Sylvie Willis
If you use your own vehicle for work, you may be able to claim tax relief on the approved mileage rate, which covers the cost of owning and running your vehicle, including fuel and electricity. This does not include travelling to and from your place of work, unless it is a temporary workplace. In addition to this, there are other types of fuel allowances that you may be able to claim, such as the Winter Fuel Payment, which helps with heating bills during winter, and the Fuel Allowance, which is a payment to help with the cost of heating your home during the winter months.
How to claim car fuel allowance
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of allowance | Fuel Allowance, Winter Fuel Payment, Car fuel tax relief |
| Who can claim | People on Jobseeker's Allowance, Carer's Allowance, Jobseeker's Transitional Payment, Farm Assist, One-Parent Family Payment, people who use their own vehicle for work, people over 66 |
| Conditions | Income must be less than the maximum State Pension, only one payment per household, for work use does not include travel to and from work |
| Amount | €33 per week, £200-£300 for winter 2024-2025 |
| How to claim | Apply through local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office, fill out Form 8849 |
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What You'll Learn
Claiming car fuel tax relief
If you use your own vehicle for work, you may be able to claim tax relief on the approved mileage rate. This covers the cost of owning and running your vehicle, including fuel and electricity for business trips in your company car. The amount you can claim depends on whether you're using a vehicle that you've bought or leased with your own money, or one that is owned or leased by your employer. It's important to note that you cannot claim tax relief for travelling to and from your workplace, unless you're travelling to a temporary place of work.
You can claim tax relief for the current tax year and the four previous tax years, provided you're eligible. If you've paid a section 4081 tax on taxable fuel to the government, you can use Schedule 5 (Form 8849) to claim a refund if a prior section 4081 tax on that fuel has also been paid and reported.
In the context of job-seeking, Fuel Allowance is a separate benefit available in certain countries or regions, such as Ireland and the UK. This benefit provides support for heating costs during the winter months, and the eligibility criteria vary based on factors like income, pension status, and the presence of a qualified dependent or cohabitant.
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Qualifying for fuel allowance
Fuel Allowance is a payment intended to help with the cost of heating your home during the winter months. The Fuel Allowance season typically starts in late September of each year and lasts until April. The current rate of Fuel Allowance is €33 per week, although this may vary depending on your location and eligibility.
To qualify for Fuel Allowance, your income must be below a certain threshold, known as the 'assessable income limit'. This limit is calculated by taking the maximum State Pension (Contributory), including any increases for dependents or living alone, and adding an additional €200. For example, for a single person aged 66 in 2025, the maximum State Pension is €289.30, resulting in a total weekly income limit of €489.30. It's important to note that the income limit may be higher if you choose to defer your pension, as it would then be adjusted to your higher rate of State Pension plus €200.
In addition to the income requirements, there are specific conditions you must meet to qualify for Fuel Allowance. Firstly, you must live alone or with a spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant who meets certain criteria. This includes qualifying for an increase in your pension or social welfare payment or receiving a qualifying payment, such as Carer's Allowance or Jobseeker's Allowance, in their own right. If you are receiving Jobseeker's Allowance, your partner can be considered a qualified adult on your payment if they are on a Community Employment (CE) scheme and you apply for Fuel Allowance.
Furthermore, if you are under the age of 66 and receiving a qualifying social welfare payment from Ireland, the EU, or any other recognised country, you may be eligible for Fuel Allowance provided you also satisfy a means test. It is worth noting that only one person per household can receive this payment, and certain qualifying payments, such as Jobseeker's Allowance and Farm Assist, require you to apply through a local office rather than using the online application service.
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Applying for fuel allowance
To apply for a fuel allowance, you must meet certain eligibility criteria. The fuel allowance is a payment to help with the cost of heating your home during the winter months and is only paid to one person in a household. The fuel allowance season usually begins in late September of each year and ends in April. The current rate of fuel allowance is €33 per week, and you can choose to receive the payment weekly or in two instalments.
