Government to close business rates loophole
Many second home owners use a loophole to avoid council tax on the property. However, the government has announced that new rules will apply to prevent abuse from April next year. What’s going on?
-
New HMRC guidance on winter fuel payments
HMRC has released new guidance on the recovery of winter fuel payments. What do you need to know?
-
Festive tax breaks for remote workers
You’re familiar with the tax break for Christmas parties but you now have a few remote workers, and the company will need to reimburse their travel and accommodation costs if they attend an event. Which costs count towards the tax-free limit and how can you manage any overspend?
-
New process for some exports starting in Northern Ireland
Starting next month, businesses that import goods via Northern Ireland will need to change their processes. What do you need to know?
Under the current system, owners of second properties in England can avoid a council tax bill if there is an intention to let the property to holiday makers. This brings the property into the business rates regime and, as a result, small businesses rates relief can be claimed. The problem is that many second home owners are declaring an intention to let their property, when in reality they just remain empty for most of the time.
From April 2023, the rules will change so that only genuine holiday lettings will qualify for the relief, bringing non-qualifying properties back into the charge to council tax. A property will only be assessed under the business rates regime if the owner can provide evidence that:
- it will be available for letting commercially, as self-catering accommodation, for short periods totalling at least 140 days in the coming year;
- during the previous year, it was available for letting commercially, as self-catering accommodation, for short periods totalling at least 140 days; and
- during the previous year, it was actually let commercially, as self-catering accommodation, for short periods totalling at least 70 days.
This website uses both its own and third-party cookies to analyze our services and navigation on our website in order to improve its contents (analytical purposes: measure visits and sources of web traffic). The legal basis is the consent of the user, except in the case of basic cookies, which are essential to navigate this website.