
Advisory fuel rates are intended to reflect actual average fuel costs and are updated quarterly. The rates can be used by employers who reimburse employees for business travel in their company cars or where employees are required to repay the cost of fuel used for private travel. HMRC accepts there is no taxable profit and no Class 1A National Insurance on reimbursed travel expenses where employers pay a rate per mile for business travel no higher than the published advisory fuel rates.
Employees can also use the advisory fuel rate to repay the cost of fuel used for private travel. In this case, HMRC will accept there’s no fuel benefit charge. The advisory rates are not binding if you the employer can demonstrate that employees cover the full cost of private fuel by repaying at a lower rate per mile.
The latest advisory fuel rates became effective on 1 September 2020. Fuel rates are reviewed four times a year with changes taking effect on 1 March, 1 June, 1 September and 1 December. You can use the previous rates for up to 1 month from the date the new rates apply.
The new rates are as follows:
| Engine size | Petrol – amount per mile | LPG – amount per mile |
| 1400cc or less | 10p | 7p |
| 1401cc to 2000cc | 12p | 8p |
| Over 2000cc | 17p | 12p |
| Engine size | Diesel – amount per mile |
| 1600cc or smaller | 8p |
| 1601cc to 2000cc | 10p |
| Over 2000cc | 12p |
Hybrid cars are treated as either petrol or diesel cars for this purpose.
Advisory Electricity Rate
HMRC accepts that if you pay up to 4p per mile when reimbursing your employees for business travel in a fully electric company car there is no profit. While electricity is not considered a fuel for tax and NICs purposes, the Advisory Electricity Rate is now published quarterly alongside the other advisory fuel rates.
The UK government has introduced the High Value Council Tax Surcharge, also known as the mansion tax, which will impact...
Environmental and sustainable businesses often struggle with a recurring problem. Costs for research, compliance, and materials arrive early, while income...
The deadline for self-assessment tax returns is fast approaching, and the thought of completing it can be overwhelming. But don’t...
Many UK workers are missing out on changes to pension tax relief worth hundreds of millions of pounds every year....
The UK hospitality sector is under pressure. Inflation, labour shortages, and rising business rates are squeezing margins for hotel and...
Environmental businesses often focus on impact first. VAT problems appear later. Misclassified supplies, late registrations, or cross-border mistakes increase cost...
Environmental and sustainable businesses invest early and heavily. Research costs rise, production trials fail, and returns arrive late. Corporation tax...
Educational content creators often face a cycle that feels hard to break. Cash comes in late, production costs rise early,...
Educational content developers selling digital courses across the UK and overseas face rising VAT demands as digital learning expands. A...
Voluntary carbon credits now sit in a very different VAT position in the UK. For years, HMRC treated most voluntary...