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Capital Gains Tax Essay

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Property in the UK and Capital Gains Tax

Capital gains tax (CGT) by definition means a tax levied on any gains accrued as a sale of any asset. The assets include, but not limited to, inheritance, certain gifts, shares, heirloom, a sale of business, owing to the dissolution of a civil partnership or divorce transfer or a second property. In this article, we shall focus on the CGT from the perspective of residential property.
CGT – Some preambles:

The CGT levied depends both on the gains from the asset and your income. However, the capital gains below a cut-off limit are exempt from CGT, the current cut-off is positioned at £ 11, 100 or lower per year. The gain is calculated by a simple formula of subtracting the original purchase price …show more content…

Any amount over and above this minimum threshold attracts a CGT at the rate of 40%. Evaluation of the inheritance is inclusive of all the assets (including the assets that are held in trusts), including but not limited to, money, property(ies), any gifts that were given during the period of seven years prior to the death, gifts to trusts or companies over the lifetime (some exceptions are applicable to this particular category).
A non-domicile pays the Capital Gains tax on the assets situated on the UK soil only, in contrast, the domiciles are liable to pay CGT on all assets acquired through inheritance, they may be anywhere in the world.

Private Residence relief and letting relief:
− Private residence relief (PRR): This relief is applicable on the sale of property that has been your principal private residence. In other words, you occupied that property as your own residence. There are a few qualifying conditions for claiming the PRR, starting with the condition that the house was not bought with the purpose of making gains. The house was used as a primary family residence for a stipulated duration during ownership. Inclusive of everything the total area of the house if below 5000 square meter. No part of the house was used for Business or part of the house was sub-let (single lodgers are exempt).
− Letting relief: This relief on Capital Gains Tax is applicable in the case of

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