Leasing a bike is not only good for the planet, it is also great for your wallet. Both employees and employers benefit from smart tax advantages, less administration, and more satisfaction at work.
But what does it really cost, and how can you finance it as an employer?
In this blog, we explain it clearly: the different financing options, how to set up a cost-neutral plan, and what it actually means for you or your team members, in euros and in benefits.
How can employers finance bike leasing
As an employer, you basically have two options: cost-neutral or non-cost-neutral.
Option 1: cost-neutral
In a cost-neutral setup, the employee finances the leased bike themselves through a form of salary exchange.
That can happen in several ways, depending on what is allowed within your sector or company. Note that this is not possible in every sector.
👉 Example:
- In the healthcare sector (PC 330), employees can use their year-end bonus to finance their bike lease.
- In PC 319 (disability care, youth welfare, social work), this is not yet allowed, although many organizations are hoping for that change soon.
💡 More on this: How to offer bike leasing budget-neutrally
Possible financing options
- Year-end bonus (recommended):
The most interesting option, since the bonus is taxed more heavily than regular salary. Using part of it for a bike lease makes much smarter use of that money.
➕ It is easy to manage, tax-efficient, and very popular in sectors with fixed annual bonuses.
- Monthly gross salary exchange:
The employee exchanges a small part of their gross salary for the lease cost. The net impact stays low, and the effect on social rights or pension is minimal.
- Bonus:
A bonus can be used to finance a lease bike, either through an annual payment or a one-time settlement for the full term.
- Mobility budget:
Employees can use part of their mobility budget for a bike lease, possibly combined with public transport or shared mobility.
- Monthly net salary exchange:
The least interesting option, since the lease is paid with net salary, which ends up being more expensive than buying outright because it includes insurance, service, and roadside assistance.
➕ The upside? The employee can start right away, everything is included, and the cost is spread over time.
Option 2: non-cost-neutral
Here, the employer covers most or all of the lease cost.
You can see it as a salary increase, but without the extra taxes and social charges that come with a traditional raise.
In practice:
The employee receives a bike as a benefit in kind, while the employer avoids additional social or tax contributions.
You can also co-finance, for example pay part of the lease so the employee contributes only a small amount. That way, you increase the value of your salary package, promote sustainable commuting, and boost your employer brand, all without significantly increasing total labor costs.
Fiscale conditions
- Commute requirement
The bike must be used regularly for commuting. That can be just part of the trip (for example cycling to the train station) and does not have to be daily or year-round. Someone who cycles daily in summer and less in winter is perfectly fine (and understandable 🥶). On top of that, a commute allowance can give you a nice little extra every month!
- Sector rules on salary flexibility
Salary exchange for bike leasing must be allowed within your sector. This means your sector defines whether salary can only be paid out in cash, or whether employees may exchange part of it for benefits like a leased bike. That permission can be established by the parity committee, or by collective labor agreements or union accords within the company.
- No below-minimum salaries
A key condition is that salary exchange can never reduce gross salary below the legal minimum or pay scale. Employees paid strictly according to barema wages (like many blue-collar roles) can therefore not exchange gross salary for a bike lease.
That does not mean bike leasing is impossible for them, it just requires another approach. Employers can still offer bike leasing via a year-end bonus, bonus, net salary exchange, or mobility budget without changing the base salary.
Many parity committees that work with fixed pay scales are eagerly awaiting legal approval to make year-end bonus leasing possible too. Without that approval, employers and employees in those sectors remain on the sidelines for now.
Example calculation: how much do employees save with bike leasing
To really understand the advantage of bike leasing, let’s look at a concrete example.
Situation
- Employee with gross salary of €3,000/month
- Employer contribution: 27%
- Total bike lease cost: €1,200/year → €100/month
- Lease term: 36 months
1. Bike on top of salary
The employer pays the lease fully on top of the existing salary.
Impact for the employer:
Annual lease cost = €1,200
Total cost for the employer = €1,200/year
👉 The employee pays nothing, the employer covers the full cost.
👉 The bike appears as a benefit in kind (tax-free if used regularly for commuting).
2. Gross salary exchange (cost-neutral for employer)
The employee exchanges a small part of their gross salary for the bike lease.
Example: total lease cost = €3,600 over 36 months → €100 per month. The employer wants to offer this budget-neutrally. With an employer contribution of 27.25% and an annual year-end bonus, the calculation results in a monthly salary exchange of €68.72 (or about €824.64 per year).
Net salary decreases by around €50 per month, or €600 per year, depending on the tax bracket.
💡 The employee only pays about half of the real lease cost thanks to tax optimization.
💡 For the employer, the total salary cost remains unchanged.
