NIM05835 | Class 1 NICs: Expenses and Allowances: Motoring expenses (including mileage allowances) paid on or after 6 April 2002: Relevant motoring expenditure exceeds the qualifying amount

Relevant motoring expenditure exceeds the qualifying amount

Position before 6 April 2002

Before 6 April 2002, if the employer and/or employee could demonstrate the payment did no more than reimburse the employee the specific and distinct business expense incurred, no NICs liability would arise. For more information about the position before 6 April 2002, see NIM05718.

Position from 6 April 2002

From 6 April 2002, this arrangement was replaced by a statutory scheme for dealing with NICs liability on motoring expenses. This is for those employees who use, or potentially, or anticipate that they will use their own vehicles for work. The scheme includes a maximum amount that employers can pay to employees without incurring a NICs liability. This is called the qualifying amount (QA).

Amendments to the legislation, effective from 6 April 2002, restrict the existing NICs specific and distinct business expense rule as it is applied to motoring expenses paid to employees for using their own cars for business purposes. For more information about the restriction of the NICs specific and distinct business expense rule see NIM05806.

Where RME (see NIM5815 for a definition of RME) exceeds the QA (see NIM5830 to calculate the QA), the employer must add the excess RME to any other earnings paid in the same earnings period the RME was paid, before calculating Class 1 NICs liability.

ExampleEmployer pays salary calendar monthly at the end of each month

Employee does 1,000 business miles in April 2026

At the end of May the employer pays employee £600 (1,000 miles x £0.60 per mile)

QA 1,000 x £0.55 per mile = £550

RME – QA = £50

Other earnings paid in May = £2,000

Earnings liable for Class 1 NICs = £2,050

RME exceeds QA so excess of £50 must be included in gross pay.