Motor vehicle business use and FBT for companies

If you run your business as a company, and you make a vehicle available to an employee to use privately, you’ll be liable to pay fringe benefit tax (FBT). This applies on vehicles made available to:  

1. employees (and their associated persons), and
2. shareholder-employees  

This applies whether the vehicle is actually used for private purposes or not.  

FBT does not apply:  

1. to vehicles that come within the definition of being ‘work related vehicles’ that are not available for private use
2. for certain emergency calls and
3. some out of town travel for working owners in Look Through Companies (LTCs). Instead, such benefits are treated as a distribution of profit to the working owner to the extent of the private use
4. for sole traders and partners in a partnership. Instead they make income tax and GST adjustments for private use.  

Not all ‘business’ vehicles are ‘work-related vehicles’ for FBT purposes. And some companies have other options instead of paying FBT. In some cases, exemptions apply. It’s important to understand how the rules apply to your business.  

DOWNLOAD THE GUIDE TO MOTOR VEHICLE USE & FBT FOR COMPANIES  

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