LIFTY // JOURNAL
Bike to Work Application Checklist: Quote, Employer Payment & Collection
What are the main Bike to Work application steps?
Confirm your employer's process, choose an eligible bicycle and equipment, and obtain an itemised quotation. Wait for approval and employer payment before arranging collection or delivery. A quotation is an application document, not proof of approval, payment or a reserved bicycle.
Bike to Work Application Checklist: Quote, Payment & Collection
The Irish Bike to Work Scheme (Cycle to Work Scheme) allows participating employers to purchase a new bicycle, qualifying electric pedelec, or cargo bicycle, along with safety equipment, for an employee via salary sacrifice. Under Revenue regulations, higher-rate taxpayers can save up to 52% on the purchase price. Direct employer bank transfers incur a 0% processing fee, and the live Lifty scheme page states 0% extra fees on vouchers. Check your itemised quotation and the payment route your employer requires.
How the Bike to Work Scheme Operates in 2026
Under Section 118(5G) of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, the Cycle to Work Scheme is an employer-supported benefit-in-kind tax exemption designed to promote cycling for commuting.
The mechanism operates through approved salary sacrifice:
- You select an eligible electric bicycle, cargo bike, or conventional bicycle and qualifying safety accessories from Lifty Electric.
- Lifty issues a formal employer proforma quotation in euro.
- Your employer approves the quotation and pays Lifty Electric directly.
- You agree to a salary sacrifice arrangement where the cost is deducted from your gross salary in equal instalments over a period of up to 12 months.
- Because deductions come out of your gross income before taxes, you do not pay Income Tax, PRSI, or the Universal Social Charge (USC) on that portion of your salary.
Crucial Legal Distinction: You cannot purchase the bicycle personally and later claim reimbursement from your employer. Revenue rules strictly mandate that the employer must make the purchase directly.
Statutory Spending Limits in 2026
Revenue Ireland enforces clear spending caps based on the mechanical category of the bicycle:
Revenue Ireland Statutory Purchase Caps
| Bicycle Classification | Statutory Cap | Qualifying Technical Specifications |
|---|---|---|
| Electric Bicycle / Pedelec | €1,500 | 250W continuous motor, pedal assist, 25 km/h cut-off |
| Cargo Bike / E-Cargo Bike | €3,000 | Frame designed specifically for cargo or passengers |
| Standard Pedal Bicycle | €1,250 | Non-motorised road, gravel, hybrid, or city bicycles |
Note: These caps include the bicycle, qualifying safety equipment (helmets, locks, lights, mudguards), with any additional costs itemised for your employer to assess.
Tax Relief Breakdown: How Saving Up to 52% Works
The total percentage saved depends on your personal marginal tax band:
-
Higher Tax Bracket (Income over €44,000 for single individuals):
Your Income Tax, PRSI and USC position determines your saving. The following 52% figure is an illustrative assumption; payroll must calculate your actual deduction.
An eligible €1,500 e-bike package costs you approximately €720 in net take-home salary reduction. -
Standard Tax Bracket (Income up to €44,000):
The following 31% figure is an illustrative assumption. Your payroll calculation may differ.
An eligible €1,500 e-bike package costs you approximately €1,035 in net take-home salary reduction.
Direct employer payment or a scheme voucher
Use the payment route your employer or scheme provider requires. The current Lifty Bike to Work page states 0% extra fees on vouchers. Check the itemised quotation, the provider requirements and the amount approved by your employer before proceeding.
Do not pay personally and assume your employer can reimburse you tax-free. Revenue says the employer must purchase the bicycle. Lifty can prepare the quotation; HR or payroll confirms approval, deductions and the treatment of any amount over the exemption limit.
Four-Year Eligibility Period Rules
Under Revenue Ireland statutory regulations, you can participate in the Bike to Work Scheme once in any four tax years.
The interval is calculated on a calendar-year tax basis, rather than a rolling 48-month count. For example, if you participated in the scheme at any point during the 2022 calendar year, you become fully eligible again on 1 January 2026.
