is a big place, and different rules apply in different organisations.

dinneenp

Hi,

I'm going to buy a road bike once bike shops reopen & my company has a window for the BTW scheme. I posted a thread for recommendations & Tony04 replied with 2 nice articles for recommendations.

I'd like to buy in a bricks & motar store for help with sizing etc. So what stores in Ireland have the best selection, are there one or two that jump out? I'm in Galway but willing to travel.
Cheers,
Pa.

what_traffic

dinneenp wrote: »

Hi,

I'm going to buy a road bike once bike shops reopen & my company has a window for the BTW scheme. I posted a thread for recommendations & Tony04 replied with 2 nice articles for recommendations.

I'd like to buy in a bricks & motar store for help with sizing etc. So what stores in Ireland have the best selection, are there one or two that jump out? I'm in Galway but willing to travel.
Cheers,
Pa.

If your employer uses a broker like travelhub.ie - might be best to know this first in helping narrowing down what is available for you.

magicbastarder

best to go local if you can, as most shops will throw in a free service a month or two after you buy, and it's easier in case of warranty issues.

dahat

I wonder will they ever look to being the scheme down from 5 years to 3 at some stage?

magicbastarder

based on what though?
i think it'd be more helpful for them to look at VAT bands on bikes and bike kit. less regressive, too.

dahat

magicbastarder wrote: »

based on what though?
i think it'd be more helpful for them to look at VAT bands on bikes and bike kit. less regressive, too.

Not sure really, maybe wishful thinking more than anything. It was mentioned at some point recently as a recommendation from a committee at some level.

CramCycle

magicbastarder wrote: »

based on what though?
i think it'd be more helpful for them to look at VAT bands on bikes and bike kit. less regressive, too.

It may be reressive but I can't see a better way to implement such a simple scheme without making it less simple and therefore less effective. I worked wth someone who did not benefit from the scheme at all (financially). They did benefit from the ability to pay interest free over 12 months though. it may be regressive but as schemes go, it is one of the few I cannot find a fault with.

Tony04

dinneenp wrote: »

Hi,

I'm going to buy a road bike once bike shops reopen & my company has a window for the BTW scheme. I posted a thread for recommendations & Tony04 replied with 2 nice articles for recommendations.

I'd like to buy in a bricks & motar store for help with sizing etc. So what stores in Ireland have the best selection, are there one or two that jump out? I'm in Galway but willing to travel.
Cheers,
Pa.

It really depends on how budget conscious you are. If you dot mind a paying that bit extra for convenience go to your nearest store. Galway is a big town so most bike brands should be available there so you could find the best value bike online and go to the store that stocks it. Otherwise if you want the best value for money go online, you can find/get all the advice you need online.

dinneenp

Tony04 wrote: »

It really depends on how budget conscious you are. If you dot mind a paying that bit extra for convenience go to your nearest store. Galway is a big town so most bike brands should be available there so you could find the best value bike online and go to the store that stocks it. Otherwise if you want the best value for money go online, you can find/get all the advice you need online.

ATM I'm thinking about the €1k mark. Will end up a bit more maybe as will need clip shoes as well.
I'll compare prices online to local & outside of Galway & if there's not a big differnece will go local.