Estate agents: note new tax rules for second homeowners
Property owners who are selling a residential property in the UK are being reminded by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) about important deadline changes when paying Capital Gains Tax.
From 6th April 2020, if a UK resident sells a residential property in this country, they’ll now have 30 days to tell HMRC and pay any money owed. It means that, for some, it can be done without having to register for Self Assessment.
There are also changes for non-UK residents selling both residential and non-residential property in this country. Non-UK residents will still be required to tell HMRC within 30 days whether there is tax to pay or not and will no longer to be able to defer payment via their Self Assessment return.
New service launches
HMRC is set to launch a new online service to make it easier to report and pay any Capital Gains Tax (CGT).
Owners may need to make a Capital Gains Tax report and make a payment when, for example, they sell or otherwise dispose of:
- a property that they’ve not used as their main home
- a holiday home
- a property which they let out for people to live in
- a property that they’ve inherited and have not used as their main home
Sarah Kelsey, Deputy Director, HMRC, said, “We want to help customers know exactly what they need to do, as it’s really important that everyone involved with the sale of a residential property fully understands the changes.
“People don’t usually have to pay Capital Gains Tax if they sell the house they live in, but this is a significant change for customers who do have to pay the tax and who up to this point would include the gain in their Self Assessment return.
“There will be lots of help and guidance available to individuals and agents, or those representing trusts, and we are providing a new online service to make it easier for all our customers to both notify and pay online within 30 days”.
If customers don’t tell HMRC about any Capital Gains Tax within 30 days of completion, they may be sent a penalty as well as having to pay interest on what they owe.
Further advice and guidance is available at GOV.UK.