To qualify for the fuel allowance, your income must be less than the maximum state pension (contributory), including any increases for dependents or living alone, plus an additional €200. This is called the 'assessable income limit'. For example, if the maximum state pension (contributory) for a single person aged 66 is €289.30, the total weekly income limit would be €489.30 (€289.30 + €200). You can also qualify for the fuel allowance if you have been receiving Jobseeker's Allowance for more than 312 days. If you are under the age of 66 and receiving a qualifying social welfare payment from Ireland, the EU, or any other qualifying country, you may also be eligible.
If you are getting Jobseeker's Allowance, and your spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant is on a Community Employment (CE) scheme, they can be considered a qualified adult on your payment if you apply for the Fuel Allowance. You can also keep your Fuel Allowance if you move to Jobseeker's Allowance from certain other payments, such as One Parent Family Payment, Carer's Allowance, or Jobseeker's Transitional Payment.
To apply for the fuel allowance, you can use the online application service if you are not getting any of the following: Jobseeker's Allowance, Jobseeker's Transitional Payment, Farm Assist, or One-Parent Family Payment. If you are receiving any of these payments, you must apply through your local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office. If a member of your household is aged 66 or over, they should apply as they may qualify more easily.
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Winter fuel payment
To qualify for Fuel Allowance, your income must be less than the maximum State Pension (Contributory), including any increases you could get for dependents or living alone, plus an additional €200. This is called the ‘assessable income limit’. For example, for 2025, the maximum State Pension (Contributory) for a single person aged 66 is €289.30. You then add €200 to get a total weekly income limit of €489.30.
Most people get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically if they’re eligible and are getting other benefits like Pension Credit, Income Support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit, and Universal Credit. You will be paid automatically if you meet the new benefit eligibility criteria, received a payment last winter, and your circumstances have not changed.
If you are eligible and live abroad, you will need to claim the Winter Fuel Payment. You can claim by filling in a Winter Fuel Payment claim form for UK residents and sending it to the Winter Fuel Payment Centre. You can also claim through your journal if you get Universal Credit. You will receive a message explaining how to claim. You will need your national insurance number, the date of your marriage or civil partnership, and your bank details. You will also need to specify whether, during the qualifying week (16 to 22 September), you were in hospital, a residential care home, or in prison.
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Claiming a tax refund on fuel
If you use your own vehicle for work, you may be able to claim tax relief on the money you've spent on fuel and electricity for business trips in your company car. This does not include travelling to and from your work, unless it's a temporary place of work.
The amount you can claim depends on whether you're using a vehicle that you've bought or leased with your own money, or a vehicle owned or leased by your employer (a company vehicle). You can claim for the current tax year and the four previous tax years, if you're eligible.
If you use your own vehicle or vehicles for work, you may be able to claim tax relief on the approved mileage rate. This covers the cost of owning and running your vehicle. You cannot claim separately for things like mileage allowance.
In the US, the Fuel Tax Credit (FTC) is a refundable tax credit for fuel used for off-highway business and farming purposes. The credit is available only for non-taxable uses of gasoline, aviation gasoline, undyed diesel, and undyed kerosene. The Fuel Tax Credit is not available to most taxpayers.
In Texas, you can request a refund of taxes paid on gasoline, CNG, or LNG used in off-highway equipment. This includes off-highway vehicles, stationary engines, motorboats, aircraft, locomotives, and other motor vehicles not registered for use on public highways. To request a refund, you must submit Form 06-106, Texas Claim for Refund of Gasoline or Diesel Fuel Taxes.
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Frequently asked questions
A fuel allowance is a payment to help with the cost of heating your home during the winter months.
To qualify for a fuel allowance, you must live alone or with a spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant who qualifies for an increase in your pension or social welfare payment. You must also have a means of less than the maximum state pension, including any increases for dependents or living alone, plus an additional €200.
The current rate of the fuel allowance is €33 per week. For the 2024/2025 season, you can receive a total of €861 paid weekly or in two instalments.
If you live in Ireland, you can apply for the fuel allowance through your local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office. If you live abroad, you will need to claim the Winter Fuel Payment by contacting the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
You may be able to claim tax relief on the money you've spent on fuel for business trips in your company car.
