Small companies, Residential property, Incorporation

The Summer Budget turned out to be a disruptive storm that blew holes through the tax affairs of small companies and individual landlords. In last week's newsletter we outlined what you need to discuss with clients who own small companies or residential property. We also looked at some issues concerning incorporation. In future newsletters we will study the implications of the Budget for employers, home-owners and non-domiciled individuals.

Residential property

For many years HMRC has viewed the operation of a property letting business just like any other business - where expenses are wholly and exclusively incurred for the business they are deductible - including all finance costs. That approach will change from 6 April 2017.      

As landlords can deduct all the interest they pay from the rental income, thosewho pay income tax at 40% or 45% effectively get tax relief at those rates for their loan interest. The Budget changes are designed to ensure that landlords will only get tax relief for interest paid at 20%.

The change is introduced over four years, such that the percentage of loan interest disallowed in the tax computation will be:

·     2017/18:25%

·     2018/19:50%

·     2019/20:75%

·     2020/21 and subsequent years: 100%    

Up to 20% of the disallowed interest will be deducted from the tax due on the rental income. Where 20% of the interest exceeds the tax charge for the year, the excess will be carried forward to be relieved in a future year, so has the same effect as if 20% of the interest had created a loss for the letting business.      

These changes won't affect corporate landlords, owners of non-residential property or of properties that qualify as furnished holiday lettings.

A knee-jerk reaction would be to incorporate the lettings business, but that is not straight-forward, as we discuss below. However, individual landlords should review how sustainable their current level of borrowings are. 

The Budget also announced the 10% wear and tear allowance for fully furnished properties will be abolished from 6 April 2016. In its place all landlords will be able to deduct the actual costs of replacing furnishings in the property. This is good news for landlords who let partly-furnished properties, as they will be able to get atax deduction for the cost of replacing carpets, curtains and free-standing white goods.

This is an extract from our tax tips newsletter dated 16 July 2015. The newsletter itself contained links to related source material for this story and the other two topical, timely and commercial tax tips. It's clearly written and extremely good value for accountants in general practice. Try it for free by registering here>>>