Ride-to-work scheme

hi
To all salaried people (I expect freelancers are all still trying to get the tax website to flippin work since they got an extra day)

Has anyone got the lowdown on the scheme? I note loads of bikeshops offer it, but our accounts dept will only deal with Evans for some reason. Is it becasue they all use different voucher schemes? I don't get why the accounts guy is saying our scheme "only 'works with evens''. I think he's just being lazy and doesn't want to help us. I don't particularly want to shop there. Any thoughts (except crude and adusive ones. And wise cracks... Shit no-one will respond then. Well, alright let it fly)

you can get vouchers and do it that way?! then go to any shop.

My work (used to)just do Evans also.
I made the suggestion of the Cyclescheme one to my work, if I did all of the paperwork (which is fuck-all, to be honest).
Evans just make companies think that they are saving them shitloads of effort/time/cash etc, by doing it all themselves, when really they are just making sure your company buys all of their bikes from them.
Have a word to your accounts dude and suggest that you will sort it all out if you can go with Cyclescheme.

then come buy the £4200 daccordi i just pulled out of a box

Can "bike shop" employees use the voucher system at their own store?
Im thinking this could be a great scam.. err way to get a cheaper bike

yeah PLUS a workers' discount, could be a winner!

we have the one through Halfords - but they can then get you most stuff - I got my Pearson through them.

Don't think it was any hassle to set up (but then I didn't do it...) might be able to persuade your nerds accountants that they are also a decent business to go through...

Think London Fields Cycles do it, sure they could advise.

Yep I reckon the accounts guy has been duped into thinking Evans is easier or better or whatever. Which it may be, but my pal wants a fancy ladybike from velorution you seeeee

Does anyone know if this affects your tax return if you're freelance? I'm employed and self employed, so can I still do this?

Sparky Does anyone know if this affects your tax return if you're freelance? I'm employed and self employed, so can I still do this?

Yes if done from your 'employed' work the salary sacrifice bit of it that makes it so cheap happens before any tax calculations so when you do your tax return your income from that employment = salary - bike payments = taxable income

That sounds like it would complicate the forms a bit - I almost had a breakdown doing this one (my first).

Depending on how your payslip is laid out is should be easy. I think (but dont know) the gross income on your March payslip and annual p60 would be adjusted already.

Hi newbie here, I have been lurking as I am thinking of converting my knackered bikes that I keep in East London. Not sure whether to take the plunge yet though!

I did do the bike to work scheme last year but mine is with Halfords but I imagine that Evans have a similar setup. It is just a salary sacrifice sheme and I think its quite easy but HR departments us Evans and Halfords as they do the admin for them. You dont need a voucher for the scheme this is something the big chains do so you will go in an redeem it in one of their shops and your employer will have a service agreemenet with Evans. In theory any LBS could invoice your employer and run the scheme. If you want a bike from Velorution I think you need to convince your HR deparment / accountant to use him rather than Evans in your case. Andrea the owner has what he calls an 'open source' scheme and he or Velorution can do the admin also. When I spoke to him about it he says he has been able to do this with smaller companies but not larger ones mainly because the payroll is outsourced to third parties. He wouldn't redeem my Halfords vouchers or deal with them as he said they would charge him, I guess Evans would be the same. I got the impression he would't be up for the same kind of agreements that Condor and Pearson etc have got with Halfords. So your best bet would be to have a chat or email him see if he can sort you out.

andrea at velorution developed his own sort of open plan cycle to work initiative in order to avoid the 10% cut that the cycle schemes take. the bike shop just invoices your company directly, and it's easy for any bike shop and any company to use, so maybe it would be worth bringing it up to your lbs and to your employer. here's a link to the info about it on the site :
http://www.velorution.biz/cycle-to-work-government-scheme/

and if it's something that you're interested in pursuing, i will happily send you the 'employer implementation manual' and 'sample hire agreement' from work.

whie most of our customers are able to get their employers to go for it, there is a chance that your employer won't be open to it, not to mention that maybe your lbs might not be into it either, but the information is there if you want it.

Does anyone have an example please of an extended hire agreement so i can persuade my company to implement this scheme ?

This scheme is great! I have friends who have partaken in the scheme. Although it is only restricted to certain shops etc.