How Does A Car Allowance Work?
Car allowance is offered to employees as part of their salary package. Mostly included in your package when a vehicle is required as part of your job....
Car allowance is offered to employees as part of their salary package. Mostly included in your package when a vehicle is required as part of your job. If a 221D form is completed then all or part of this allowance can be paid to you tax free. This allows the business to save money using pre-tax money and is takes the place of providing a company car to employees.
A car allowance varies from a novated lease as the employee is responsible for securing and looking after a vehicle. All the employer does is include the allowance in the employees wages.
In order to take part in the Car Allowance program, the employee must fill out the Australian Taxation Office‘s PAYG income tax withholding variation form known as ITWV. This form gives the employer the authorization to vary the amount of income tax to create a pre-tax allowance.
The fixed dollar amount is used to cover expenses including making a car payment, if necessary. You must show the money as income on your tax return. You can’t claim it as a deduction. The allowance is not a fringe benefit.
Its also normal in Australia that you will need to take out and pay for car insurance as part of the finance requirements.
Always make sure that the level of the car allowance paid to you covers the actual costings of a vehicle otherwise you could be paying money for the car from your own pocket.
A Car Allowance program is different from mileage reimbursement. A mileage reimbursement is only for miles traveled for company business and not for any personal use. An allowance is paid regardless of how the vehicle is used. You and your family members have full use of the vehicle without restraints.
Individuals may or may not be required to pay for gasoline used for business travel. This depends on the policy of the employer and will vary from business to business.
Always check with the human resource department for the guidelines and procedures that the company provides.
