Tax Advisers on planning and dealing with Capital Gains Tax on Your Home
Capital gains tax or CGT is the tax on profit paid when one disposes of an asset. It is charged on profits made from selling any property that is not your residential home. Fortunately, you can waive this tax, and a London expert on tax matters shows you how.
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Capital Gains Tax Rates
The amount of CGT charged in the UK on assets differs according to certain categories. For individuals, the capital gains tax rate ranges between 18% and 28% of the amount gained on disposing of an asset. Trustees or representatives of say a deceased person is required to pay 28%of the gains made from disposing of assets they are trusted with or representing.
Any gain that qualifies as Entrepreneurial Relief will be charged 10% on gains. Private companies not based in the UK will be charged 20% on gains for disposing of assets that were owned by the UK. Property whose Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings has been paid will be viable for a 28% capital gains tax.
Annual Tax Allowance or Exemption
Residents in the UK are eligible for tax-free allowance on CGT. This tax relief is applied annually and under certain conditions. Individuals who are domiciled in the UK qualify for the annual tax exemption on gains. Trustees or representatives of an estate previously owned by a deceased individual also qualify for tax exemption. Thirdly, trustees of disabled persons also get an annual tax relief on asset gains.
On the other hand, there are individuals or groups that are not eligible for an annual tax-free allowance in the UK. This includes any individual who is not a permanent resident in the UK but owns assets in the UK. Private foreign companies holding assets on UK soil also do not qualify for annual capital gains tax exemption. Anyone who has claimed remittance basis from a foreign country instead of the UK will also not qualify for annual exemption on capital tax gains.
Annual Exempt Amount
The annual exempt amount is a marked amount which qualifies individuals and companies for annual relief on capital tax gains. This amount varies with each year depending on revisions made by the UK government. For the period 2016 to 2017, the annual exempt amount on gains made by individuals was £11,100. This amount has been revised to £11,300 for period 2017 to 2018. For trustees, the annual exempt amount for 2016 to 2017 is £5,500 which will increase to £5,650 for the period 2017 to 2018.
To avoid capital tax on the gain, individuals and trustees must ensure their total annual profit does not exceed the set annual exempt amount.
Other Ways to Avoid Capital Gains Tax
Capital gains tax will only be applicable when an individual or trustees sell property that is not their own residential home. Selling anything else like a business, second home, or shares automatically mandates the paying of capital gains tax.
Capital gains tax on a second home applies where one is selling a buy-to-let home or a resort home. The capital gains tax paid will be high but one can make it lower. Once a profit or gain has been made, deduct expenses like legal fees, stamp duty, real estate fees and any other expense. Secondly, deduce your allowance from the remaining amount. Calculate the gains tax on the net amount using your income tax status; this will likely be between 18% and 28%.
Letting relief is another way to avoid paying capital tax on gains. This relief is offered on any gains made from selling property that has been the taxpayer’s home for a period of time. This relief also applies if the said property was once rented out as residential accommodation. However, capital gains will be charged albeit it will be a smaller amount of what would have been originally charged.
The regulations on capital gains tax keep changing each year. It is important to consult the advice of tax accountants to calculate how much you should pay or whether you qualify for tax relief.
