Thanks Geoff

That confirms my understanding. The payload of the Navara is 1070kg, so I
still have plenty in hand after subtracting the 45kg.

Even though the tax changes next year, it's still cheaper than the tax I was
paying on my Renault Scenic. Tax on £3K and the fuel still only amounts to
£770 p.a.

Thanks again

Ade


"Geoff Lane" <geoff@nospam.gjctech.co.uk> wrote in message
news:Xns98387F9905FFgjctcswxnsrt@84.92.1.10...
> "Ade" <bob@bob.com> wrote in news:tJ6dnbe3neO6j5zYRVnyqA@eclipse.net.uk:
>
>> I've just had a Navara pickup as my company vehicle and fitted a cover
>> to the back, which I was told would not affect the status of the
>> vehicle in terms of classification as a commercial vehicle as the
>> vehicle could still carry in excess of 1000kg.
>> Since doing this, someone has advised me that this might not be the
>> case.
>
> AFAICT fitting a "truckman" type top or a permanent _rigid_ cover *might*
> change the vehicle status. HMRC subtract 45kg (the deemed weight of the
> top
> or cover) from the manufacturer's declared payload to arrive at the
> effective payload. If the effective payload is under 1000kg, it's a car
> for
> tax purposes! However, I do wonder about the case where you, personally,
> buy and fit the cover.
>
> http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/eimanual/EIM23045.htm
>
> However, things are changing anyway in April with a massive increase in
> the
> taxable benefit in kind for vans (which would include your Navara). For
> tax
> year 2007/08, this is £3,000 per annum regardless of the age of the van
> unless private use is forbidden and no private use occurs. Additionally,
> should the company pay for any fuel for private use, there will be an
> extra
> taxable benefit of £500.
>
> http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/eimanual/EIM22790.htm
>
> HTH,
>
> --
> Geoff