In the United Kingdom, the tax year commences on 6th April and ends on the following 5th April. HMRC have published a set of criteria which outlines the taxpayer’s requirements in order to accurately and correctly complete a self-assessment tax return. For further information please click link: https://www.gov.uk/log-in-file-self-assessment-tax-return
You are required to file a self-assessment form if you are a self-employed individual or if you receive untaxed income, for example, from rental properties. In other words, the self-assessment system applies to any individual whose income is not automatically taxed at source. To check if you need to file a self-assessment tax return please click: https://www.gov.uk/check-if-you-need-tax-return
For the 2023/24 tax year, taxpayers in receipt of PAYE earnings of up to £150,000 are no longer required to file a self-assessment tax return, provided, of course, that they do not meet any of the other self-assessment criteria outlined by HMRC.
The self-assessment deadline is 31st January 2025 for online submissions, however, if you submitted a paper tax return, the deadline was 31st October 2024. Please keep in mind that the tax is still due by 31st January 2025.
Online Tax Returns must be filed and all outstanding tax paid on or before 31st January following the end of the tax year.
In other words:
Failing to file your tax return or pay your taxes by the appropriate date can result in penalties. Missing the 31st January deadline comes can result in significant penalties even if no tax is owed. For full details, please click: https://www.gov.uk/self-assessment-tax-returns/penalties
In summary, missing any of the Self-Assessment deadlines can result in penalties and interest. A delay in filing your Tax Return by a single day can result in a £100 fine, even if you don’t actually owe any tax.
You can register for self-assessment through the HMRC website before the deadline of 5th October. For further information, please click: https://www.gov.uk/register-for-self-assessment
Please be aware that the information contained in this article is of a general nature. It is not intended to address specific circumstances in relation to any individual or entity. All reasonable efforts have been made by Accounts Advice Centre to provide accurate and up-to-date information, however, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate on the date it is received or that it will continue to remain so. This information should not be acted upon without full and comprehensive, specialist professional tax advice.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt delivered his UK Spring Budget 2024 today. As you are aware, the Furnished Holiday Letting (FHL) regime provides UK Tax relief for property owners letting out furnished properties as short term holiday accommodations. From 6th April 2025, however, the Chancellor is removing this tax incentive in an attempt to increase the availability of long term rental properties.
According to HMRC’s guidance material, a furnished holiday let is deemed to be a furnished commercial property which is situated in the United Kingdom.
It must be available to let for a minimum of 210 days in the year.
It must be commercially let as holiday accommodation for a minimum of 105 days in the year.
Guests must not occupy the property for 31 days or more, unless, something unforeseen happens such as the holidaymaker has a fall or accident or the flight is delayed.
You may wish to consider your options before the rules are abolished in April 2025.
Options include:
For further information, please click: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/furnished-holiday-lettings-tax-regime-abolition/abolition-of-the-furnished-holiday-lettings-tax-regime
Please be aware that the information contained in this article is of a general nature. It is not intended to address specific circumstances in relation to any individual or entity. All reasonable efforts have been made by Accounts Advice Centre to provide accurate and up-to-date information, however, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate on the date it is received or that it will continue to remain so. This information should not be acted upon without full and comprehensive, specialist professional tax advice.
The Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021 has extended the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) until 31st December 2021. It also amended the comparison periods for determining eligibility for EWSS for pay dates from 1st July 2021.
The main criterion for eligibility is that employers must be able to prove that they were operating at no more than 70% of either (a) turnover or (b) customer orders received for the period 1st January to 30th June 2021 as compared with 1st January to 30th June 2019. It must also be able to clearly demonstrate that this disruption was caused by Covid19.
In other words, an employer must be able to show, to the satisfaction of Revenue Commissioners, that their business is expected to suffer a 30% reduction in turnover or customer orders, which was due to Covid19.
Simultaneously, Revenue introduced a new requirement for employers to submit a monthly Eligibility Review Form (ERF) on ROS. The ERF requires (a) data relating to actual monthly VAT exclusive turnover or customers order values for 2019 in addition to actual and projected figures for 2021 for all relevant businesses as well as (b) a declaration.
The initial submission should be made between 21st and 30th July 2021 and by 15th of every month from August onwards.
On 15th of every month during the operation of this scheme, employers will be required to provide the actual results for the previous month, together with a review of the original projections they provided so as to ensure they continue to remain valid.
The eligibility for EWSS must be reviewed on the last day of each month. If the business is deemed ineligible, then that business must de-register for EWSS from the following day.
If, however, the situation changes, then the business can re-register again.
The following subsidy rates, based on employee’s gross pay per week, will continue to apply for the months of July, August and September 2021 as follows:
Additional Points:
For further information please visit: https://www.revenue.ie/en/employing-people/ewss/how-to-claim-for-employees-and-subsidy-rates.aspx
Please be aware that the information contained in this article is of a general nature. It is not intended to address specific circumstances in relation to any individual or entity. All reasonable efforts have been made by Accounts Advice Centre to provide accurate and up-to-date information, however, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate on the date it is received or that it will continue to remain so. This information should not be acted upon without full and comprehensive, specialist professional tax advice.
