SE36920 - Deductions from emoluments: capital allowances: example: writing down allowance: restriction applying to cars costing over £12,000

A maintenance engineer takes up employment in London on 6 January 2000. On the same date, the engineer buys a car for use in the performance of the duties of the employment. The car cost £15,000 and it is used wholly for business purposes.

Writing down allowances may be claimed as follows.





£
1999/00Cost15,000


Writing down allowance



(Restricted – see SE36650 and SE36750)



3/12 X £3000 =750


Residual value carried forward14,250
2000/01Writing down allowance



(Restricted – see SE36750)3000


Residual value carried forward11,250
2001/02Writing down allowance



(Restriction not needed as residual value not more than £12,000)



25% of £11,250 =2813


Residual value at 5 April 20028437


As in the previous example, the employee has the choice, in 2001/02 only, of claiming a writing down allowance (as shown above) or calculating a balancing allowance or charge based on the car’s open market value at 5 April 2002 (see SE36791).

Capital allowances will not be due on the car for 2002/03 onwards. The employee will have a deduction for mileage allowance relief instead (see SE36520).-