Expenses and benefits: congestion and clean air zone charges

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What to report and pay

If congestion or clean air zone charges are not exempt, you must report them to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). You may also have to deduct and pay tax and National Insurance on them.

The amount you report is the amount paid in congestion or clean air zone charges.

Some congestion or clean air zone charges are covered by exemptions (which have replaced dispensations). This means you will not have to include them in your end-of-year reports.

If the employee is using their own vehicle to travel on business

You do not have to:

  • report the cost
  • deduct or pay any National Insurance or tax on the charges

If you pay the charges directly for an employee’s private travel

If you make the payment before the employee is charged, you must:

If you make the payment after the employee is charged, this counts as earnings so you must:

  • add the cost to your employee’s other earnings
  • deduct and pay Class 1 National Insurance and PAYE tax through payroll

If you reimburse the charges for an employee’s private travel

This counts as earnings so you must:

  • add the cost to your employee’s other earnings
  • deduct and pay Class 1 National Insurance and PAYE tax through payroll

Salary sacrifice arrangements

If the cost of the charges is less than the amount of salary given up, report the salary amount instead.