Fleets can beat corporate tax changes due on 1 April 2013 by taking delivery of a new low emission Mazda6 now.
The 108g/km all-new Mazda6 powered by a 2.2-litre SKYACTIV-D 150ps diesel engine is one of the lowest emission upper medium sector cars in showrooms and enables businesses to continue to benefit from a 100 percent writing down allowance (a form of capital allowance) if they take delivery of models before 1 April 2013.
The tax changes mean a further tightening of capital allowance carbon dioxide (CO2) emission thresholds impacting on outright purchase fleets, while a simultaneous cut in the lease rental restriction emission threshold hits the amount of relief available against taxable profits on cars above 130g/km.
From 1 April 2013 outright purchase fleets will only be able to benefit from 100 percent first year allowance on vehicles that emit 95g/km or less. Cars emitting between 96g/km and 110g/km will only be able to write down 18 percent of the cost of the model against their corporation tax bill thus reducing the amount of tax relief available annually and as a result impacting on cash flow.
The all-new third generation Mazda6 was launched last month and is powered by the manufacturer’s range of high-efficiency SKYACTIV engines including two petrol and two diesels units mated to six-speed manual or automatic transmissions.
Low CO2 emissions, which are critical to keeping company car-related taxes and operating costs in check, are among the many attributes of Mazda’s unique SKYACTIV technology.
Models powered by a 2.2-litre SKYACTIV-D diesel engine are available with a choice of 150ps and 175ps power outputs with CO2 emissions from as low as 108g/km. The petrol line-up is powered by a 2.0-litre SKYACTIV-G petrol engine with the option of 145ps and 165ps power outputs and CO2 emissions from 129g/km.
On-the-road (OTR) prices for diesel variants start at £21,795 for the 108g/km 2.2-litre 150ps Saloon SE through to £28,045 for the 129g/km 2.2-litre 175ps Tourer Sport Nav Auto. Prices for petrol models start at £19,595 OTR for the 129g/km 2.0-litre 145ps Saloon SE, rising to £24,865 for the 136g/km 2.0-litre 165ps Tourer Sport Nav.
At the opposite end of the Mazda6 spectrum, the tax changes also mean that fleets wanting to take delivery of a model with emissions above 130g/km – 2.0-litre 145ps Saloon auto (136g/km), 2.0-litre 165ps Saloon manual (135g/km), 2.0-litre 145ps Tourer manual (131g/km) and 2.0-litre 165ps Tourer manual (136g/km) – will also reap tax and cash flow dividends ahead of the April 1 cuts to the writing down allowance and lease rental restriction.
Steve Tomlinson, Mazda’s Head of Fleet, said: “The low-CO2 emission credentials of the all-new Mazda6 mean that businesses can benefit from an immediate tax saving if they take delivery of vehicles before April 1.”
“We have a plentiful supply of Mazda6 models in stock ready for immediate delivery. Unlike some other manufacturers there is no lengthy lead time.”
“The April 1 changes in capital allowances do not apply to cars already on the road, so taking delivery of a model prior to that date means that in the case of the 108g/km Mazda6, as well as higher emission models, there is an immediate tax and cash flow advantage for businesses.”
The April 1 changes will see:
* The 100% writing down allowance threshold apply to company cars with emissions of 95g/km and below (2012/13: 110g/km).
*The 18% writing down allowance threshold apply to company cars with emissions of 96g/km-130g/km (2012/13: 111g/km-160g/km).
*The 8% writing down allowance threshold apply to company cars with emissions from 131g/km (2012/13: from 161g/km).
*The 15% lease rental restriction threshold falls to 130g/km (2012/13: 160g/km) meaning above that level only 85% of the annual rental can be claimed in tax relief.
