MSE News: Introduce season ticket tax breaks, Boris Johnson says

edinburgher

Sounds eminently sensible - so there's no way it will happen! :rotfl:

gavrc

wealdroam wrote: »

Isn't a tax free loan from your employer for an annual season ticket already an option?

A salary sacrifice scheme exists but it applies after tax, at least where I work.
Green policies do a before tax loan for push bikes. Let's face it how many of those end up used for commuting... at least a season ticket to my workplace gets used for commuting 5 days a week. My vote is for tax relief for those of us who have to pay through the nose just to get to work.

Gav

Gordon_the_Moron

A very good idea from Boris Johnson and I hope they do it.

I still think the guy's a buffoon though.

MarkBargain

What does Boris think of millions of pounds of our rail fares going overseas to subsidise lower fares in other countries?

http://metro.co.uk/2013/04/02/soaring-rail-profits-are-used-to-cut-fares-abroad-3567491/

Renationise the railways and run them for the benefit of the passengers, not shareholders.

katejo

wealdroam wrote: »

Isn't a tax free loan from your employer for an annual season ticket already an option?

I get an interest free loan but not tax free.

meher

excellent; but then is boris brave enough to renationalise transport instead of these tokenisms

either way, boris for pm :snow_grin

Gordon_the_Moron

meher wrote: »

boris for pm :snow_grin

Mr Bean for US President.

Boris Johnson is a complete buffoon, I really don't understand why people like him.

ashleyriot

gavrc wrote: »

A salary sacrifice scheme exists but it applies after tax, at least where I work.
Green policies do a before tax loan for push bikes. Let's face it how many of those end up used for commuting... at least a season ticket to my workplace gets used for commuting 5 days a week. My vote is for tax relief for those of us who have to pay through the nose just to get to work.

Gav

^^ Over 12,000 miles on my tax-free Cycle-to-Work bike.

Although the money saved in petrol and gym fees is far, far greater than a couple of £100 tax and NI savings.

Pincher

If the company pays for your season ticket, it's a Benefit in Kind.

If there is a tax dodge to make it tax free, you can bet LOADS of companies are already doing it. Commuting to a PERMANENT place of work cannot be claimed as travel expense.

Years ago, computer contractors were trying it on by claiming their permanent office is their home, so going to a "client" is a travel expense. The HMRC cracked down on it so if you only work in one place on a long contract, then claim denied.

The potential for abuse is high, because it's unfair for drivers to get no tax relief if you allow it on public transport. You can bet that people will be claiming maximum milage at 70p per mile, plus parking, without providing receipts.

matelodave

Why should rail commuters get a tax advantage, what about those that travel by bus or even by car - there are a hell of a lot of places in the UK where public transport is either non-existent or just not practical as it doesn't go where you want or the time & cost make it less than useless.

If you are going to subsidise commuter, then subsidise all of them, not just those who use the railways or commute into London.

And as an aside, why should I subsidise someone else to go to work out of my hard earned income