Questions and Answers
Can I transfer my van to my business?
I have set up my own window cleaning business. I have a van that I’ve owned for a couple of years, am I able to put it through the business?
Last updated 1 Jul 2026 | First published 26 Feb 2016
By Helen Wood, CA 1 min read
Bookkeeping
Assuming there is business use of the van, yes, you can transfer the van to the business and there is some tax relief available. The van would be transferred on your first day of trading at its market value.
The tax and accounting treatment of the van will depend on whether your business accounts are drawn up using the cash basis (which is HMRC’s default for sole traders) or the accruals basis.
Cash basis
Under the cash basis, all expenses are deducted in the current accounting period. You should deduct the market value of the van as an allowance expense, and maintenance costs can also be deducted.
Accruals basis
If you originally bought the van for personal use, the van will be eligible for the writing down allowance each year, on a reducing balance basis. The writing down allowance is presently 14% for second-hand vans, because they are deemed to be plant and machinery.
It’s unlikely to apply here, but if you purchased the van in anticipation of the business and it was classed as pre-trading expenditure, it could qualify for the Annual investment Allowance (AIA). Under the AIA, you could have up to 100% tax relief on the market value of the van.
Under either the cash basis or the accruals basis, any claim would be restricted for any private use.
Need more help?
There are lots of planning points to consider surround the tax relief on cars and vans. If you would like to discuss your circumstances in more detail, contact us on 0203 8276 333 or via our online form to speak to your trusted, local TaxAssist Accountant.
Last updated 1 Jul 2026 | First published 26 Feb 2016
This article is intended to inform rather than advise and is based on legislation and practice at the time. Taxpayer’s circumstances do vary and if you feel that the information provided is beneficial it is important that you contact us before implementation. If you take, or do not take action as a result of reading this article, before receiving our written endorsement, we will accept no responsibility for any financial loss incurred.
Helen Wood, CA
Helen is a qualified chartered accountant (CA) and joined TaxAssist in 2025 following three years as a freelance content writer for clients in the tax and accounting publishing sector. Prior to this, She spent 17 years at Big Four and Top 10 accountancy firms. Helen writes clear and helpful articles on tax and accounting for businesses and individuals.
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