For those considering a new company car, it may be worthwhile to take it into use before 1 July 2021.
There is a proposal for changed calculation rules for cars taken into use after 1 July 2021. The aim is to reduce the difference between having a company car versus a private car. The benefit value is calculated to increase by an average of 25 percent with the new rules.
The most expensive will be for cars that cost between SEK 250,000 and SEK 350,000. A car costing SEK 350,000 will have its benefit value increased by 34 per cent. This is happening at the same time as the benefit value for a car costing SEK 500,000 is increasing significantly less, by 11 per cent.
– If you're going to get a new company car in 2021, it's wise to calculate how the benefit value changes with the proposed rules, says Erika Karlsson, Chartered Tax Advisor FAR at Baker Tilly Tributa in Halmstad.
Previously, cars with a purchase price exceeding 7.5 price base amounts (approximately SEK 357,000) were subject to punitive taxation through a luxury car supplement. However, according to the new proposal, the benefit value will be calculated in the same way regardless of the new car price. A more expensive car will therefore have a smaller percentage increase in its benefit value.
At the turn of the year, the temporary tax reduction for rechargeable and gas-powered company cars, which meant that the benefit value was reduced by 40 per cent, capped at SEK 10,000, disappeared. However, the permanent reduction for environmentally friendly cars remains. This means that the benefit value of a so-called environmentally friendly car shall be calculated as the benefit value of a comparable car without the environmental technology.
From 1 April 2021, the rules in the bonus-malus system are also changing, and in many cases, the vehicle tax is increasing, which is taken into account when calculating company car benefits.
To be able to calculate a correct benefit value, the employer must start from the correct basis and update their calculation at the turn of each year.
"It's easy to forget that, for example, winter tyres and a tow bar count as optional extras and should be included in the calculation," says Erika Karlsson.
This article is published in collaboration with Resultat.
