Commercial Vehicle Status

[lightning]

The Defender Commercial has been certified as a Commercial Vehicle by HMRC in the U.K. meaning you can put it through a company and claim the tax/VAT back, also Benefit in Kind is only £700.

Despite the payload being under the requirements of one ton.

How come the Grenadier 2 seat "Commercial" version is not certified by HMRC. What's the difference?

lt would be a massive boost for the Grenadier if it had this certification.

 

[lightning]

Reason for asking

l was asked the question on another forum and didn't know the answer

 

[lightning]

l wonder if the status of the vehicle can be argued individually with the tax man. lf you bought the 2-seat "Commercial" version you may be able to argue the point if challenged.

For instance if you put it through a company and claimed the tax back. You could make the case that it's the same as the Defender 110 Commercial.

l wonder if this is possible. lt may be that it never even gets checked, the tax office are seriously understaffed and have barely started on the suspected fraudulent COVID payouts yet.

 

[Jeremy996]

I've had this conversation before and the answer is unless it is on the old HMRC schedule, it is at the descretion of the local Tax Inspector. This means that it will depend on the facts of the case; as a pool car there will be no argument.

If there is an element of private use, it will depend on whether the tax inspector is in a good mood or willing to start an argument that will get him some friction from the higher ups. If it is used like a van and no one "usually" takes it home as a perk, I expect the 2 seater station wagon will be fine for BIK/VAT recovery, but there will be no certainty unless HMRC issue a concession.

I gather Ineos Automotive are starting to negociate with HMRC but no one is able to give me chapter and verse.

 

[Jeremy996]

It looks like Ineos Automotive have finally got HMRC to offer the same concession as JLR got for the new Defender Commercials, although they have announced a new model to do so.

The Ineos Grenadier Commercial has solid rear windows, blacked out glass in the rear doors and a solid loadbay and mesh bulkhead

 

[Stu_Barnes]

It looks like Ineos Automotive have finally got HMRC to offer the same concession as JLR gor for the new Defender Commercials, although they have announced a new model to do so.

The Ineos Grenadier Commercial has solid rear windows, blacked out glass in the rear doors and a solid loadbay and mesh bulkhead

View attachment 7855435

The press release is here https://www.theineosforum.com/threa...he-uk-qualifies-for-vat-reclamation.12415469/

 

[lightning]

Looks good, l also received the email from lneos and opened a thread about it on here earlier today.

 

[lightning]

It's quite expensive, after spending the minimum on options (towbar, heated mirrors, centre cubby box, blue metallic, heated seats) it comes to £67,000 including VAT

l priced up a Defender 110 Commercial with the minimum options (centre cubby box, blue metallic, towbar, Winter pack which has leather steering wheel, heated washers/seats/screen, front fog lamps) and it came to £63,000 including VAT.

So not much in it. The Defender 90 Commercial with above options is £55,000 including VAT
But it's obviously smaller. For camping/ Overlanding or heavy work l would take the Grenadier every time.

At least now there's a choice. When l bought my Defender Commercial in 2022 the equivalent Grenadier would have effectively cost me £25,000 more. Now the difference is a lot less as l could reclaim tax on the purchase.

 

[Jeremy996]

Just to provide some illustration of the changes to make a "Commercial" model acceptable to HMRC, I took some pictures recently at my local dealer, Chandlers of Belton.

Other than the blacked out 2nd row windows and the solid sides, it looks pretty normal from the outside.

The rear windows are fixed and the window switches deleted.

There is a hinged panel over the batteries. Slightly fiddly latches.

Full length load bay and flat floor. Load bay bulkhead.

Metal box bolted down instead of the plastic box and seat frames.

Bulkhead brackets look a bit of an afterthought.

2nd row doors still work, but windows don't move.

(https://www.chandlers.co.uk/used-machinery/used-motor-vehicles/ineos-grenadier-2-seat-2m040829)

Price as advertised is £56,615 + VAT, with smooth pack and tow gear, call it £68,000 OTR.

 

[Logsplitter]

Just to provide some illustration of the changes to make a "Commercial" model acceptable to HMRC, I took some pictures recently at my local dealer, Chandlers of Belton.

View attachment 7879559
Other than the blacked out 2nd row windows and the solid sides, it looks pretty normal from the outside.

View attachment 7879560
The rear windows are fixed and the window switches deleted.

View attachment 7879561
There is a hinged panel over the batteries. Slightly fiddly latches.

View attachment 7879562
Full length load bay and flat floor. Load bay bulkhead.

View attachment 7879563
Metal box bolted down instead of the plastic box and seat frames.

View attachment 7879564
Bulkhead brackets look a bit of an afterthought.

View attachment 7879565
2nd row doors still work, but windows don't move.

(https://www.chandlers.co.uk/used-machinery/used-motor-vehicles/ineos-grenadier-2-seat-2m040829)

Price as advertised is £56,615 + VAT, with smooth pack and tow gear, call it £68,000 OTR.

So the only difference I can see between that and my 2023 two seater is that the rear door windows are fixed/don’t open.

 

[Jeremy996]

So the only difference I can see between that and my 2023 two seater is that the rear door windows are fixed/don’t open.

Yes, HMRC can be that difficult.

 

[DoubleDoom]

So the only difference I can see between that and my 2023 two seater is that the rear door windows are fixed/don’t open.

Another difference is that its not possible to retrofit the rears seats easily (an HMRC concern that needed to be addressed). All the mounting points for rear seats were removed.

 

[Tom D]

Grange Edinburgh have a few of these for sale, £46k inc vat

 

[lightning]

That's a huge saving on the list price. l'll check it out.

Makes it a good £15,000 cheaper than a Defender 110 Commercial. And not much discount available on those.