Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is a tax on property or land purchased over a certain price in England and Northen Ireland. Currently the thresholds up to 31st March 2025 are: These thresholds are then taxed at different rates depending on the value of the property/land regardless of the purpose of the purchase. Since the…Read More
If you buy, purchase, or inherit property with another individual, you must decide how you want to ‘hold’ the property together. Under UK law you can become a joint owner as either ‘joint tenants’ or ‘tenants in common’. The type of ownership you choose affects what you can do with the property if your relationship…Read More
What are consent to let mortgages? Consent to let mortgage is a formal, written agreement between you and your mortgage lender which gives you permission to rent out your home for a short period of time. It is the only legal way that you can rent out your house on a residential mortgage. It is…Read More
Salary sacrifice is a scheme that allows employees to exchange part of their salary in favour of savings for the future. The savings can take many non-cash benefit forms such as pension contributions. As employees are giving up a portion of their salary in favour of pension contributions their gross pay will decrease. Therefore, the…Read More
What does ‘allowable expense’ mean? An allowable expense is a cost solely for business purposes. Allowable expenses reduce a company’s taxable profits, which reduces its corporation tax liability (the amount the company owes the government in taxes). What would classify as an allowable expense? All expenses must have been incurred “wholly and exclusively” for…Read More
Gifting property is where the ownership of the property is transferred without compensation. However, when gifting a property, there are many rules when it comes to taxes making the matter more complex. In particular, the concept of “gifts with reservation” has significant implications for both the donor and the recipient. Understanding these implications is crucial…Read More
A residential property occupied by three or more occupants with shared facilities is what defines an HMO. You must be licensed if you are an HMO with five or more occupants. Licensing can come under three categories. Legally required licensing is called mandatory licensing. This is specifically required by the Housing Act 2004. The only…Read More
In recent months, we’ve seen the base rate steadily increase by the Bank of England. Despite this making it more difficult for those on the housing market, this rate increase should only have a minimal effect on the benefits of investing in property. As interest rates increase, property prices should fall alongside them. This will…Read More
Gifting a property can be an attractive option for transferring ownership in the UK. However, it’s crucial to understand the tax implications and regulations surrounding property gifting. In this blog, we will address two common questions: whether capital gains tax (CGT) applies to gifted properties and whether it is possible to gift a property under…Read More
Much like your main residence, your rental property will need more touching up than others. Some years you may need to replace a few more items than you would hope and ultimately you may end up spending more on the property than you receive in rental income. Perhaps you’ve stopped renting your property for a…Read More
Private residence relief (PPR) applies to the sale of a residence that has been an individual’s only or principal residence for the period of time they have owned it. If you sell a property, once rented out, you will have to pay Capital Gains Tax within 60 days of selling the property. This tax is…Read More
If you are a private landlord owning multiple properties, you will be paying tax via your self-assessment tax return at your marginal rate of tax, this could be up to 45% if you’re an additional rate taxpayer. This tax is due on your profits (income minus expenses), and mortgage interest is not an allowable expense,…Read More
If you are a private landlord owning multiple properties, you will be paying tax via your self-assessment tax return at your marginal rate of tax, this could be up to 45% if you’re an additional rate taxpayer. This tax is due on your profits (income minus expenses), and mortgage interest is not an allowable expense,…Read More
As a UK accountant, one of the questions we often receive from clients is whether a loss from previous years can be used to offset capital gains tax on a new sale. The short answer is yes, it is possible to use losses from previous years to reduce capital gains tax on a new sale.…Read More
Private residence relief (PPR) applies to the sale of a residence that has been an individual’s only or principal residence for the period of time they have owned it. If you sell a property, once rented out, you will have to pay Capital Gains Tax within 60 days of selling the property. This tax is…Read More
Never call an accountant a credit to his profession; a good accountant is a debit to his profession.
Charles Lyell
