Tusker backs calls to bring forward electric vehicle BIK tax rates

Tusker is urging people in the fleet industry to sign an online petition calling for the Government to bring forward the implementation of a 2% benefit-in-kind tax for electric vehicles.

Under the current published BIK plans, the rate for cars which emit 0-50g/km of CO2 will be 16% in the 2019/2020 tax year, before falling to 2% in April 2020.

However, Tusker says that it, and many other organisations, think this is not in line with the Government’s plan to reduce emissions levels, and want to see the reduced level introduced earlier.

An online petition is currently circulating which is calling for the Government to consider moving to the reduced rate of 2% in April 2019.

This has currently been signed by almost 2,000 people and Tusker is keen for this to reach 10,000 signatures to ensure the topic is debated in parliament.

Paul Gilshan (pictured), CEO at Tusker, said: “Government has tasked themselves with reducing emission levels, and we’re fully supportive of that.

“We feel that raising the BIK level for a year will simply delay increased adoption of electric vehicles and are calling on Government to bring forward the reduced rate of 2% to next April.”

• Providing fleets and drivers with a longer-term view of benefit-in-kind tax rates forms a key part of Fleet News’s Fleet Budget Manifesto.

Working with the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), fleet association ACFO, fleet operators via our Fleet200 and the wider fleet sector, we are highlighting the areas where action needs to be taken to provide clarity and certainty.

Some of the broad brush elements composed after initial talks with the interested stakeholders will be developed in consultation with fleets and the industry, resulting in a policy document that will be shared with Treasury in October.