Can a camper be a commercial/business vehicle for tax purposes ?

Music And Laughter

Hi All I am a self employed (sole trader) and we need a camper to use as a mobile office while we are out and about at shows or events.

We have found a suitable model, we were thinking of a Autocruise Rhythm Sport or something very similar. (This is a Boxer 335 Peugeot Panel Van base)

I intend to kit it out with a couple of laptops, printer, WIFI and 3g etc so that I can still run my mail order business when away from home.

I have been told that if the vehicle is a commercial vehicle then I can claim back the VAT on a new purchase as I am VAT registered and also as its a business expense I wont pay income tax on the purchase cost... (I think I read or heard that somehow you have to clam this back in stages as far as tax goes as the vehicle depreciates in value)...

Has anyone bought a camper through thier buisiness before or could anyone give me any advice, trying to get any info out of HMRC is very difficult they are very unhelpful at out local offices they just say "look it up on the website" but I cant understand it all theres too much information.

We were looking at buying used originally but if I can claim the VAT back and also the income tax I would have paid on the cost the savings would allow us to buy new...

I havent bought a vehicle through my business before so dont really know whats what...

Thanks for reading.

GJH

We have some friends who are antiquarean book dealers and they use their van for some events they go to. Also, plenty of people at antique fairs use motorhomes so presumably they are business vehicles.

You have to insure the vehicle for business purposes though and some insurers won't do that for motorhomes so you may have to look around. I don't know about the tax position I'm afraid but I always found HMRC helpful with queries when we ran a small business.

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Graham
Answers to some commonly asked questions - Our Motorhome Notes - last updated 23 April 2013.

paulmold

If you haven't got an accountant, then I would suggest you get one. mine has saved me more each year than the cost of his bill. They know what is claimable and what is not.

Johns_Cross_Motorhomes

Welcome to Fun, small world is it not as you asked me the same question on ebay about our AutoCruise Rhythm

Have a chat to Gill, she is our VAT expert

Peter

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Merc0385

Thats the first job BUT if you are VAT registered you should have one anyway, all new campers/motorhomes have VAT included and if the vehicle is purchased through the business for business use you can claim the VAT back as a business expence, the vehicle then becomes an assett of the business and if it is sold 20% of the sale price would have to be repaid to the revenue.

You may be called upom at some point to justify this claim if you have a VAT check.

On used campers/motorhomes the VAT element only relates to the margin the dealer makes when selling it which means no VAT to claim back.

The exception to this is when buying a used one from someone who purchased it through their business which is the first point above.

dave

Wildman

one thing that has not been mentioned is weight an licence requirements, if over 3500kgs then it will be an HGV and not a PHGV you will need a heavy goods driving licence you will also have to tax it accordingly and have a tacho fitted I think. Someone in the know will spell it out for you.

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lesleyjean

Roger

My motorhome is over 3500 kgs and is registered PHGV

And I do not have a heavy goods license.

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Happy Days from Lesley from Sunny Ilfracombe

Wildman

you do not use it for business simples so it is PHGV

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