The government has recently announced that the previous £1,000 limit on the cost of a bicycle provided under the cycle to work scheme has been removed. This will apply where the employer uses a firm authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to hire out cycles to employees who use them to commute to work.

Note that where the cycle is provided under a salary sacrifice arrangement there continues to be no taxable benefit if the amount paid by the employee is within HMRC approved limits. Note that where the bicycle is transferred to the employee after 6 years HMRC accept that value is negligible.

The provision of a bicycle to employees under the governments cycle to work scheme is an exception to the general rule introduced from April 2017 where the amount taxable is the greater of the salary foregone and the taxable benefit as set out in the tax legislation.

Other exceptions to the general rule include employer pension contributions and childcare vouchers.

As with all of our tax tips and web pages this information is necessarily summarised and of a general nature.  If you would like detailed specific advice please contact us.