lbj666 wrote: » Guys does anyone know if there are plans to expand the btw scheme like raising the cap or removing altogether like in the UK to encourage less abled go for ebikes. By right I'd say hold of unless there's improvements in infrastructure before encouraging a more bikes on the road, but selfish me is looking for new toy(s)
byrnem31 wrote: » snip It use to be €5k limit I think and people were getting ride on lawn mowers out of it and selling them on for profit.
murphyebass wrote: » At that point the lecturer was saying it’d be one of the next schemes to be pulled as most people who used it weren’t using it for actually cycling to work, ie what it was originally intended for so in essence had little to no impact on public transport or car congestion at all.
murphyebass wrote: » I did a tax course at the tail end of last year before covid etc kicked off. At that point the lecturer was saying it’d be one of the next schemes to be pulled as most people who used it weren’t using it for actually cycling to work, ie what it was originally intended for so in essence had little to no impact on public transport or car congestion at all. That said with covid I’d say it’ll be extended if anything as the government will want to get people doing anything other than public transport. And we have a hint of green in our new government too which will also help the cause.
caviardreams wrote: » There was some talk of it being replaced by removing the VAT from bikes so everyone would benefit - would make sense in many ways.
CramCycle wrote: » I think your lecturer was wildly incorrect. A scheme that requires little oversight, has apparent high compliance levels, and has little or no cost to the state in the grand scheme of things (most likely a net contributor) This would have less uptake, one of the major benefits was the ability in many cases to pay off over 12 months, essentially an interest free loan, which is a huge benefit to low income workers. Yes high income workers benefit more but sometimes you have to accept that occasionally a scheme doesn't have to be equitable to be good. It is preferential but making bikes VAT free would actually favour high income earners who can afford to buy outright, pay more and artiically inflate cheaper bike prices to a level that manufacturer think they will get away with, to the point where bikes here will be just under 20% more so they are only marginally cheaper than online retailers from other countries.
magicbastarder wrote: » it'd be kinda ironic if they did yank it for this reason while still handing out €5k grants for electric cars.
grogi wrote: » Why? The BtW scheme is not getting people cycling to work. Who wanted to cycle, cycles regardless. Who doesn't want to, wouldn't start just because they got a bike. €5k for electric cars does push people to get the electric cars. And they use them instead of fossil cars. That's exactly what the grant is aiming for.
magicbastarder wrote: » i would hazard that the vast majority of salaried people who are cycling to work are cycling to work on bikes bought on the scheme. i would also assume that the majority of bikes bought on the scheme. but it's a max of ~€100 foregone per person (who avails of the BTW scheme) per year. it'd be weird if they got rid of it.
grogi wrote: » Yes, they do. But they would cycle regardless if the scheme is in place or not. So the scheme is not effective at encouraging people to cycle to work.
grogi wrote: » With e-bikes that's a completely different story. E-bikes are much more attractive for Joe Average than regular bikes, because they require much less effort. You can arrive at the office and can start working immediately. Unfortunately the scheme does not work well enough here as well - eBikes are much more expensive and the benefit is too small.
Morf3h wrote: » If I'm a company Director (it's my own company and I pay myself a salary) and want to buy a 2 or 3-grand bike from online retailer Bike24 (based in Germany) can I avail of any benefit under BTW?
Seth Brundle wrote: » According to Revenue, the bike shop needs to be on an official suppliers list (and I don't see bike24.de): https://ogp.gov.ie/cycle-to-work-scheme/
doxy79 wrote: » I imagine this has been asked plenty before, but I can't find anything on search. Unless I'm not understanding the scheme correctly, it seems that the people who could use the help most of all (low paid workers) get the smallest discount? Seems a bit dysfunctional. I wonder if the greens will address this somehow if the scheme gets a revamp?
CramCycle wrote: » True in some cases (I would have cycled anyway) but I do know people who did not cycle to work before the scheme and do now. There are also those who took up cycling at the weekends, so while they might not regularly commute, there are unintended benefits to the scheme.
CramCycle wrote: » True it is not equitable but there are other huge advantages and sometimes you have to accept the good with the bad if on balance one outweighs the other. There is for most low paid workers some saving, even if it appears minimal. The ability to pay an interest free loan off over 12 months, that doesn't require bank or credit approval is another one. Yes the benefits are greater to higher earners but it does top out very quickly into the higher tax bracket brand so its not exponential. I really do think that any attempts to make it more equitable will have other unintended consequences. At the minute, the scheme is a zero cost scheme for tax inspectors and over a few years actually contributes to the economy. Any attempt to balance it out further will undoubtedly lead to increase in admin and inspection costs that make it an easier one to scrap if the belts get tight at government level, even though it would still be a stupid move.
byrnem31 wrote: » It got me back into cycling. I got a bike on the scheme 2 years ago and caught the bug. I've upgraded since. I cycle to work nearly every day now. I was even cycling in the rain yesterday. It would take me 45 mins to get to work in a car in normal circumstances. I do it in 25 mins on a bike. And I'm keeping very fit, 50 min blast at a hard place in and out followed by a long cycle on the weekend. Ain't no feeling like it.
gazzaman22 wrote: » My understanding of all is i get a bike for for approx €690 or so if i spend 1000.
magicbastarder wrote: » who you can buy from depends on your employer, you'd need to ask them first. there's no legal or regulatory limit on who you can buy from, but as your employer will actually be buying the bike, they may limit the shops they deal with. if you're new enough to cycling, i'd suggest buying local, which would make dealing with any issues you might face, easier to deal with.
