OctoTariffs

Electric cars

Charging a company EV at home on an Octopus tariff

What to sort out when you charge a company or salary-sacrifice EV at home on Octopus Go or Intelligent Go: records, reimbursement and the whole-home cost.

Edited by Rob Gibbs. Published: . Guidance reviewed: .

Methodology · Corrections

Short answer

You pay Octopus for all the electricity, including the car’s. Whether your employer pays you back depends on its policy. Keep records of the kWh the car used and the rate you paid. On Intelligent Go most charging is at the off-peak rate, which keeps the reimbursement simple.

Agree how you will be reimbursed

Employers handle home charging differently: some pay a mileage rate, some pay the actual electricity cost, some pay nothing. Agree the method before choosing a tariff, because it changes which records you need.

Records worth keeping

Keep these each month:

  • The kWh delivered to the car, from the car or charger app.
  • The rate you paid, from your Octopus bill or this site’s regional history.
  • Your Octopus bill for the period.

Which tariff makes it simplest

Intelligent Go bills its smart charging at the off-peak rate, so one rate covers most of the car’s energy. On Agile every half hour has a different price, so you would need half-hourly records to show the real cost.

Questions people ask

Can my employer pay Octopus directly?

Your Octopus account covers the whole home, so reimbursement normally goes through your employer’s expenses process. Ask your employer what it accepts.

Is there tax on home charging reimbursement?

Tax treatment depends on the arrangement. Check HMRC guidance or your employer’s payroll team rather than relying on a tariff guide.

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