The Finance (COVID-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021 was published today. The provisions contained in the Bill include amendments to existing supports which were announced in the Economic Recovery Plan in addition to the introduction of the Business Resumption Support Scheme. These tax relief measures income Income Tax, Business/Corporation Tax, Employer and Payroll Taxes and VAT.
Section 6 of the Bill amends section 46 VATCA 2010 to provide for the extension of the reduced 9% VAT rate until 31st August 2022 in relation to the following services:
In summary, the reduced 9% VAT rate for the tourism sector has been extended from 31st December 2021 to 31st August 2022.
The Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) is a scheme that subsidises the cost of getting employees back to work.
The extension of the scheme should provide reassurance to businesses affected by the pandemic and enable them to plan for the months ahead.
Section 2 of the Bill amends the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (Section 28B of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) (No.2) Act 2020) to provide for the following changes:
This employer/payroll tax scheme requires that employers have valid tax clearance to enter the EWSS and that they maintain this tax clearance for the duration of the scheme.
The COVID-19 Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) was introduced by the Finance Act 2020.
It provided support for businesses which had to temporarily cease as a result of public health guidelines.
At such time as the affected businesses are allowed to re-open, those claimants will have to exit this scheme.
As some of those businesses will remain financially affected, the new measures introduced in the Finance (COVID-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021 published today will extend the scheme. In addition, there will be an enhanced re-start payment for businesses exiting the scheme equal to up to three weeks at double rate of payment, subject to a €10,000 cap.
Sections 3 and 4 of the Bill amend the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) and provide for the extension of the specified period until 30th September 2021.
Section 4 of the Bill provides for the enhanced restart week payment scheme. The level of payment a business may claim on reopening, following the restrictions, will depend on the actual date that business reopens.
Please be aware:
Section 5 of the Bill includes a new section, section 485A TCA 1997, which makes provision for a new Business Resumption Support Scheme (BRSS)
The main features of the scheme are as follows:
Section 13 of the Bill gives statutory effect to the Financial Resolution that was passed on 19th May 2021 and inserts section 31E in the SDCA 1999, thereby imposing a 10% stamp duty rate on the acquisition of certain residential properties (houses and duplexes but excluding apartments) where an aggregate of ten or more units is acquired during a twelve month period by a single corporate entity or individual.
Section 14 of the Bill introduces a provision which provides for an exemption from the new 10% rate of stamp duty in situations where the residential units are leased to local authorities for certain social housing purposes.
Section 7 of the the Finance (COVID-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021 inserts a new section 28D into the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 which provides for the warehousing of EWSS overpayments received by employers.
Sections 8, 9 ,10, 11 and 12 of the Bill give effect to the extension of the Debt Warehousing Scheme for refunds of Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) payments, Employer PAYE liabilities, Income Tax, VAT and PRSI:
This scheme will have three periods:
In circumstances where an employer does not meet the conditions for debt warehousing then (i) the zero interest and (ii) reduced interest rates will no longer apply. Instead the 8% rate will be imposed.
In summary, the extension of the Debt Warehousing Scheme relates to refunds of Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) payments, PAYE, Income Tax, VAT and PRSI.
For full and complete information, please follow the link: https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/bill/2021/89/eng/initiated/b8921d.pdf
lease be aware that the information contained in this article is of a general nature. It is not intended to address specific circumstances in relation to any individual or entity. All reasonable efforts have been made by Accounts Advice Centre to provide accurate and up-to-date information, however, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate on the date it is received or that it will continue to remain so. This information should not be acted upon without full and comprehensive, specialist professional tax advice.
Irish income tax, Corporation Tax, CGT, CAT, VAT advice, planning and returns. Business Tax. Tax Compliance. Payroll
As you’re aware, a Tax Clearance Certificate is Revenue confirmation that your tax affairs are in order. From 21st May 2021 Revenue will recommence their assessment of the tax clearance status of businesses. Your Tax Clearance Certificate may be withdrawn or rescinded if you become non tax compliant or if your tax clearance has expired. This relates to taxes under all headings including VAT, payroll, personal and business taxes.
Please be aware that this may result in the rescinding of the tax clearance status of businesses that are currently in receipt of the EWSS and/or the CRSS. It is essential to check the status of your tax clearance as your business may becoming ineligible to receive further payments under these schemes until the compliance issues concerned are fully resolved.
If Revenue have contacted you to remind you of your requirement to file outstanding returns or to address other compliance issues in order to retain your tax clearance status, please make sure you do so as a matter of urgency.
In summary, businesses which are reliant on the EWSS and/or the CRSS should take immediate action by contacting Revenue and addressing the outstanding issues.
For further information, please click: https://www.revenue.ie/en/starting-a-business/tax-clearance/tax-clearance-under-review-refused-or-rescinded/tax-clearance-certificate-rescinded-withdrawn.aspx
Please be aware that the information contained in this article is of a general nature. It is not intended to address specific circumstances in relation to any individual or entity. All reasonable efforts have been made by Accounts Advice Centre to provide accurate and up-to-date information, however, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate on the date it is received or that it will continue to remain so. This information should not be acted upon without full and comprehensive, specialist professional tax advice.