3. Year-end bonus exchange (cost-neutral for employer)
The bike is financed through part of the year-end bonus.
Example: gross bonus = €3,000 + 27% employer contribution = €3,810 total budget.
- Annual lease cost: €1,200
- Remaining bonus budget: €3,810 – €1,200 = €2,610
- New gross bonus: €2,610 / 1.27 = €2,055.12
👉 Gross bonus impact = -€945
👉 Net impact = about -€615/year
💡 The employee gives up a small part of the bonus but gets a bike and service package in return.
💡 For the employer, total salary cost stays the same.
4. Net payment (also cost-neutral for employer)
Impact for the employee:
- Monthly deduction of €100 from the net salary
- Net difference: about €1,200 per year
👉 This is the least interesting option for the employee, as there are no tax advantages.
👉 For the employer, it is cost-neutral.
Summary of the options
💡 The employer can also choose to cover part of the cost, keeping it budget-neutral while increasing employee satisfaction and appreciation.
In short
- Bike leasing remains budget-neutral for the employer
- The employee pays only a fraction of the real price and saves up to 50% compared to buying privately
A win-win on every level: financial, practical, and sustainable.
💡 Discover how bike leasing works at Joule as an employee.
Calculate your own bike lease cost
Do you already have a bike in mind and want to estimate the lease cost yourself? Try our calculator. It gives an indication of the monthly lease price and the impact on salary.
Note: the calculator uses general parameters.
💡 Want to dive deeper into cost calculations? Read our blog How to calculate bike leasing, including lease pricing, legal framework, and key principles.
Example calculation for employers
Let’s make it concrete. Suppose as an employer you pay an employee a year-end bonus of €3,900. That amount consists of €3,000 gross + €900 employer contribution.
- Without bike leasing, you pay €3,900, but the employee only receives the €3,000 gross (on which social security and taxes are due). The €900 contribution disappears into general wage costs.
- With bike leasing, the total cost of €3,900 stays the same, but it is used more smartly: the €900 employer contribution is added to the bike leasing budget. The employee thus has a larger flexible budget for a bike lease, including maintenance, insurance, and roadside assistance.
In short:
- For the employer, it remains cost-neutral.
- For the employee, the real value of the benefit increases since the full budget (including the employer contribution) is used for the lease.
Beyond the numbers, offering bike leasing gives employees a tangible, tax-friendly, and sustainable benefit they enjoy every day. It improves satisfaction, retention, and employer branding, all without extra wage costs.
You pay the same, but you get happier, more motivated, and healthier employees in return.
Get your organization moving with bike leasing
Whether you are an employer promoting sustainable mobility or an employee who wants to commute smarter, bike leasing is one of the most rewarding choices you can make.
Want to see all the benefits for both employer and employee? Read this blog: "The benefits of bike leasing for employees and employers"
👉 Ready to discover what bike leasing can do for your organization?
Get in touch through the form below, we will be happy to help you get started.
Alles verliep zeer vlot. Geen extra papierwerk, alles werd door Joules geregeld. Heel tevreden over de service.
Goede communicatie en uitleg. De persoon die het concept is komen voorstellen heeft dit duidelijk gedaan. De testritten waren ook goed georganiseerd.
Top ervaring! Klantenservice is top. Je kan er terecht met al je vragen en ze blijven altijd even vriendelijk. En ik heb best veel vragen gesteld. Levering was top. Zeker een aanrader voor iedereen.
Vlotte service, snel antwoord en zeer vlot in gebruik. De offertes van de fietsenwinkel werden snel verwerkt en overzichtelijk afgeleverd in een leasing-formule.
Heel gemakkelijk dat de technieker op het werk komt! De technieker was vriendelijk. Onderhoud was snel gedaan. Ik heb heel gemakkelijk de afspraak kunnen wijzigen. Ik heb daarvoor een heel vriendelijke en behulpzame persoon aan de lijn gehad.
Jouw vragen,
onze antwoorden
How does bike allowance work?
The bike allowance can be combined with a lease bike, within the legal limits. Your employer decides the rate and administration (for example, by registering commuting days). The allowance is exempt from taxes and social security contributions up to €0.36 per kilometer, which further increases your net benefit. This way, your sustainable choice is rewarded twice — with a lower net cost through leasing and an extra allowance for every commute by bike.
How much do I save with a bike lease compared to buying privately?
That depends on your tax rate, salary structure (e.g. gross salary exchange or bonus), lease term, and service package. On average, employees save tens of euros per month, plus extra savings on maintenance and insurance. The calculator gives you a personal simulation comparing lease vs. private purchase, and shows how the bike allowance further increases your benefit. That way, you can make an informed and transparent decision.
