Taxman's late cab rule 'puts staff at risk'
BUSINESS leaders in the Capital say the Government is putting safety at risk by ruling that businesses must pay tax on late-night staff taxis.
Revenue and Customs has recently ruled that there are virtually no circumstances where employees can take taxis home without being taxed.
It is a dramatic change on previous legislation, which allowed tax-free journeys home for late night workers.
Graham Birse, deputy chief executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, believes the change presents a safety risk for vulnerable groups.
He said: "Taxis home paid for by the employer are rarely a treat. They happen because workers are late out on unsociable hours, and are probably vulnerable on, for example, late night buses - if indeed they are available.
"To tax a hospitality company for sending home a mother who has been working until after midnight in the kitchen, to ensure she gets home safe beggars belief. No-one in business is offering 'taxis home' as a perk.
"We need taxation changes to be limited to sensible options. To use them to challenge employee safety is simply absurd."
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