NIM05833 | Class 1 NICs: Expenses and Allowances: Motoring Expenses (including mileage allowances) paid on or after 6 April 2002: Use of the Inland Revenue Approved Mileage Rate

Explanation of the approved mileage rate used to calculate the qualifying amount under the NICs motoring expenses scheme: Regulation 22A(4) of the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations 2001 – Applies from 6 April 2002

Link to the ‘qualifying amount’

Under the NICs motoring expenses scheme, the qualifying amount (QA) is the maximum sum an employer can pay to employees who use their own vehicles for business travel without incurring a Class 1 NICs liability. Employers must calculate the QA by reference to the approved mileage rates for tax purposes.

For more information about the meaning of the qualifying amount see NIM05830.

Using the approved mileage rates for tax purposes

The mileage rates used to work out tax exempt approved mileage allowance payments are provided by section 230(2) ITEPA 2003. For a list of the approved mileage rates for the different classes of vehicle, see EIM31240.

For the purposes of the NICs motoring expenses scheme, the mileage rate employers should use is the rate that is applicable, when the payment is made, in accordance with section 230(2) ITEPA 2003. In cases where, for tax purposes, there is more than one rate applicable to any particular class of vehicle, the NICs scheme uses the higher or highest of those rates.

Example
An employee uses their own car to travel 15,000 business miles in the 2026 to 2027 tax year.

For the purpose of calculating the QA for NICs, the rate is 55p per mile for all business miles travelled.

For income tax purposes, the rates are 55p per mile for the first 10,000 miles and 25p per mile for all miles above 10,000.

Use of the Inland Revenue authorised mileage rates before 6 April 2002

For more information about the use of the Inland Revenue authorised mileage rates to calculate NICs liability before 6 April 2002 see NIM05715.