Following the Autumn Statement's rescheduling of Parliament's two largest fiscal announcements in the year, Chancellor Phillip Hammond delivered his first and final Spring Budget this month. From 2018, the 'Spring Statement' will respond to forecasts from the Office of Budget Responsibility while the Autumn Budget will announce tax plans well in advance of the financial year. As a result, 2017's Spring Budget has been perceived as a 'transitionalî announcement, with very few dramatic changes set forth for fleet managers or the economy in general. The only major surprise for the fleet industry was the announcement of potential changes to the diesel vehicles tax regime before the end of the year. The expectation is that taxes will increase following the Budget's statement of the Government's commitment 'to improving air quality.î According to the statement, the Government will engage with relevant stakeholders ahead of the Autumn Budget before confirming any changes. Many tax measures covered in the Chancellor's speech had been announced previously, including changes relating to Vehicle Excise Duty, company car benefit-in-kind taxation, vehicle benefit charges and more. Fuel duty will remain frozen until at least 2018, meaning the freeze has been held at 57.95p per litre since March 2011's Budget _ the seventh consecutive year without increase. The Chancellor announced a freeze upon Vehicle Excise Duty for both the HGB Road User Levy and professional hauliers. However, previously announced rates for VED on newly registered cars will continue to take effect from April 1st. Cars registered from that date will see their VED based upon CO2 emissions, with £0 set for zero emissions cars and up to £2,000 for vehicles emitting above 255g/km. For five years from the second year after registration all cars with 1g/km emissions or above will be taxed at a uniform £140 per year. However, cars costing over £40,000 _ including zero emissions vehicles _ will be subject to a £310 supplementary payment. After five years, the rate will revert to the standard of £0 or £140 depending on vehicle type. Insurance Premium Tax will increase from 10% to 12% starting from June 1st this year, with additional impact upon roadside assistance and vehicle insurance policies. The Government published a policy paper in December last year - 'Income Tax: Limitation on Salary Sacrifice' - which outlined changes to car salary sacrifice schemes and car or cash allowances. The changes are to come into effect on April 6th this year, however the specifics of the new arrangements have not been made clear. Following stakeholder consultations in the last few months, it is expected that the final details will be pronounced in the Finance Bill due for publication on March 20th. Among perhaps the most radical of announcements, the Chancellor pledged a surge of investment into electric vehicle and road network infrastructure. £270m has been earmarked for investment into so-called 'disruptive technologiesî such as EV batteries and electric or driverless vehicles, but also including robotics and biotech. In this, the Government signals its commitment to its mission of converting consumers and fleets to ultra-low emission vehicles. An additional £220m of funding is to be split between the North and the Midlands in order to address 'pinch pointsî and choked roadways in these regions. Also announced was a £690m competition for local authorities to compete in tackling urban congestion. Furthermore, the Chancellor announced the Government's intention to review benefits-in-kind and employee expenses rules by sending out a public call for evidence and information from UK stakeholders at some point in the near future. The precise impact these plans may have on employers and employees _ in terms of travel expenses, business mileage reimbursement and more _ will not be seen until consultation documents are published.
