An analysis of HMRC data has revealed in 2018-19 more than 16,000 landlords took advantage of the disclosure facility after receiving a letter from HMRC encouraging them to come forward. In total, HMRC recouped £42 million in 2018-19, double the £21 million recorded in 2017-18.
Throughout 2018 and 2019, HMRC sent the huge batch of ‘Let Property Campaign’ letters to landlords and other buy-to-let investors with undeclared rental income. This wave of letters largely targets accidental landlords with 1 or two rental properties.
The ‘prompted letter’ provides landlords a 30 day window to make contact, and then a further 3 months to regularise their tax affairs.
Those who DO NOT take this opportunity risk being investigated under Code of Practice 8/9, face much higher penalties (potentially up to 200% of any tax due) and the possibility of a criminal prosecution.
By disclosing through the let property campaign, HMRC offer favourable terms. Landlords who disclose unpaid tax face penalties of up to 20% of any tax due.
HOW HMRC IDENTIFY LANDLORDS?
HMRC rely on a wealth of available information to identify landlords who have not declared rental income.
HMRC’s state-of-the-art analytical computer system ‘Connect‘ draws on information from a range of government and corporate sources, including HM Land Registry and the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, to create a profile of each taxpayer’s total income.
According to the data released by HMRC, the highest concentration with landlords with undeclared rental is Birmingham, with Leicester ranking second. South East London ranks as London’s top spot.
Letting agents have also been sent statutory notices demanding details of rents collected on behalf of private landlords. An initial fine of £300 applies to those agents failing to meet the initial deadline, with a potential further fine of £60 per day for ongoing failure.
INTRODUCTORY MEETING
CONTACT US TO ARRANGE AN INTRODUCTORY MEETING, OR FOR A QUOTE.
DEBBIE DOLEGA
Partner - Personal Tax
Debbie is a Chartered Tax Adviser with over two decades of experience advising Private Clients with complex international tax affairs, including non-UK residents, non-domiciled individuals, trusts and personal investment companies.
ANDREW LEWIS
Senior Tax Manager
Andrew manages the firms personal tax department, including a portfolio of personal tax clients such as High Net Worth Individuals, Self Employed, Directors, Landlords, Non-Residents and Partnerships. Andrew also has significant experience in dealing with HMRC tax investigations and disputes including Section 9A enquires, the Worldwide Disclosure Facility (WDF), Code of Practice 9 and the Contractual Disclosure Facility.
DIANE HARPER
Tax Manager (ex-HMRC)
Diane has 38 years of experience in tax starting with 6 years at H M Revenue & Customs. She now manages a portfolio of 350 personal tax clients including high net worth individuals, Barristers, Self Employed, Directors, Non-Residents and Partnerships.
RELATED PROPERTY NEWS
20 June 2022
HMRC have temporarily suspended some Research and Development Claims as a means of putting an end to the abuse of R&D. Who Will be Affected? HMRC […]
29 April 2022
Jeffreys Henry’s tax investigation service is an annual policy that covers our professional fees in the event of an HMRC compliance check, inquiry, investigation, or dispute.
31 January 2022
HMRC has released its review of R&D tax relief (also known as R&D tax credit), alongside details that confirm extra measures that will be put in place to end the abuse of R&D tax relief. Recent data suggests a loss of over £300 million due to fraud and error in R&D claims. In such cases, companies had claimed cash through the payable tax credit, despite having no R&D activity. Moreover, HMRC have also identified structures that had been set up with the intention to claim the payable tax credit, despite there being little employment or activity in the UK.
14 January 2022
️HMRC have announced that they will not be charging late filing penalties for 2020/21 self-assessment tax returns, provided it is submitted by 28 February 2022.
11 January 2022
In the Autumn 2021 budget, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced significant changes to R&D tax relief. From April 2023, the qualifying expenditure categories will be widened to […]
1 November 2021
Key steps to a successful R&D tax relief claim. HMRC have displayed no sign of relaxing their position in respect of R&D tax credit claims in terms of querying both eligibility and qualifying expenditure.
25 March 2021
Changes in IR35 rules from 2021 will mean employees, but through their own Personal Service Company (PSC), pay the same Income Tax and National Insurance contributions as other employees. From April 2021, businesses will have the responsibility of deciding whether the employment taxes and National Insurance contributions should be deducted.
25 February 2021
HMRC have began issuing “nudge letters” to UK residents with a financial connection to Italy and potential tax liabilities on overseas income or gains, prompting them to make a disclosure under the Worldwide Disclosure Facility (WDF).
16 December 2020
HMRC collected £34 million in penalties in September 2020, an increase of 62% from a low of £21m in May, after resuming tax investigations. After temporarily […]
5 November 2020
Following the recent Wickford Developments decision, any property developer who has been refused VAT refunds on installing manual roller blinds into new homes should review the VAT lost in the past 4 years with a view to making a claim from HMRC. This decision follows that of an earlier case that HMRC chose to ignore (John Price) and HMRC were criticised for continuing with a policy that the courts had disagreed with.
