How much can you claim for the costs of business travel? How much can be reimbursed by an employer towards the costs of qualifying business travel?

This is a freeview 'At a glance' guide to employee business travel and authorised mileage rates, also known as Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs).

At a glance

These authorised mileage rates set the amounts that:

  • An employer can reimburse an employee for their Business travel, free of tax and National Insurance Contributions (NICs), unless a different rate has been authorised by HMRC.
  • An employee, who has not been reimbursed for their business travel, may claim as a deduction against their employment income, unless they agree a different rate with HMRC.
  • A self-employed person or landlord can claim as a deduction in their business accounts in respect of Self-employed business travel, instead of making a claim for their actual expenses.

Cars and vans

 

Tax free (per mile)

NICs free (per mile)

First 10,000 miles

45p (from 6 April 2011)

40p (up to 6 April 2011)

45p (from 6 April 2011)

40p (up to 6 April 2011)

10,001 and over

25p

45p (from 6 April 2011)

40p (up to 6 April 2011)

 

  • These rates can be used by both the self-employed and employees/directors.
  • From 6 April 2018, they are also available to unincorporated Property businesses.
  • These rates also apply to electric cars: they are not fuel-specific.
  • These rates have remained unchanged since 2012.

On 1 December 2017, the government announced it had considered the position and would not be revising its approach to AMAP following HMRC's Taxation of employee expenses: response to the call for evidence.

Car mileage payments: a National Insurance Contributions (NICs) oddity

Provided that the employer reimburses an employee at the AMAPs rates above there is no PAYE or NICs liability.

While the authorised rate decreases to 25p per mile over 10,000 miles for Income Tax purposes, it remains at 45p per mile for NICs purposes.   

Passengers, motorbikes and bicycles

The rates are the same whatever the business mileage.

Claimant Rate per mile
Passenger 5p
Motorcycle 24p
Cyclist 20p

 

Home to work travel

Home to work travel is generally regarded as commuting and a mileage allowance may not be claimed. 

COVID-19 changes

COVID-19 may have had the effect of making many employees home based on a temporary or permanent basis. The Employee travel rules should be reviewed according to each case.

Small print

Legislation

Sections 229-230 ITEPA 2003: vehicles
Sections 233-234 ITEPA 2003: passenger payments 


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