This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. To find out more about cookies on this website and how to delete cookies, see our privacy notice.

Does the writing down allowance rate drop in April 2019 for cars bought in April 2018?

Question:
I would like to clarify that the writing-down allowance (WDA) available in the special rate pool will drop from 8% to 6% for cars with emissions above 110g/km from 1/6 April 2019, only for cars purchased from 1 April 2018. So any vehicle purchased from (say) April 2015 to March 2018 would still qualify for a WDA of 8% in 2019/20 if the emissions were between 76–130g/km. I appreciate that there may be a hybrid calculation based on the accounting year, but the first port of call is presumably still the date of purchase? 
 
Arthur Weller replies: 
In the policy paper published by the government on 29 October 18 (‘Reduction of rate of special writing down allowance for capital allowances’), it was explained that the reduction from 8% to 6% applies to expenditure incurred on or after 1 April 2018 on cars with CO2 emissions of more than 110 grams per kilometre driven (the ‘special rate’). 
I would like to clarify that the writing-down allowance (WDA) available in the special rate pool will drop from 8% to 6% for cars with emissions above 110g/km from 1/6 April 2019, only for cars purchased from 1 April 2018. So any vehicle
...


This question was first printed in Business Tax Insider in September 2019.