Association of Fleet Professionals' tax manifesto launched

The Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP) has launched its 'tax manifesto' designed to form the basis of future campaigning on taxation.

The AFP Tax Manifesto 2021 consists of 13 points the organisation believes needs changing or defining to enable businesses move forward with their fleet and mobility plans.

It is being unveiled as part of the industry body’s “Tax and the Company Car” webinar, which provides general advice on year-end taxation and company cars, as well as examining the possibilities of the new 130% superdeduction.

Chair Paul Hollick explained: “A key element of the thinking behind the formation of the AFP just over a year ago was the need for an effective and engaged campaigning fleet industry organisation and the tax manifesto is really the first signs of that intention.

“We’ve been having wide-ranging discussions with our members and other interested parties about areas where we believe that the taxation of fleets and mobility needs changing or developing in order to create effective incentives, greater certainty and more fairness.

“The results, which we believe are constructive, realistic and thought-provoking, are contained in this document. We plan to use it as the foundation for our conversations with the government and HMRC in the coming months and years.”

The 13 points in the tax manifesto are:
1. Benefit in kind taxation tables until 2029/30 are needed to meet EV targets
2. Clean Air Zones should be co-ordinated nationally
3. The “available to use” rule needs updating
4. A clear definition of occasional private use is required
5. Home working definition and concessions should be extended
6. Road tolling needs to be clearly signposted
7. Parking costs should be linked to shared mobility and public transport solutions
8. Inner city parking needs to be improved
9. Tax breaks are needed for employees taking a mobility solution…
10. …and for shared and low carbon mobility
11. Higher taxes on older vehicles may be justified
12. Clear signposting of EV initiatives is required
13. A national kerbside charging strategy is essential

Paul continued: “Most of the points in the manifesto are directed related to the changing shape of the fleet sector, especially surrounding the electrification of the car and van parcs, and the move towards mobility rather than just fleet solutions. In these cases, government policy and HMRC implementations often lag some way behind the issues that AFP members face in the real world.

“Of the 13 points, several could be implemented very easily indeed, almost at the stroke of a pen. Others, such as the need for discussions around a road tolling plan, are very much strategic and part of longer-term shifts in policy.

“What we hope to see now is the Tax Manifesto 2021 considered across the fleet and mobility sectors and to hear the reaction from all parties who have an interest. It is by no means a fixed document and we are very much open to further ideas and refinements.”