Company bicycle as asset including GPS cycle computer?

[northernladuk]

And what about the main use rule? Are you seriously going to buy a £2k + bike and use it mainly for commuting? HMRC will argue that personal use is the main purpose.

I wouldn't have thought this would work well from contractors at all. Our work isn't conducive to staying at a single client for a long period of time and the number of clients in a cycling area must be extremely limiting. If you were at a commutable client and then you change to one 80 miles away what happens to the bike? Should be sold or extra tax paid on it?

HMRC know the way we work well enough and bearing in mind one of the defences to the IR35 issue recently was the distance we travel to gigs the first question they are going to ask is if you are at a client you can cycle to after buying a 2k bike.

[Rafd]

A related side question: When buying a bike as a company asset, do all accessories need to be purchased at the same time (and lumped together as an asset?) or can you buy accessories at a later date?

[SueEllen]

I wouldn't have thought this would work well from contractors at all. Our work isn't conducive to staying at a single client for a long period of time and the number of clients in a cycling area must be extremely limiting. If you were at a commutable client and then you change to one 80 miles away what happens to the bike? Should be sold or extra tax paid on it?

HMRC know the way we work well enough and bearing in mind one of the defences to the IR35 issue recently was the distance we travel to gigs the first question they are going to ask is if you are at a client you can cycle to after buying a 2k bike.

Unless you live in certain parts of London and the SE.

I've met lots of permies and contractors who cycle to a station, fold up their bike or lock it up and get on a train to somewhere. Then within 2 years they are getting on a train going in a different direction or cycling a few miles down the road.

In other words some people live in places where commuting by bike part or all of the way is feasible for all their journeys and they won't breach the 2 year rule.

[SueEllen]

A related side question: When buying a bike as a company asset, do all accessories need to be purchased at the same time (and lumped together as an asset?) or can you buy accessories at a later date?

Well clearly with a bike, which you should have for about 10 years unless it gets nicked*, you need to buy safety equipment as and when you need it.

Lots of hi viz gear actually doesn't stay hi viz with repeat washes, bike lights break, get lost or stolen etc

*Buy yourself a good lock and be careful where you leave the bike. In fact buy the cheapest bike you can comfortably cycle on 10 miles at a time.

[northernladuk]

*Buy yourself a good lock and be careful where you leave the bike. In fact buy the cheapest bike you can comfortably cycle on 10 miles at a time.

Particularly when people are locking up 2k - 5ks worth of bike :

[DaveB]

I wouldn't have thought this would work well from contractors at all. Our work isn't conducive to staying at a single client for a long period of time and the number of clients in a cycling area must be extremely limiting. If you were at a commutable client and then you change to one 80 miles away what happens to the bike? Should be sold or extra tax paid on it?

HMRC know the way we work well enough and bearing in mind one of the defences to the IR35 issue recently was the distance we travel to gigs the first question they are going to ask is if you are at a client you can cycle to after buying a 2k bike.

Depends where you work. I use a bike whenever I can when working away from home. In London I wouldn't do anything else, traffic and public transport are a nightmare most places these days can cater for it. Especially in the Public Sector where the Unions have weighed in to get facilities sorted out for staff. Current gig is 15 mins from digs on the bike. It wakes me up in the mornings and in the evening I tend to take the scenic route home and use the time to unwind. Not so great over the winter and I've resorted to going to the gym in the last few months but once the weather turns and the evenings are lighter the bike will be back out again.

[DaveB]

Particularly when people are locking up 2k - 5ks worth of bike :

Hence my comment about spending thousands on a fast carbon bike for commuting. Unless you've got secure indoor storage for it's not worth the chance.

[northernladuk]

Especially in the Public Sector where the Unions have weighed in to get facilities sorted out for staff.

That affects you how

[SueEllen]

Particularly when people are locking up 2k - 5ks worth of bike :

It will get stolen if it's worth more than £300.

As they can sell it to someone for £50.

Have a look at ebay.

[ctdctd]

It will get stolen if it's worth more than £300.

As they can sell it to someone for £50.

Have a look at ebay.

Mine got stolen last year - £80 new 8 years ago - worth £20 tops
Replaced with cheapest @ Tesco and a bigger lock.

Had to last 50 days to break even on car parking cost - done 200 so far