Category Archives: Commercial Vehicles

Agriculture, Commercial Vehicles, Driving, EVs and Automotive News, News

HMRC updates Guidance on Double Cab Pick-Ups, Confirming They Will Continue to be Treated as Commercial Vehicles

Last month, HMRC updated its guidance on the tax treatment of Double Cab Pick Ups (DCPUs), following a 2020 Court of Appeal judgment.

The guidance had initially confirmed that, from 1 July 2024, DCPUs with a payload of one tonne or more would be treated as cars rather than goods vehicles for both capital allowances and benefit-in-kind purposes, however this guidance has now been changed, in a decision that has been welcomed by motoring and agriculture leaders.

HMRC said in a statement:

“The government has listened carefully to views from farmers and the motoring industry on the potential impacts of the change in tax-treatment. The government has acknowledged that the 2020 court decision and resultant guidance update could have an impact on businesses and individuals in a way that is not consistent with the government’s wider aims to support businesses, including vital motoring and farming industries.

“HMRC have today announced that its existing guidance will be withdrawn, meaning that DCPUs will continue to be treated as goods vehicles rather than cars, and businesses and individuals can continue to benefit from its historic tax treatment.

“This move is resultant of the government making clear that it will be legislating to ensure that DCPU vehicles continue to be treated as goods vehicles for tax purposes.

“The government will consult on the draft legislation to ensure that it achieves that outcome before introducing it in the next available Finance Bill.

Nigel Huddleston, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said:

“We will change the law at the next available Finance Bill in order to avoid tax outcomes that could inadvertently harm farmers, van drivers and the UK’s economy.”

Further information

  • The tax on the benefit-in-kind will now not increase when employers provide these vehicles to their employees; and the capital allowances available in the first year of use will now not be reduced when a business purchases this vehicle for use in their trade.
  • This will ensure a continued generous and consistent treatment of DCPUs for capital allowances, benefit in kind, and VAT purposes, maintaining simplicity in the tax system.
  • HMRC will withdraw its updated guidance during the afternoon of Monday 19 February 2024.
  • The Court of Appeal ruled that most multi-purpose vehicles, such as DCPUs, are cars in Payne & Ors (Coca-Cola) v R & C Commrs (2020) (BTC19).
  • Arrangements that HMRC announced on 12 February 2024 to help DCPU owners adapt to the updated guidance are now redundant because the tax-treatment is not changing.
  • This update is only with reference to DCPUs with a payload of one tonne or more. DCPUs with a payload of less than one tonne continue to be treated as cars.

Commercial Vehicle Expert Oliver Lewis, Director, Hawkstone Commercials welcomed the news, saying:

“I am delighted to hear that double cabs with a payload of more than one tonne will continue to be classed as commercial vehicles – because they are commercial vehicles.  This is a much welcome common sense decision.  We have more than 60 brand new double cabs available for fast delivery and our team will be happy to arrange the best vehicle to meet your needs.”

 

Awards, Bridgend, Commercial Vehicles, Driving, News, Wales News

Hawkstone Commercials named in the Top 100 UK Businesses

Hawkstone Commercials is celebrating after being recognised as one of the UK’s top 100 SME businesses in the UK.

From thousands of entries across every sector, Hawkstone Commercials has been ranked 55th overall in the Elite Business 100 (EB100). Hawkstone Commercials will celebrate at the awards evening on March 17th in London and be included in the EB100 digital guide and online directory with a viewership of over half a million people.

The EB100 are the businesses to watch for the future. It recognises excellence in the SME community and ranks them across a broad range of criteria, from their longevity in the marketplace, year-on-year growth to how they embrace innovation and contribute to the community.

The SME industry contributes over £2 trillion in turnover to the UK economy, employing 44% of the British workforce. The last 12 months have been challenging, with many SMEs navigating a landscape of hardship. SMEs like Hawkstone Commercials has demonstrated remarkable resilience to survive and thrive thanks to their robust infrastructure and proven business models.

 

“The EB100 has shown that despite the everchanging economic climate, they haven’t allowed it to hinder the overall performance of their businesses, and many have, in fact, thrived,” said Piers Linney, Former investor on BBC’s Dragon’s Den and Founder of small business service provider, Moblox.

 

“Hawkstone Commercials are change-makers in the British business industry and deserve their place in the Elite Business 100,” said Scott English, Brand Director of Elite Business. “This definitive league table exemplifies the very best of SMEs in the UK.”

“This year was highly competitive, with judges commenting on the high standard of entries, impressive sales and growth figures and high-performing cultures.”

