>> Bus Service Operators Grant (Local Registered Services/ PSV310/PSV311)
EP Morris & Co are responsible for the certification of over two thirds of the Department for Transport’s annual expenditure on what was previously called Fuel Duty Rebate (FDR) but now referred to as Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG). As part of the certification process we provide a full service, from the initiation / registration of claims with the Department of Transport (DfT), through to their presentation and the resolution of any subsequent enquiries made by the Department’s Claims Inspectors.
In recent years the DfT have extended the BSOG scheme to cover different types of operations. These include:
>> Section 19 Community Transport Claims
Since 2002 Section 19 permit holders have been entitled to claim BSOG on Community Transport (CT) operations. From our audits and speaking to operators, we have found the quality of record keeping amongst operators to be of a high standard, making the certification a relatively simple procedure. In fact, the complexity of the legislation to include section 19 permit holders has led to too many records being created, some of which are not strictly necessary. Although there are those CT operators who will “self-certify” their own claims due to the size of the business, larger operators may benefit from the experience that we can offer and ultimately be surprised by the amount of BSOG that they are entitled to claim in comparison to the cost of certification. It should also be noted that we have been successful in making retrospective claims back to 2002 for several Section 19 operators.
>> Demand Responsive Claims
Amendments to the Transport Act in February 2004 resulted in Demand Responsive Services becoming eligible for BSOG. Although the change in legislation applies to only England and Wales, it is possible to claim the ‘core’ section of route for services operating in Scotland.
>> Rail Replacement Services
Following consultation with the DfT in May 2002 we secured the payment of BSOG to operators who undertake unregistered rail replacement services directly for Train Operating Companies (TOC’s).
>> Coach BSOG
The DfT introduced Coach BSOG for operators of regular longer distance express services. Unlike traditional BSOG claims the Coach BSOG scheme is ‘fare-based’, rather than ‘mileage based’. The basic criteria for eligibility is that half-price fares must be available for the disabled and persons over the age of 60 – with the DfT reimbursing the operator for revenue foregone less an adjustment for ‘generation’. It is possible for an operator to receive both BSOG and Coach BSOG where routes are registered in part. Certifications for Coach BSOG claims amount to around ninety percent of the DfT expenditure
The BSOG team is headed by Matthew Hanlon, a graduate in Accounting & Finance and a qualified Chartered Certified Accountant. The team consists of three qualified accountants, four senior auditors and five assistant auditors. For further information on how we can assist you in the preparation through to the certification of your BSOG claim, please contact Matthew Hanlon at E P Morris on 01527 556940 or e-mail epm@epmorris.co.uk.
