The Clean Car Discount scheme

The Clean Car Discount scheme was introduced to make it more affordable to buy low CO₂ emission vehicles.

From 1 July 2021 until 31 March 2022, a rebate will be paid (on application) to the first registered person of an eligible vehicle (or to a lessor where the first registered person of the vehicle is a lessee).

From 1 April 2022 the Clean Car Discount will be based on a vehicle's CO₂ emissions. Vehicles with zero or low emissions will qualify for a rebate and those with high emissions will incur a fee.

For more details on the Clean Car Discount, see Clean Car Discount - All updates 

Clean Car Discount - All updates | Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (nzta.govt.nz)

If you are in business, you need to be aware of the tax consequences if you:

• receive a rebate or pay a fee under the Clean Car Discount scheme
• lease a vehicle that comes under the Clean Car Discount scheme.

The outcome varies, depending on what you use the vehicle for.

Getting the rebate

If you get a rebate under the Clean Car Discount scheme, you will not have to pay income tax on the rebate. One of the following will apply, the rebate will be:

• excluded income under the rules relating to government grants (if you are claiming depreciation deductions on the motor vehicle)
• a capital receipt.

Paying the fee

A fee payable under the Clean Car Discount scheme is a capital expense.  Because it is a capital expense, you will not get a deduction for the amount of the fee.

Claiming depreciation

If you use the vehicle in your business or lease it to a lessee under an operating lease, 1 of the following will apply to the base cost of the motor vehicle, it will be:

• reduced by the amount of any rebate under the rules relating to government grants
• increased by the amount of any fee.

Under existing rules, if you lease the vehicle to a lessee under a finance lease, you will not be able to claim depreciation deductions. The base cost of the motor vehicle for the lessee will be determined under the financial arrangements rules in the usual way.

Fringe benefit tax (FBT)

If you make the vehicle available to an employee for their private use, you must pay FBT based on the cost of the car to you (or to the owner if you lease the car).

The cost will be either:

• reduced by the amount of any rebate
• increased by the amount of any fee.

Goods and services tax (GST)

If you are GST registered and get a rebate under the Clean Car Discount scheme for a vehicle you use in your taxable activity, the rebate will be treated as consideration for a deemed supply by you under the rules relating to government grants. This means you must return the GST in your next GST return.