 

“Just under two years ago Paul and I were sat at a kitchen table putting together our strategy for Hawkstone Commercials. Within this period, we have generated over £15,000,000 in sales revenue with 10 members of staff spread across two offices. We could not be more delighted with being recognised as one of the Top 100 UK Businesses after such a short space of time. We still feel that we haven’t achieved even half of what we set out to do and have very ambitious plans for the next five years” said Oliver Lewis, Director and co-founder of Hawkstone Commercials.

The team at Hawkstone Commercials is proud to not only provide an exemplary service for its clients but now be named as a Top 100 UK business.

For more information about Hawkstone Commercials, visit www.hawkstonecommercials.co.uk

 

Bridgend, Commercial Vehicles, Mental Health, Motor Industry, Motoring, News

Hawkstone Commercials Supports Men’s Mental Health with Vehicle Acquisition

Bridgend based multi award-winning commercial vehicle leasing broker Hawkstone Commercials acquires community use vehicle for a men’s mental health community interest company (CIC).

Lads & Dads Men’s Mental Wellbeing C.I.C has been gifted the use of a community outreach vehicle to continue its fight against the increasing challenges of men’s mental health in our communities. Launched in 2019, Lads & Dads focuses on walking, talking, thinking, and supporting. With over 2,000 members and 12 committee members.

Oliver Lewis, Co-director of Hawkstone Commercials said, “The work that Lads & Dads have done in recent years has been exceptional. They have helped so many individuals combat the struggles which we all face in life and make a real positive impact in our local community. For Lads & Dads to continue providing their support, it is vital they have the right tools available to them. As a business, we have invested heavily in supporting our own staff and their mental health, so it’s fantastic to be able to expand our reach to the wider community and play a very small part in the ongoing cause. I would like to thank the committee at Lads & Dads for allowing us the opportunity to support them on their journey”.

 

Lads and Dads have already reached thousands of people and is recommended to patients by doctors’ surgeries, local crisis teams and other community engagement groups. The group also have their own football team which plays against other mental health awareness teams across South Wales.

Rob Lester (chairman of Lads & Dads) said – “To watch our group grow over the past four years has been nothing short of amazing, however we feel that there is so much more to do. We rely heavily on our sponsors and supporters to keep our group running efficiently and to be able to offer the care our members need. This comes in the form of organised events and even counselling sessions. We are sincerely grateful for the support Hawkstone Commercials have shown us in recent months in the form of sponsorship, but for them to acquire a vehicle for us is just incredible. On behalf of the committee, and our 2000 members I would like to thank the Directors Oliver and Paul as well as their team for this generous donation. We are now able to put this van to work and help more of members and the wider community with the epidemic which is mental health”.

 

Over the last 18 months, Hawkstone Commercials has achieved some truly phenomenal goals. However, this is something that Hawkstone cherishes above all. As an organisation, their goal has been to give back to the community. This gesture will save and changes lives, something that is utterly priceless.

Automotive, Awards, Commercial Vehicles, News, Vehicle Finance

Hawkstone Commercials named as “Start-up Entrepreneurs of the Year – Wales” at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2023.

Held Monday evening at the iconic Grosvenor Hotel in London with over 1,500 in attendance, Hawkstone Commercials secured the most prestigious business award in the UK in being named at Start-up Entrepreneurs of the Year.

Previous winner James Watt, founder of BrewDog, said that winning was “better than winning the World Cup.” Steven Bartlett has gone as far as to dub the awards as “The Grammys of Entrepreneurship,”

With a turnover approaching £20 million in the first eighteen months of trading, 14 fulltime employees on boarded and multiple awards success in 2023, Hawkstone is one of Wales’s trailblazing businesses.

Oliver Lewis, Co-director of Hawkstone Commercials said,

“The past 18 months have been a bit of a whirlwind. With a target of £150,000 and 2 fulltime employees, we have shattered all expectations. To win at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards is something we could only have dreamt of a few years ago. Winning this award signifies that we have done something unusual for a start-up, especially in the midst of the most difficult of economic headwinds.”

 

Paul Ricketts, Co-director says,

“As a team we are delighted to have won on Monday evening. However, Monday evening leaves the business at a crossroads. We’re going to take the final few weeks of the year to review the business and exactly where we are. It’s apparent to us that we are well on course to become THE van and commercial vehicle leasing agency in the UK. The question we need to answer is how far we progress; do we look outside of the UK towards Europe or beyond over the coming year or two.” 

With a stellar year behind Hawkstone Commercials and some big decisions on the horizon, 2024 is set to be a crucial year for the business.