What Safety Equipment Can Be Included?
Under Revenue rules, eligible safety equipment purchased alongside the bicycle can be bundled into the tax-exempt package:
- Cycle helmets conforming to European standard EN 1078
- Front and rear lights, dynamo packs, and reflectors
- Heavy-duty locks (Sold Secure Gold or Diamond recommended)
- Bells, horns, and rear-view mirrors
- Mudguards and chainguards
- Panniers, luggage racks, straps, and commuter bags
- Puncture repair kits, cycle clips, and tyre pumps
- Reflective jackets, armbands, and high-visibility clothing
Ineligible Items: Child seats, child trailers, helmets for children, sports GPS computers, cycle clothing that is not reflective, and standalone conversion kits are expressly excluded from the scheme.
Watch: apply for Bike to Work, one click at a time
Follow our six-step quotation walkthrough in 3 minutes 37 seconds, with Irish narration, visible clicks and captions. The demonstration uses fictional details and a test PDF. Your employer confirms participation and eligibility.
Read the full video transcript
Let's prepare a Bike to Work quote with Lifty Electric. First check that your employer participates. Choose your e-bike, open its product page, and click Apply with Bike to Work. Continue from the guide into your application.
Enter your name, mobile number, email and employer. These are example details for the demonstration. Choose the provider your employer uses, or select Not sure yet and ask HR. Add your address; Eircode is optional. Then click Continue to step two.
Check the selected bike and its price. Search if you want a different model, then continue to Build Setup.
Choose collection or delivery. Here we select free store collection. Check any optional charges, then continue to the savings estimate.
In Ireland, a grand day can include rain arriving sideways. So we recommend asking about extra weather protection. IP54 means dust and splash protection. IPX5 covers water jets; IPX6 covers stronger jets under specified tests. The X leaves dust protection unspecified. Some bikes already have these ratings, so we check your exact model first. Ask about our suitable IPX5 or IPX6 weather-protection packages, especially for frequent wet-weather commuting. Workshop sealing does not automatically change a certified factory rating. No pressure washing or submersion. Confused? Call Lifty Electric Ireland on +353 1 443 4946. No degree in Irish rain required.
Enter your example salary, choose your pay frequency, and select twelve months. The result is only an illustration; your employer and payroll confirm real deductions. Continue to Review.
Check the bike, package total, employer and contact details. Confirm the details are correct, then proceed to step six.
Over fifteen hundred euro? Grand—the cap isn't your shopping budget. For qualifying e-bikes, an approved employer payment or voucher can cover up to fifteen hundred euro through the scheme. Qualifying cargo bikes get a three thousand euro limit, including eligible safety equipment. Where your employer and provider allow, pay the extra yourself. An eighteen hundred euro package could mean fifteen hundred through the scheme, plus a three hundred euro personal top-up. Agree the split first. With salary sacrifice, you repay the approved amount from gross pay. The cap isn't free money; excess costs receive no extra exemption. Our estimate shows weatherproofing separately.
Click Get My Employer-Ready Quote, wait for the PDF download, then find it in your downloads or Files app.
Open and check your PDF before sending it to your employer. This demonstration uses a test document.
Need a hand with your bike, weather protection or paperwork? Call Lifty Electric Ireland on +353 1 443 4946. Go n-éirí an bóthar leat! See you on Capel Street—and bring the rain. It was coming anyway.
Irish rain: check your bike, then choose extra protection
Four seasons before your first coffee? That’s commuting here. We recommend asking about suitable extra weather protection, especially for frequent wet-weather rides. IP54 means dust protection and splash resistance; IPX5 covers water jets and IPX6 stronger jets under specified tests. X means the dust rating is unspecified. Some bikes already have IPX5 or IPX6 protection: we check your exact model before recommending an optional package.
Workshop sealing does not automatically change a manufacturer’s certified IP rating. Follow the manufacturer’s care instructions; avoid pressure washing and submersion. Optional weatherproofing is priced separately from our tax-exempt estimate.
