Entitlement to travel allowance for work-related travel

**MotoGirl** · 24th May 2009, 18:04

I'm trying to determine whether I should be getting paid a travel allowance for using my own vehicle to travel to client sites.

For the rest of the year I'm expected to travel to a local client site three times a week, which will require me to run my own car. My daily commute is normally 8km return so this effectively doubles my fuel bill. Edit: I car pool so never atually drive myself to work unless hubby is sick, hence this means we would also have to run two vehicles because we would be going in opposite directions.

My boss has told me I can't claim for the mileage because the client is local but other people have told me she's ripping me off.

Can anyone suggest any websites where I could find some info about my rights or my boss' obligations?

**FJRider** · 24th May 2009, 18:08

Check your personal employment contract.

**popelli** · 24th May 2009, 18:25

your boss is ripping you off unless your employment contract specifically mentions two normal places of work

tax law is quite clear, travel from home to your normal place of work is a personal expenses

however work related travel, travel from your normal place of work to a client, or travel from home to a clients etc is a work related expense

you should be reimbursed a mileage allowance to compensate you for the additional travel entailed

if your boss will not reimburse you for mileage, then stop using your own car and use public transport and claim the bus fares / taxi or use the company pool car.

as regards websites - inland recenue websites re tax free travel allowances would be a good place to start

if your boss does not want to play ball, then best bet is to find another more ethical boss to work for because your current boss is taking advantage of you

**MotoGirl** · 24th May 2009, 18:28

Originally Posted by popelli

your boss is ripping you off unless your employment contract specifically mentions two normal places of work

tax law is quite clear, travel from home to your normal place of work is a personal expenses

however work related travel, travel from your normal place of work to a client, or travel from home to a clients etc is a work related expense

you should be reimbursed a mileage allowance to compensate you for the additional travel entailed

if your boss will not reimburse you for mileage, then stop using your own car and use public transport and claim the bus fares / taxi or use the company pool car.

as regards websites - inland recenue websites re tax free travel allowances would be a good place to start

if your boss does not want to play ball, then best bet is to find another more ethical boss to work for because your current boss is taking advantage of you

Thanks for that!

I have been reading the IRD website but I was kind of hoping to find something saying "paying the travel allowance is mandatory when..." I'll keep looking

**p.dath** · 24th May 2009, 18:28

This should all be covered in your employment contract. Failing that, there should at least be a description of your duties.

Typically employees should be re-imbursed for expenses personally incurred. Otherwise it is the companies responsibility to provide the transport for you. They could always send you in a Taxi ...

**Nasty** · 24th May 2009, 18:38

Generally when I have used my own vehicle I get paid the government milage rate .. which is quite good .. but since you don't normally bring a car I would question having to provide one ... check your contract ... thats a good place to start.

**Jantar** · 24th May 2009, 18:40

Unfortunately your boss doesn't have to either supply transport, or reimburse you for using your own transport. However he must pay your time in travelling. So the simple solution is to use your normal method of transport to get to your normal place of employment, then walk to the client. I'm sure you'll only have to mention this method of transport to your boss once, and something will be done quickly.

**Gareth123** · 24th May 2009, 18:40

If it doesn't state anything in your contract about getting paid mileage then yes you are getting ripped but I don't think there is anything you could do about it.

**MotoGirl** · 24th May 2009, 18:41

Originally Posted by Nasty

Generally when I have used my own vehicle I get paid the government milage rate .. which is quite good .. but since you don't normally bring a car I would question having to provide one ... check your contract ... thats a good place to start.

Yes, I normally get paid 62c/km if I travel out of town. I questioned her a week ago about this client and was told I can't claim it because the temporary workplace is local.

**Mom** · 24th May 2009, 18:43

Go with Jantar. If you dont normally bring a vehicle to work, then you dont have one to use. Nothing changes, just walk. I am sure your boss will quickly realise they need to let you use one of their own vehicles to vist the client.

**geoffm** · 24th May 2009, 18:51

Yup, you is being robbed. I get 65c/km. THe IRD max that you (or they ) can claim as tax expenses is less than this.
I make on the deal with my economical, well paid for Corolla.
Also check your insurance - often you are not covered if you are using your car for business purposes. There have been a number of people caught out like that.
IMO - have some stern words - either they pay, or they supply a car or taxi.
I had a job like thisonce - it cost me a fortune in running costs (tyres, maintennce, petrol, oil, workshop costs, depreciation, etc) when I added it up and it made a big, hidden hole in the paypacket.
Geoff

**popelli** · 24th May 2009, 18:55

Originally Posted by MotoGirl

I questioned her a week ago about this client and was told I can't claim it because the temporary workplace is local.

The boss is always correct, take your boss's word for gospel and because its local you can easily walk there, actions speak louder than words

**Winston001** · 24th May 2009, 19:08

It's not exactly clear what you are saying - will you be driving from home directly to the client three days a week? - in which case this is private travel.

Or - are you going to work, then driving 4km to the client, then back to work? That's a work-related expense and would normally be paid by your employer.

Still, 4km isn't far and if you enjoy your job, is this a big issue?

**MotoGirl** · 24th May 2009, 20:50

Originally Posted by Winston001

It's not exactly clear what you are saying - will you be driving from home directly to the client three days a week? - in which case this is private travel.

Or - are you going to work, then driving 4km to the client, then back to work? That's a work-related expense and would normally be paid by your employer.

Still, 4km isn't far and if you enjoy your job, is this a big issue?

My normal work hours are 7:30-4:00 but the people at the client site don't start until 8:30 so I have to go to work beforehand.

It's the principle that bothers me and the fact that I'm having to fill my Fairmont twice as often.

**discotex** · 24th May 2009, 21:02

Originally Posted by MotoGirl

My normal work hours are 7:30-4:00 but the people at the client site don't start until 8:30 so I have to go to work beforehand.

It's the principle that bothers me and the fact that I'm having to fill my Fairmont twice as often.

I'd say in that case it's fair to expect to be paid milage between the office and your client site. Probably not from the site to home if you head straight home tho.

However unless it's a company policy or in your contract they aren't under any legal obligation to pay milage just as you're not under any obligation to provide transport to work off-site (unless your contact says so). You may even be able to refuse to work off-site completely if it's not in your contract.

It's stories like this that help me put up with corporate life.