Frequently asked questions
- Can I add my own money to the value of an LoC in order to get a more expensive bike?
- What happens at the end of the loan period?
- Who owns the equipment?
- Can I select more than one bike?
- What if I already own a bike - why would I want a new one?
- What is the maximum value of equipment I can obtain through cycle2work?
- What is a Group Consumer Credit License?
- What happens at the end of the scheme?
- How long do I have to apply for the scheme?
- How much does it cost to set up a Halfords cycle2work scheme?
- Will a salary sacrifice affect my entitlement to benefits?
- If I decide not to participate in the scheme now, can I join later?
- Where can I get my bike and cycling safety equipment?
- What if my bike gets stolen/accidentally damaged?
- What if an Employee leaves early or is made redundant?
- Can the Directors have better or more equipment?
- What equipment is available?
- I have a lot of other salary sacrifice benefits, is this OK?
- I’m paid close to the National Minimum Wage can I still take part?
- When can I collect my bike?
- Can a Letter of Collection be used to get a bike for a family member, partner or friend?
- What if I can't get to a store, will I miss out?
- What happens if I do not use the bike for commuting after I have joined the scheme?
- I've only been with my employer for a short time. Can I take part?
- Can I take part in more than one scheme?
- Who is eligible for the cycle2work scheme?
- How can an Employer benefit from the cycle to work scheme?
| No. To be eligible for the tax break, the bike must remain the sole property of the employer for the duration of the hire period. For that reason the selected letter of collection must cover the full cost of your selection (bike and accessories) and you cannot add your own funds of any description to the transaction. | |
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| There is no automatic entitlement for you to take ownership of the cycles and safety accessories at the end of the loan period. However, your employer may choose to give you the option to purchase the equipment. | |
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| The legislation that governs a cycle to work scheme states that the Employer must own the equipment. There can be no automatic right for the Employee to own the equipment at the end of the Agreement. If they do, they cannot claim the tax exemption. Therefore a cycle to work scheme operates as a loan: the Employer is technically loaning the equipment to the Employee for a fixed-period of time. Although Employees do not actually own the equipment, they remain custodian of the equipment and are free to use it as they wish, providing it is mainly for cycling to work. | |
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Your scheme criteria will determine whether this is allowed. However the legislation does not prohibit the selection of two cycles providing that both are used for commuting to work. For example, you may have a summer route and a winter route to work, both requiring different things from a bike. |
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Your old bike needn't be redundant. You may find that as you start to cycle more and more that you need a bike with higher quality componentry, which will allow you to ride more efficiently. You may also sometimes take different routes when travelling to work, i.e. a summer route and a winter route, which might benefit from a different type of bike for each journey. |
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The Office of Fair Trading has issued a Group Consumer Credit License allowing any employer to run a cycle2work scheme. The license allows you to hire equipment up to the value of £1,000 inclusive of VAT. An employer can then choose to offer whatever range of values within the £1000 limit that they deem appropriate. To see the values available in your scheme, please click "apply now" and review the Min and Max options within the "letter of collection value" section. For more information about your scheme limit, please review your internal communications. |
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The Office of Fair Trading has issued a Group Consumer Credit License allowing any employer to run a cycle2work scheme. The license allows you to hire equipment up to the value of £1,000 inclusive of VAT. |
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| After the agreement period is over, your organisation may offer to sell the equipment to you for its fair market value at that time (inc VAT). ie: the amount that a buyer would pay to a seller to purchase the bike taking account its second hand value and current condition. | |
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Your employer will decide the closing date for the scheme. You will usually have about four weeks to select and order your Letter of Collection, but, to avoid missing the deadline, why not do it now? |
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Halfords do not charge a fee or any administration costs to set up and operate the cycle to work scheme. Please note, there may be a requirement for internal administration resource eg: payroll involvement, which should be factored into your own internal implementation. |
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Possibly, although in most cases the effect is likely to be small. However, you need to be aware of the implications of paying less tax and NI contributions and accepting a reduced salary. It is recommended that you seek professional advice if you have any concerns or need more information. |
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Depending on the success of this year's scheme, your employer may choose to repeat it in the future. However, your employer cannot guarantee that there will be another opportunity to participate. |
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Halfords has the largest selection of cycles and cycling safety equipment in the UK. Look at our huge range of top brand products
Still can't find what you are looking for? You can contact the Halfords cycle2work team with details of your requirements and they will be happy to suggest the options available. |
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It is recommended you obtain separate insurance, or check your bike is covered under your home contents insurance policy. If your home contents insurer covers the bike, you must inform them that your Employer (or their nominated agent) owns the bike. Payments will not stop or be suspended due to loss or damage to the bike. |
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If you leave before the end of the hire period, you must pay your employer the balance of the amount still to pay and this will deducted from your final net pay. You may then have continued use of the equipment without further payment until the hire period expires, when you may be offered the opportunity to purchase the equipment for its then fair market value. However this transfer of ownership is the subject of a separate agreement and is not governed or influenced by the Hire Agreement you sign for this scheme. |
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| No. Under the cycle2work rules Directors cannot be offered cycle2work on preferential terms. | |
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Cycles and cyclist's safety equipment are included. The tax exemption defines a "cycle" as "a bicycle, a tricycle or a cycle having four or more wheels, not being in any case a motor vehicle" (192(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (c52.)). An electrically assisted pedal cycle can be included under the scheme. Cyclists' safety equipment is not defined in the legislation and a common sense approach should be taken when selecting it. This could include:
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If the total value of all your salary sacrifice payments means that your wage is taken below that of National Minimum Wage you may not be able to sacrifice any more of your wage. In this case Halfords have developed a process, which allows you to take advantage of a loan bike from your employer. You may be asked to make contributions from your net pay towards the ongoing maintenance of this cycle and safety equipment. Your employer will be able to provide details of these payments. Simply apply for the scheme in the normal manner. Your employer will be in touch if this affects you. |
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It may be that your wage prevents you accessing your preferred value of cycle and safety accessories. Halfords have developed a process that will enable, at the point of approval, your employer to identify the highest value you can apply for. Simply apply for the scheme in the normal manner. Your employer will be in touch if this affects you, by proposing a revised value to you. |
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| If it is in stock at your chosen Halfords store simply surrender your LoC and present a form of ID. If it is not in stock, you should request that your chosen bike is ordered in to that Halfords store. Your bike will then be built and inspected by a qualified bike mechanic, ready for you to ride away. | |
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No. The cycle must be used by you, mainly for commuting to work. For example: journeys made between the home and workplace, or part journeys (e.g. to the station), or for journeys between one workplace and another. |
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No, you can still participate. If there is not a Halfords store near your home or work, or you are unable to visit a store, Halfords can arrange to get the bike to you. |
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You will no longer qualify for the tax relief afforded to this benefit. In such circumstances your payroll department will arrange for the remaining salary reductions to be taken from your net pay i.e. after tax and National Insurance have been deducted. You cannot return the cycle and have your salary re-adjusted. |
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Your scheme criteria will determine when you are able to apply. |
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You can technically apply again, each time your employer runs a scheme however, your employer may decide to prevent you from joining another scheme until your first Hire Term has lapsed. |
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Employers of all sizes across the public, private and voluntary sectors can implement a tax-exempt loan scheme for their employees. To maximize the benefit of implementation, it is desirable that participation in a scheme should be as broad as possible. To qualify for the tax exemption, the cycles and cyclists’ safety equipment loaned by the employer under the scheme must be available to employees generally with no groups of employees excluded. |
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By operating a cycle to work scheme, an Employer can expect to
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