Over the cap? Still in the saddle.
An approved employer payment or voucher can cover up to €1,500 through the scheme for a qualifying e-bike, or €3,000 for a qualifying cargo bike, including eligible safety equipment. Where your employer and provider allow, you can pay the extra yourself. For example, an €1,800 qualifying e-bike package could mean €1,500 through the scheme plus a €300 personal top-up. Agree the split first. Salary sacrifice repays the agreed amount from gross pay; the cap is not a free grant, and the excess receives no extra exemption.
Not sure which bike or weather package suits you? Call Lifty Electric Ireland on +353 1 443 4946. No degree in Irish rain required.
Step-by-Step Guide to Applying with Lifty Electric
- Select Your Bike: Browse our road-legal pedelecs (including the flagship CUBE Kathmandu Hybrid, Fiido, ENGWE, or lightweight UTO OG16) and accessories.
- Generate Your Quote: Visit our Bike to Work Scheme Hub and enter your bicycle and accessory choices. We generate an official employer-ready proforma invoice.
- Submit to HR / Payroll: Forward the quotation to your employer's HR or payroll team, or submit it through your company's benefits portal.
- Employer Payment: Your employer issues payment via direct bank transfer (0% fee) or issues a third-party voucher.
- Collection or Delivery: Once payment is verified, we confirm stock and preparation timing. Collection or delivery depends on the model and the options on your quote. UTO e-bikes are collection-only.
Start Your Bike to Work Quote Today
Ready to save up to 52% on your daily commute? Generate an official, employer-ready quotation in minutes through our dedicated portal. Our team at 157 Capel Street is available to assist with employer setup and proforma invoicing.
GO TO BIKE TO WORK HUB →Frequently Asked Questions: Irish Bike to Work Scheme
What happens if the e-bike costs more than €1,500?
You still receive full tax relief on the statutory €1,500 limit. The excess amount over €1,500 does not qualify for tax exemption and is settled directly by you, either via payroll deduction from net pay or direct payment to Lifty Electric, depending on your employer's scheme policy.
Can I buy an electric scooter through the Bike to Work Scheme?
No. Under Revenue Ireland rules, electric scooters, mopeds, and motorcycles are expressly excluded from the Bike to Work Scheme. The scheme applies solely to pedal bicycles, qualifying pedelecs, and cargo bikes.
Does my employer have to offer the scheme?
Employer participation is voluntary. Ask HR or payroll whether your employer participates, which supplier or provider rules apply and how your quotation should be submitted.
Can I use the bicycle at weekends?
Yes. Under Revenue guidance, the bicycle must be used mainly for qualifying work journeys (commuting between home and work or between workplaces), but leisure and weekend cycling is entirely permitted.
Explore Connected E-Bike Guides & Catalogs
Review our connected buying guides, reviews, and workshop resources:
Read next: Bike to Work Scheme Ireland: the complete guide: limits, savings, the 4-year rule and how to apply.
Before you send the quote to HR: a final check
Match the quotation to the exact bike and variant, the itemised equipment, the current price and the employer named on it. A quotation prepares the review. It does not mean your employer has approved it, set up payroll deductions or paid.
Use seven fields: document reference and date; bicycle identity; selected options; bicycle price; additional items and separate costs; confirmed submission route; unresolved questions. Put a check beside a field only when you have compared it with a source or received the necessary confirmation.
A blank field is useful information. It tells you where a question remains. The checklist should not force a green “approved” result simply because you reached its last row. Stop the submission when a mismatch could change the purchase or the amount your employer is asked to approve.
Submit once, then record what happened
After submission, keep the receipt or provider reference if one is issued. Distinguish that receipt from approval. If no receipt appears, follow the employer’s normal process for checking status rather than sending repeated applications to several destinations.
When the purchase is approved, confirm the next step with the retailer and employer. Keep the final quotation with the eventual purchase record. If the bicycle or amount changes again, obtain the appropriate revision instead of using an old approval as if it described the new choice.
