law compliant reimbursement
company car charging on private wallboxes - challenges and chances
Reimbursement of home charging costs for company cars: legally compliant and efficient
Charging company cars at home offers businesses and their employees attractive opportunities to reduce costs. However, ensuring legally compliant and tax-efficient reimbursement of electricity costs requires attention to technical, legal, and organizational aspects. chargeIQ provides a comprehensive solution to address these challenges.
Did you know that cars spend an average of 23 hours and 15 minutes per day parked?
For company cars, most of this time is spent either at the workplace or at home. Many fleet managers attempt to apply traditional fuel card logic to new electric vehicles, but a mindset shift is essential.
Improving the total cost of ownership (TCO) for company cars
Charging at home can significantly reduce costs compared to public charging:
- Cost savings: Charging at public AC stations costs an average of €0.55 per kWh, while home charging costs around €0.35 per kWh. With a photovoltaic system, costs can be reduced even further.
- Up to 40% savings: These savings can reach up to 40%, especially when home charging replaces more expensive fast charging.
Technical requirements for home charging
Low level requirements
To ensure legally compliant and accurate reimbursement of electricity costs, certain infrastructure requirements must be met:
- MID-compliant meter: This ensures that the electricity consumption for business-related charging is accurately recorded. An MID-compliant meter is sufficient; a calibration-compliant wallbox is not mandatory.
- Internet capability and OCPP protocol: The wallbox must securely transmit data via the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP). This communication is crucial for integration into chargeIQ’s backend system.
Legal challenges and their Solution
Reimbursing electricity costs for home charging involves several legal complexities, particularly concerning the Payment Services Oversight Act (ZAG) and tax regulations:
- Payment Services Oversight Act (ZAG): Direct reimbursement of electricity costs by a service provider (e.g., a software provider) to employees could be considered a payment service under Section 1 (1) ZAG, requiring authorization. This would necessitate either a banking license for the service provider or the involvement of an additional payment service provider.
- Tax implications: Reimbursement as a credit could be classified as a taxable benefit or income. To avoid this, electricity costs should be reimbursed as tax-free expense allowances in accordance with Section 3 No. 50 EStG. For precise guidance, consultation with a tax advisor is essential.
The chargeIQ solution: legally compliant and efficient
chargeIQ offers a hardware-agnostic backend solution that provides all necessary functions for legally compliant and efficient reimbursement of electricity costs:
- Receipt generation for payroll: Automatic creation of individual receipts per employee for payroll processing, along with a collective statement for streamlined handling.
- Automated reporting: Efficient reporting of charging sessions and costs tailored to fleet management requirements.
- BAFin-compliant reimbursement: Electricity costs are reimbursed directly through payroll, ensuring compliance with ZAG regulations.
- Use of individual electricity rates: The specific electricity rates of employees are taken into account for fair and accurate reimbursement.
- Technical compatibility: Integration of internet-capable, OCPP-compliant, manufacturer-independent wallboxes with MID-compliant meters ensures precise and secure billing.
Conclusion
Home charging of company cars offers significant benefits for businesses and employees, including lower costs and improved Total Cost of Ownership. chargeIQ’s solution ensures legally compliant, tax-efficient, and seamless reimbursement of electricity costs. With a focus on user-friendliness and legal compliance, chargeIQ is the ideal partner for companies looking to efficiently integrate e-mobility into their fleet strategies.
Learn more on our customer msg sucessfully uses the chargeIQ solution for their company cars.