Is the benefit of a leased bike taxable in Belgium?
No — the benefit of a company-leased bike is exempt from taxes and social security contributions, as long as you use the bike regularly for commuting. That makes it much more tax-efficient than an equivalent cash benefit.
Keep in mind: accessories or extras outside the lease package may follow different rules. When in doubt, check your company bike policy or with your payroll provider. You can see how this exemption increases your net savings in the Joule calculator.
What’s the difference between gross and net salary exchange?
With a gross salary exchange, you swap part of your pre-tax salary for a leased bike. This means you pay less in taxes and social security, reducing your net monthly cost.
With a net salary exchange, you pay with post-tax money, making it simpler but less beneficial.
In short:
- Gross salary exchange = tax-efficient, lower net cost.
- Net salary exchange = straightforward, but more expensive.
With a gross salary exchange, you can save up to 50% compared to a private purchase.
What are the tax benefits of bike leasing for employers?
The lease cost is 100% tax-deductible as a business expense, with no social security contributions and no CO₂ solidarity contribution. You can organize it cost-neutrally through a gross salary exchange or a cafeteria plan. The bike allowance also remains tax- and social security–exempt within legal limits. Together, this results in a strong TCO reduction and a clear message in your ESG and CSRD reports.
Are bike leasing costs 100% tax-deductible?
Yes, lease invoices are fully deductible as business expenses. This also applies to services such as maintenance, insurance, and roadside assistance, as long as they’re part of the professional plan. It helps keep the total employer cost low and predictable.
Does the employer have to pay social security on the benefit of a leased bike?
No, there are no social security contributions on the benefit of a leased bike, as long as it’s used regularly for commuting. Make sure this is clearly stated in your policy. This keeps the bike more tax-efficient than a salary increase or cash bonus.
Is bike leasing cost-neutral for the employer?
Yes, bike leasing is completely cost-neutral for employers — provided it’s set up correctly through a gross salary exchange, year-end bonus, incentive, or mobility budget. The employee funds (part of) the lease through their pay, while the employer’s contribution is reallocated within the lease budget.
This keeps the total payroll cost identical, while employees gain a tangible benefit — a bike with maintenance, insurance, and roadside assistance included.
For the employer, it’s a zero-cost mobility upgrade that boosts sustainability, wellbeing, and employer branding.
What are the leasing costs for the employer?
Bike leasing is 100% tax-deductible and exempt from social security contributions. VAT is not recoverable, but it doesn’t create an extra cost since it’s included in the package.
As an employer, you are completely free to determine what portion of the cost of the bike lease you will contribute:
- Full or partial payment: the employer pays (part of) the amount for the bicycle lease.
- Cost-neutral for the employer: the bicycle lease is passed on to the employee through a deduction from net pay or through salary.
Can bike leasing be combined with company cars in a mobility plan?
Yes, definitely. Bike leasing and company cars can perfectly coexist within a single mobility plan. More and more employers offer both options, allowing employees to choose the most efficient, sustainable, or practical mode of transport for each trip.
An employee might use a car for long distances or client visits, and a bike for shorter commutes or city travel. This reduces parking pressure, fuel costs, and improves overall employee wellbeing.
Within a hybrid mobility strategy, Joule easily integrates bikes with other transport options such as public transport, shared cars, or pool vehicles. With the Joule Hub and a clear mobility policy, everything stays organized and hassle-free.
How is the employer contribution included in the bike lease calculation?
The employer contribution (around 27%) is used more efficiently in a bike lease. Normally, this amount goes to social security and doesn’t increase the employee’s total reward. In a lease, the contribution is added to the bike lease budget, meaning the employee gets a larger budget to finance their bike and service package — without any extra cost for the employer.
It turns a fixed payroll cost into a tangible and valuable benefit for your team.
How do I calculate my net benefit with the Joule calculator?
The Joule calculator makes it easy to see your personal savings.
Simply enter your gross salary, lease price, and chosen bike — the tool automatically calculates your monthly net cost, factoring in tax exemptions, social security impact, and the included service package. You’ll instantly see how much you save compared to buying privately — often up to 40–50% less.
The calculator takes into account your salary profile, tax rate, and lease duration, giving you a realistic picture of your total benefit.
Does bike leasing affect my pension or social benefits?
The impact of bike leasing on your pension and social rights is minimal.
With a gross salary exchange, your gross income drops slightly, but only for the portion swapped for the bike. You continue contributing to your pension and social rights based on your adjusted salary. In practice, the effect is barely noticeable — while the tax savings are significant.
In short: you give up a small part of your gross salary but gain comfort, wellbeing, and fiscal advantage in return.
