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Death and taxes are supposedly inevitable. However, steps to reduce the possible inheritance tax (IHT) burden on death might be considered.

Mark McLaughlin points out that although forward planning is always better, ‘last minute’ and even post-death inheritance tax planning may be possible in some cases.

Principal private residence (PPR) relief is one of the most important and familiar of reliefs against a capital gains tax (CGT) charge on the sale of a residence. 

Jennifer Adams considers the importance of 'period of ownership' and 'occupation' in relation to a capital gains tax principal private residence relief claim.

Would-be landlords have a number of decisions to make. Not only do they need to decide whether to operate as an unincorporated property business or a property company, but they also need to decide whether to invest in residential or commercial property. 

Sarah Bradford highlights tax breaks available to landlords investing in commercial properties.

In 2024, Angela Rayner was asked whether she paid tax on the sale of her ex-council house. She said no because it was her main residence, which was exempt from capital gains tax CGT). Like many people, she assumed that selling her home resulted in no tax. 

Most people assume that when you sell your home, there is no tax. Are they right? Tristan Noyes explores when they could be wrong or right twice! 

Property partnerships seem popular these days – typically, as a stepping-stone to greater things. Regular readers will know that I have long criticised HMRC’s published position on whether a property partnership exists, as distinct from simply co-owned property. My argument is that HMRC has drawn up its guidance to set an unreasonably high threshold to ‘make the grade’ as a partnership.

Lee Sharpe looks at whether a joint property letting activity amounts to a partnership, and why it is relevant to landlords.  

Most people do not expect to have to pay capital gains tax (CGT) when they sell their home. Private residence relief (also known as main residence relief or principal private residence relief) normally applies in full when the property has been the taxpayer’s only or main residence throughout the whole period for which they have owned it.  

Sarah Bradford outlines the concept of a ‘main’ residence for capital gains tax purposes. 

The government (HMRC) has become increasingly worried about the volume of small and medium-sized enterprise research and development (R&D) tax credit payments where a company claims to have undertaken eligible R&D activity (and it is important to keep in mind that only certain types of R&D may qualify – there are a lot of criteria).

Lee Sharpe looks at tax aspects of modernising property and the risk of disallowance as improvements that constitute capital expenditure, losing income tax relief in the property business. 

Whether to buy commercial or residential property depends on various factors, not least the more beneficial tax system for commercial lets and whether an individual or a company is purchasing the property. The government wishes to encourage commercial lets and therefore permits a more generous tax regime than residential lettings. 

Jennifer Adams considers some important tax benefits of investing in commercial property.