If you receive rental income that exceeds your total expenses, allowances and reliefs, then you are required to pay tax on this income by submitting a tax return. If your rental property generates a loss, you may want to voluntarily disclose it because this allows you to make use of the loss in the future should the property turn profitable.
Below are some common areas we at SouthWest Accountancy can help you with your property affairs:
Deciding on your main residence
If you do own and personally use more than one property in the UK,
it is possible to make an election to nominate which property should
be treated as your main residence for tax purposes. We can advise on
the implications of making such an election, the qualifying conditions
that must be met and help to decide if it would be beneficial for you
depending on your personal circumstances. There are strict time
limits for making this election, which has to be filed with
HM Revenue & Customs, so it is important that advice is
sought promptly.
Selling property
If you have Capital Gains Tax to pay, for example because you've sold or given away a holiday home or second property, you will need to complete a tax return. TaxAssist Accountants can advise you on any tax planning opportunities available, in order to minimise your Capital Gains Tax liability. We can also calculate your Capital Gains Tax liability and complete your tax return for you.
Landlords
If you rent out property you will pay income tax on the difference between the rents you have charged in a tax year, less any allowable expenses and charges. We can help you to make sure that you are claiming all of the expenses and reliefs you are entitled to.
Knowing what maintenance and repairs can be deducted can be tricky, because there are a number of different methods that can be used depending on your circumstances. We can discuss your options with you and make sure that you make the right choice; to optimise your tax position and fit your needs. We can also make sure that you are claiming all of the finance costs for any loans or mortgages you have on your properties, as again, this can be a complicated area and taxpayers can miss out on valuable tax relief.
Furnished holiday Lets
Significant changes were made to the treatment of Furnished Holiday Lets (FHLs) for tax purposes in April 2012. The conditions in order to qualify for such treatment are now more stringent and the benefits have been reduced. But we can advise you on the qualifying conditions and the implications that such status entails for your properties.
Letting rooms in your home
If you let rooms in your own house, you may not pay tax if the total rents charged are under £4,250 per tax year. But there are conditions in order to apply this exemption, which your local TaxAssist Accountant can discuss with you.
We at SouthWest Accountancy provide you with advice regarding all tax aspects of buying, selling and letting property. We have only included a few areas for you to consider on this web page. If you are about to invest in, dispose of, or let property do give us a call.