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As a general rule, a cash gift from one long-term UK resident individual to another is a ‘potentially exempt transfer’ (PET) for inheritance tax (IHT) purposes, subject to any available reliefs or exemptions. The gift is assumed to be exempt when made and becomes fully (as opposed to potentially) exempt if the donor survives for at least seven years. 

Mark McLaughlin highlights the importance of following the rules closely when seeking to obtain an important inheritance tax exemption.

Capital expenditure is not deductible against trading or rental profits, and accounting depreciation is similarly disallowed (ITTOIA 2005, s 33; CTA 2009, s 53). 

Capital allowances exist as a separate statutory mechanism whereby qualifying expenditure on capital assets is given as a deemed deduction, spread over several years at prescribed rates.
 
Nick Wright examines the restriction on capital allowances for residential property, the case law meaning of 'dwelling house', and the limited circumstances in which residential landlords can still secure relief. 

Unincorporated landlords have been hit with a raft of adverse tax changes in recent years, and with the introduction of higher property tax rates from April 2027, landlords may decide that operating as a limited company is a better option. 
For landlords looking to incorporate their property business, the availability of capital gains tax (CGT) incorporation relief can be a game changer, particularly where their property portfolio is pregnant with gains.

Sarah Bradford looks at the meaning of ‘business’ in the context of capital gains tax incorporation relief.

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.