Company car and fuel on maternity

[jojo895]

Hi everyone, this is my first time posting and I need a little guidance!

I'm due to go on maternity leave at the end of December. In my job I have a company car that is provided for business and personal use. My company pay for all the fuel both business and personal, and I then get taxed as a benefit in kind, so both the car and fuel are on my P11D. I either fill up at a named petrol station who then invoice the company or I fill up and then get reimbursed.

I know that I get to keep the car whilst on maternity leave, do my company have to continue to pay for the fuel as well as it is on my P11D? I want to talk to my supervisor about it but wanted to get my facts straight before I went in.

Thanks in advance!

[AlexanderHamilton]

I'm fairly sure that any befeits provided have to continue to be provided whilt on Maternity Leave.

If, however you choose to give up your car during that time there is a space onthe P11D form where you enter any periods that either the car or fuel benefit was not available to you.

[Stinkbomb]

Yes - all contractual benefits continue during your mat leave, including the car and fuel.

[Ariela]

You are entitled to the benefits on ML.
When I went on ML, admittedly back then we had reduced time compared to now, I gave up the company car it got passed on to someone else - it helped my budgets for work as I saved having to get a company car to replace mine/for the other person while on ML = helped towards my bonus as replacement car went into the next financial year. Plus I saved massively on income tax, and, although I did have a car available just sitting there at home, I prefered to walk everywhere (it's 40 mins to the shops) this saved fuel, kept me fit, was less boring and I lost weight.
So giving it up for me was definitely worth it.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

If you choose to give up the car you can phone HMRC yourself and report that you have relinquished the car and they can alter your tax code straight away. We get are staff to do this as it gets their tax straight for them much quicker.

[jojo895]

Thanks everyone for your help. My company car is the only car we have (my partner just has his work van) so for us it makes sense to keep it on maternity leave, as it's our main family vehicle.
I'm going to pluck up the courage and speak to my boss today!