EIM23155 - Car benefit: other specific types of vehicle
Section 115(1) ITEPA 2003
Motor homes
HMRC has always considered these vehicles to be cars for tax purposes because
- they are mechanically propelled road vehicles, and
- none of the exceptions in s115(1) (EIM23100) apply to prevent them being cars.
滨苍听March 2006, the High Court confirmed an earlier decision by the Special Commissioners and upheld this view in the cases of County Pharmacy v R & C Commrs; Morris v R & C Commrs (2005) Sp C 495.聽This ruled that a motorhome provided by County Pharmacy to Mr Morris was not primarily suited for the conveyance of goods or burden.聽The facts showed that the vehicle was primarily suited for leisure purposes and was ill-equipped for the conveyance of goods.聽Whilst Mr Morris submitted that the vehicle had been used to transport business stock, this was irrelevant as the legislative test was to determine whether the construction of the vehicle was primarily suited to carry goods or burden; not the actual use that the vehicle was put to by Mr Morris.聽 As the courts ruled that the vehicle represented a car, Mr Morris was liable to tax on the cash equivalent of the car and fuel provided, with County Pharmacy liable to Class 1A National Insurance contributions in respect of the benefit of the car and fuel.聽聽聽聽聽
For off-road vehicles, see EIM23145.