Rental income is calculated on the gross amount of rents receivable. A profit or a loss is calculated separately for each rental source. The rental income which is liable to Income Tax is the aggregate of the profits as reduced by the aggregate of the losses.
When completing an Income Tax Return, rental income from property situated in the Republic of Ireland is chargeable to tax under the provisions of Case V Schedule D while rental income from property situated outside the State is chargeable to tax under the provisions of Case III Schedule D.
It is important to remember that losses from one source cannot be written off against profits from the other. In particular, Irish rental losses cannot be written off against profits from foreign rental properties and vice versa.
The types of rental income liable to Income Tax can be more diverse than you might imagine. The following income is considered to be rental income, taxable under Case V, Schedule D:
For rental expenses to be deductible there are three main rules:
Specific Expenses include:
Please be aware you can never claim a deduction for your own labour. If you carry out repairs or gardening yourself, you cannot include this as a deductible expense against rental income.
The NPPR and Household charges are not allowable expenses against rental income.
Mortgage Interest
Broadly speaking, interest on money borrowed to purchase, improve or repair a rental property is deductible in calculating your rental income for tax purposes, subject to certain conditions.
The allowable deduction for interest accruing on loans used to purchase, improve or repair rented residential property is restricted to 75% of the total interest accruing.
This 75% restriction does not apply to non-residential property. In the case of offices, warehouses, etc. 100% of the interest is allowable against rents receivable.
A further restriction was introduced in 2006. Unless the landlord has complied with the registration and payment requirements of the PRTB (Private Residential Tenancies Board) in relation to each and all tenancies in the rented property then the interest on monies borrowed for the purchase, improvement or repair or rented residential properties will not be an allowable deduction against rents receivable.
If the loan to purchase the rental property includes stamp duty, legal fees, auctioneers’ fees, etc. then the interest on the loan must be apportioned. Only the interest relating to the actual cost of purchase, repair or renovation of the property is allowable.
Interest incurred prior to the first letting is not allowable (pre-letting expense) neither is the interest incurred after the final letting (post letting expense). Interest incurred during a period in which the landlord occupies the property is not allowable.
Wear and tear allowances are available in respect of capital expenditure incurred on fixtures and fittings provided by the landlord for the rented residential property. This includes furniture, showers, kitchen appliances, etc.
The rate is 12½% over eight years.
If an individual rents out a room in his/her sole or main residence as residential accommodation and receives up to €10,000 per annum this amount will be exempt from Income Tax, PRSI and the Universal Social Charge providing conditions are met.
The €10,000 limit includes rent, utility bills, laundry, food, etc.
If the individual receives in excess of €10,000, the Rent-a-Room exemption will NOT apply and the entire rent receivable will be liable to income tax, PRSI and the Universal Social Charge
An individual cannot avail of rent-a-room relief in respect of payments for accommodation in the family home by a child of the landlord under any circumstances. There is no restriction where rent is paid by other family members, for example, nieces and nephews.
The relief does not affect an individual’s entitlement to mortgage interest relief i.e. Tax Relief at Source.
The relief does not affect the individual’s entitlement to Principal Private Residence Relief from capital gains tax on the sale or disposal of the property.
You can opt out of the relief for a year of assessment by making an election on or before the return filing date for the year of assessment concerned.
If your landlord resides outside the Republic of Ireland and you pay rent directly to them or electronically transfer the money into their bank account either in Ireland or abroad, you must deduct income tax at the standard rate of tax (currently 20%) from the gross rents payable.
Failure to deduct tax may leave the tenant liable for the tax that should have been deducted.
At the end of the year you are obliged to complete a Form R185 showing the tax deducted from the gross rents which you should then give to your landlord. The landlord can then submit this form to the Revenue Commissioners and claim this amount as a credit.
If, on the other hand the non-resident landlord has an agent who is resident in the state, then there is no obligation for the tenant to deduct tax from the rent. Instead the tenant should pay the gross rent to the agent.
The agent is then liable to pay income tax on the rents received from the tenant in the capacity of Collection Agent for the landlord. The agent is then required to register as self employed and submit an annual tax return and account for the tax due.
In general, rental income from property located outside Ireland is calculated on the full amount of rents receivable, irrespective of whether or not it has or will be remitted into Ireland.
Broadly speaking, the same deductions are available in calculating the taxable rental income as if the rents had been received in Ireland.
Income tax on these rental profits is chargeable under Case III of Schedule D.
In the case of an individual who is not domiciled inIreland, the taxable rental income is computed on the full amount of the actual sums received in the State without any deductions or reliefs for expenditure incurred.
Rental losses from the letting of property outside the State cannot be offset against rental income from the letting of property in the State and vice versa. Such losses can only be offset against future rental income from property outside the State.
For further information, please click: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2013-04-16/263/
Please be aware that the information contained in this article is of a general nature. It is not intended to address specific circumstances in relation to any individual or entity. All reasonable efforts have been made by Accounts Advice Centre to provide accurate and up-to-date information, however, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate on the date it is received or that it will continue to remain so. This information should not be acted upon without full and comprehensive, specialist professional tax advice.