Calculating benefits in kind

​​Rules for valuing benefits in kind

Unless listed below, the value of the benefit is the total costs, directly or indirectly, that are incurred by the employer for the provision of the benefit.

Some benefits in kind are specifically exempted.

Exemptions from benefits in kind

Calculating vehicle benefit in kind

Step 1: Calculate the value

To calculate the value for a vehicle purchased by the employer:

• if the vehicle was purchased in the year of assessment the value is the open market cost of acquisition
• If  the vehicle was purchased before the year of assessment the value is reduced by 20% for each year, on a reducing balance basis, following the year of acquisition but not including the first year of the benefit
  

To calculate the value for a vehicle leased or hired by the employer:

• the total of all the costs incurred by the employer in the year for that vehicle

Step 2: Work out the business usage by the employee

To work out the business usage, divide the mileage that the employee uses the vehicle to carry out their employment duties by the total mileage for the year. Business mileage must not include any travel to and from work. Multiply the result by 100 to give a percentage.

You must keep records of business usage.

Keeping records for benefits in kind

Step 3: Calculate the benefit

To calculate the vehicle benefit in kind, use the value of the vehicle from step 1 and the business usage from step 2 with the table below:

Vehicles which are used for both chargeable and exempt purposes

If a vehicle is not exempted, but is partly used solely for an employee's duties, the benefit in kind charge will be reduced proportionately.

For example:

An employee on 24 hour call one week out of four, will have their chargeable benefit reduced by 25%.

Allowance paid to lease a vehicle

If an employer pays an allowance to an employee so that the employee can lease a vehicle themselves then that allowance is not a benefit in kind, but forms part of the employees salary and must be declared as such. 

Provision of fuel

If an employee is provided with fuel this is a chargeable benefit, but subject to a deduction in respect of any used for business mileage. However, if the employee reimburses the employer with the full cost of the fuel used for private purposes there is no taxable benefit in kind.

Alternative fuel

The additional cost of converting a company car to run on alternative fuels are not taken into account when calculating benefit in kind. This includes any premium on the price of a car manufactured or converted by the manufacturer to run on alternative fuel.

Calculating accommodation benefit in kind

To calculate the benefit in kind on accommodation:

Furnished

20% of the employee's salary (all emoluments including bonuses, fees, and commissions but disregarding any other benefits in kind) for the period the accommodation is used, less any employees contributions.

Unfurnished

15% of the employee's salary (all emoluments including bonuses, fees and commissions but disregarding any other benefits in kind) for the period the accommodation is used, less any employees contributions.

Market value

Alternatively, the benefit in kind can be the open market rental value of the accommodation, less any employees contributions. We will need satisfactory evidence of the valuation before the market value is used.

Payment of utility bills

If the employer pays or reimburses the employee any bills relating to the accommodation this is an additional benefit in kind. The only exception to this is if the accommodation is a sub-divided dwelling owned or leased by the employer, for example hotel workers living in the hotel where they are employed.

If the employee pays the utility bills or reimburses the employer, these amounts are not treated as a contribution towards the benefit.

Joint accommodation

If two people living together in a relationship are both employees of the same company the benefit in kind is worked out on the salary (emoluments) of the higher earner.

Share schemes

A benefit in kind can arise from schemes which award shares or options to buy shares at less than their market value. However, the terms of these schemes are often varied and complex. Unless otherwise determined, Jersey follows the principles set out in UK case law for the taxation of officer and employee share scheme awards.

Taxation of Award schemes

Benefit in kind changed in the year

If there is a change of benefit or a new benefit, then the annual benefit in kind is proportioned for the period.

For example:

An owned car has a calculated annual benefit of £7,000. This car is then replaced in October with a new car for which the annual calculated benefit is £10,000. The annual benefit in kind is therefore (£7,000 / 12 × 9) + (£10,000 / 12 × 3) = £7,750.

Employees contributions

If the employee contributes towards the cost of a benefit, these contributions are deducted from the calculated benefit in kind.

For example:

An owned car has a calculated benefit of £10,000, but the employee makes a yearly contribution of £2,000. Therefore the annual benefit in kind is £8,000.

Employee contributions in relation to the provision of benefits still form part of their gross taxable pay.

Global assessment

Employers who want to pay all the tax on any benefits in kind instead of the employees being individually taxed may do so in accordance with concession P16.

Concession and practice