car tax...yes or no?

[spaced]

I am a fleet manager. I do not get a company car as part of my package. From time to time we have employees leave or get sacked which means that their company cars sit in our car park until a new employee starts. They can sit there for 2 or more weeks. Obviously people who have company cars get taxed. But if I were to make use of any car sitting there (to commute to and from work) would I have to pay tax, or is there a way that I wouldnt have to, as I would only be using a vehicle for a short time?

[Loosehead]

The car could be deemed a pool car as long as it's available for other employees to use. Then your firm should charge you some token amount per mile, this would then not come under the company car scheme as long as it's not an obvious ruse to avoid such.

[BillyNoMates]

I believe the vehicle has to be parked at the company premises at night-time for it to be firmly classed as a 'pool' car - at least that's how it used to be a few years ago to keep the tax man happy.

[mccfluff]

I am in the same position as you, if you used the car as a means of commuting the tax man deems it as a benefit and you will be taxed on this. A pool car is defined as a car which is available all employees who do not have a companyy vehicle for business use only and technically should remain in the carpark overnight.

However you only get taxed if the P11d forms are sent to the IR notifiying them that you are using a car and for what periods, how sympatheic are your boss's.......

Mine are very strict on this issue i have six cars in the carpark right now, some of which have been there for months

[spaced]

its annoying isnt it. I get on those bloody packed out trams every morning and night, knowing that I can be home in 10 minutes if i used one of the cars. What makes it worse is that I am the Company Fleet Manager!!!!!

Sent

[spaced]

.....sent an email to our finance director to see how generous he can be.

[mccfluff]

good luck spaced, I know mine (FD) is unsympathetic, even to the point that he drove past me whilst i was walking to work in the rain the other morning charming.......

Even better when other employees go 'but you're the fleet manager shouldn't you have a car?

[spaced]

Mcfluff, I ask myself the question everyday. Unfortunately our company policy around cars is that only employees that need a vehicle as a tool for the job will get a car - i dont really need a car for work, thus the reason its not part of my package. Never mind