133 mile round trip to work and fuel cards, advice?

A question about : 133 mile round trip to work and fuel cards, advice?

Good evening everyone

I work for a software company in Coventry, and I commute from Little Hereford in herefordshire (about 62.3 miles each way)

Its costing me around Ј100 per week to get to work and back, and with my salary around Ј18k its quite a big dent.

So I have devised a solution and I would like it if you could help me on making it a reality.

FUEL CARD!

Would I be able to use a company fuel card, but pay the fuel back through my salary? but VAT free?

What would be the Tax implications?

is it legal?

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Example over 1 month:

Fuel cost - Ј400
VAT reduction - Ј80

Fuel cost less VAT - Ј320
+ Cost of fuel card p/m - Ј2

my employer deducts Ј322 from my wages.

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would this example work?

Best answers:

• If this is for travel to and from work, then it won't be business travel. Your work.would be creating a vatable supply to you, and will have to charge you vat
  There's no benefit to your idea, get a job closer to home
• What you going to do when the car wears out ?
• Currently I drive a 1993 Ford Orion Ghia Si 1.8 petrol
  So its going to wear out in the next 6 months ^^
  So I'm looking at getting a new car, like brand new. And I really like Fords so possibly a new fiesta.
• You need to either move, or rent Mon-Thu. It's not just fuel, it's that you'll be doing 30,000 miles/year, so your car won't last long. Say 3 years at most, and there are more services - and breakdowns/fixes.
  Ј6k car every 3 years is Ј2k/year, or Ј166/month.
  Add up the fuel and the car cost, without problems/repairs and you're above the cost of moving.
• With that sort of mileage, you may well benefit from buying a hybrid (rather than a full electric) car and even listing your journey on one of the lift-share sites.
  Even if you drove someone part of the journey, it would cut your fuel costs a bit.
  Anyway, a well-serviced car should last 10 years at 30,000 miles a year.
• Try to negotiate to work from home at least once a week?
• And sleep on the floor of the office once a week? (would anyone notice? I used to do this when I had a 110 mile round trip.)
  Renting a room Mon-Thur night is a good idea, though. Camping is another thing you might consider in the summer. And I'd be thinking about buying a van for my commute so I could sleep in that - quite frankly it would be worth buying a proper camper van, with a shower!
• Home to normal place of work mileage is not a company related expense... your contract is to attend on XXX days at YYY time... you could go in by donkey for all they care... just as long as you turn up.
  With that in mind, why would the company agree to giving you an interest free loan by allowing you to use a company fuel card for private mileage?
  Why would you expect them to go to the expense of additional administration just because you find your private commute too expensive? Plus, you are giving your employer a problem; is that the impression you want to make?
  Besides, your idea will only shift the payment back by a month.. if finances are this tight, how are you going to buy a brand new car? Or pay for car repairs or other unexpected bill?
  Move closer to work (Mon-Thurs or fully), rent a room, share a house or work closer to home. You say this is your dream job so find a solution. Approaching your employer will give a poor impression and should be you very, very last resort.
  ETA - you've had various pieces of advice on this thread:
  https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...=#post67557020
  Did you consider any of that?