Information

‘Red diesel’ is a fuel used in off-road vehicles and machinery. It is only used in a small number of industries, most prominently agriculture, where users are entitled to a rebate on the tax or duty paid on the fuel purchased. It was permitted for use in construction until 31 March 2022.

Red diesel is the same as regular white diesel but with a red dye and chemical markers added to it to prevent its misuse in road vehicles.

The Government announced in the Budget 2020 that the entitlement to use rebated red diesel or rebated biofuels (e.g. Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil – HVO) would be removed from most sectors, including construction, from 1 April 2022.

This means it is illegal to put red diesel into the tank of a vehicle or machine that will be used for construction work.

There is now an additional financial incentive for businesses in construction to reduce their reliance on diesel, and Build UK’s ‘Drive Out Diesel’ guide contains a range of tips to use less diesel, go alternative and use more electric plant and equipment on site.

For a short period of time, businesses may find that traces of red diesel are still present in the fuel tanks of vehicles or machines on site as the fuel is used up before being replaced with white diesel. How long this will take will depend on the type of vehicle or machine, the size of its fuel tank, its rate of fuel consumption and how frequently it is used.

Businesses that have red diesel purchased prior to 1 April 2022 but are no longer entitled to use it should run down the fuel in their vehicles and machines and use up any existing stocks in storage. Businesses are not expected to flush out all traces of red diesel from storage tanks but should empty and refill them with white diesel before putting fuel into their vehicles or machines now the rules have changed.

There is also a possibility that traces of red diesel may be found where plant and equipment is used for both entitled and non-entitled purposes (such as agriculture and construction work).

HMRC is clear that tanks must either be flushed to remove all traces of red diesel when switching from entitled to non-entitled use or fuelled with white diesel for all uses. Hire companies should always complete a post-hire inspection when plant and equipment is returned to them which should note what fuel was in the vehicle.

Businesses should always check what fuel is in the tank and/or engine before starting operation. If red diesel is found, businesses should not use the plant or equipment until they have confirmed whether the red diesel was added before 1 April or after that date. If the red diesel was added after that, they must flush the tank, refill with the correct fuel and evidence should be kept to prove that this was done (see question 7 below).

If the plant or equipment was hired, businesses should contact the hire company and inform them that the vehicle or machine contained the wrong fuel for the intended use when hired.

Plant owners should confirm whether their plant and equipment is to be used for an entitled purpose or not. If being used for construction work, it is illegal to use red diesel.

Hire companies should make their customers aware that the fuel they are permitted to use depends on the use of the vehicle or machine. Hire companies should always ask what the vehicle or machine will be used for and, if it is unclear whether it is for an entitled purpose, then it should be fuelled with white diesel.

Contractors should ensure that the plant and equipment they use on site is always filled with the correct fuel – if diesel, then it must be white diesel.

Suppliers who are Registered Dealers in Controlled Oil (RDCOs) should make their customers aware of the rule changes and no longer supply them with red diesel.

HMRC officers may carry out checks on any plant and equipment using diesel to confirm the correct fuel is being used.

If they find traces of red diesel in the fuel supply of a vehicle or machine that is not entitled to use it, they may ask the business to provide evidence to demonstrate that any rebated fuel in the vehicle or machine was put in before the rules changed and is still being used up.

In this situation, HMRC has confirmed it will take a pragmatic approach to enforcement and consider the steps taken to switch to using fully duty-paid diesel.

Where rebated fuel is used in a vehicle or machine that is not entitled to use it, HMRC can seize the vehicle or machine and issue a fine of £250. HMRC may also apply a penalty up to 100% of the duty that has been evaded depending on the offence.

Businesses should ensure they have the following documents in the event that HMRC has to assess whether plant or equipment was filled with the correct fuel:

• Receipts or invoices for the purchase of fuel
• Contracts for the hire of plant or equipment
• Run plans
• Time sheets of drivers/operators

Businesses will need to show that they have been refilling with the correct fuel since the rules changed, e.g. by showing receipts for the purchase of white diesel.

Businesses may use up rebated fuel held in storage tanks for the purposes of emergency back-up power generation (where a generator is used to provide continuity of power in the event of power failure) after the rules change.

Companies are permitted to add dye or chemical markers to fuel as long as the dye or chemical markers do not:

• contain any of the prescribed Government markers listed in Regulation 3 of the Hydrocarbon Oil (Marking) Regulations 2002
• test positive for any of the prescribed markers
• affect or impede HMRC’s ability to test for the prescribed fuel markers.

Red diesel contains a chemical marker which HMRC will look for when testing diesel. Companies planning to add dye to their fuel, for example to act as a deterrent against theft, should give careful consideration to the colour they intend to use as HMRC officers are likely to test any visibly coloured fuel to determine its contents.

1. Identify all plant and equipment you own, hire, lease or use that uses diesel

2. Ensure any existing stocks of red diesel are being run down and that your diesel supplier is no longer supplying you with red diesel

3. Confirm a schedule for moving to white diesel, including flushing out tanks

4. Review all your contracts with both clients and suppliers for any potential price implications from the loss of entitlement

5. Discuss with your clients the cost implications of plant and equipment now using white diesel

6. Consider how you can reduce the use of diesel on site and switch to alternative sources of fuel or electric plant and equipment, as outlined in Build UK’s ‘Drive Out Diesel‘ guide