REPORTING PROPERTY GAINS WITHIN 30 DAYS

Since 6 April 2020 where UK residential property is disposed of, the resulting capital gain needs to be reported and the capital gains tax paid within 30 days of completion of the disposal. There have been a number of teething problems with the new online reporting system and HMRC stated that there would be no penalties imposed for late returns, provided the returns were submitted by 31 July 2020.

Taxpayers need to obtain a Government Gateway account and apply for a CGT or a property reference number to report disposals, although they can authorise their accountant to report the disposals on their behalf.

Currently only the first disposal may be reported using the online reporting system with any subsequent disposals being reported using a paper return. We have been told that the new system will be fully functional shortly.

RUMOURS OF CGT INCREASES

There has been a lot of speculation in the press that the Chancellor may introduce radical changes to capital gains tax to start to repay the substantial government borrowings to support businesses and employees affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

It has been suggested that the current £12,300 CGT annual exemption will be reduced, and the rates aligned with the rates of income tax. It has also been suggested that the capital gains uplift on death may be abolished following recommendations by the Office of Tax Simplification and the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee.

The Treasury Committee has recently launched a new inquiry called ‘tax after coronavirus’. That inquiry will consider different ways of raising taxes, including a thorough review of UK tax reliefs which has also been recommended by the Public Accounts Committee.