Last Updated on 25/11/2022
Tax changes to Electric Vehicles (EVs) have been announced in the latest Autumn Statement by the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt.
Benefit in Kind (BIK) taxation will be rising from the current 2% from April 2025 to 3% (2025/6), 4% (2026/7) and peaking at 5% (2027/8).
This is viewed by the industry as broadly positive who have been lobbying for the BIK rate to remain low to continue to incentivise take up of the Battery EV. It also allows fleet decision makers in the UK to plan for the second half of this decade with more certainty. It’s also positive given the extended lead time for EVs.
Ultra-Low Emission Vehicles are also increasing by 1% per annum over the same period, reaching 21% BIK by 2027/8. In fact all vehicles will be going up by 1% per annum, so the level of tax advantage for Battery EVs remains the same until at least end March 2028.
The other change is that EVs will be subject to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for the first time. All EV cars and vans will start paying this from April 2025; new zero emission cars registered on or after 1 April 2025 will be liable to pay the lowest first year rate of VED (CO2 emissions 1 to 50g/km) of £10 per annum, then moving to the standard rate of £165 a year from year two. Zero emission cars first registered from April 1 2017 to March 31 2025 will pay the standard £165 rate.
The Expensive Car Supplement exemption for EVs is due to end in 2025. New Zero Emission cars registered on or after April 1 2025 will be liable (i.e. with a list price over £40,000) for 5 years. Zero and low emission cars first registered between March 1 2001 and March 30 2017 currently in band A will move to band B rate, currently £20 per year. Zero emission vans will move to the rate for petrol and diesel light goods vehicles, currently £290 a year for most vans.