Renting out a flat - help with numbers please!
Renting out a flat - help with numbers please!
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Discussion

CoolHands

Original Poster:

23,619 posts

225 months

Thursday 31st October 2013
quotequote all
So, if I rent out my flat (I only have one ie not a multiple landlord) for £1000 a month, and the interest-only mortgage is currently £400 a month, how do I reduce the profit as landlords everywhere seem to, in order to pay no tax? Buy stuff for the flat ie new kitchen every 5 mins or what? If the choice was spend £1500 quid a year on tax (on the profit) or £1500 a year on stuff for the flat, obviously I'd rather spend it on the flat. But is there somekind of calulator available to work out for 'x' amount of profit you should spend 'y' amount on the flat in order to make the tax bill nill?

I have a regular full time job but I'm in the 20% tax bracket, but if I included my 'profit' ie £600*12 I would tip into the 40% tax bracket.

I live with my wife in another property which is mortgaged. As you may have gathered from the above I have never done elf-assesment or anything.

Also, as I can make penalty-free overpayments on the interest only mortgage, would that be deductible or not? I'm presuming not. Thanks for any help or links to idiot-proof informations that spells it out. I do not intend to sell the flat for a long time.

Sarnie

8,373 posts

239 months

Thursday 31st October 2013
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First steps: Change mortgage to BTL or request Consent to Lease & get Landlords Insurance.

Next: Speak to accountant.

smile

gibbon

2,182 posts

237 months

Thursday 31st October 2013
quotequote all
Remortgage the rental property to the maximum efficient amount (in terms of maintaining enough equity to get a good loan rate) and use the money to pay down the loan on your residential property.



CoolHands

Original Poster:

23,619 posts

225 months

Thursday 31st October 2013
quotequote all
it is a BTL already. Can't remortgage as the mortgage is a good deal that won't be matched these days.


BoRED S2upid

21,073 posts

270 months

Friday 1st November 2013
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Read the HMRC rules for whats allowable. 10% wear and tear if its furnished, insurance, gas saftey cert, accountants fees etc...

You can reduce it but there will always be some tax to pay otherwise why would you do it? thats what the tax man will be thinking if your tax return comes back every year as you manking a loss from £1000 pcm rent!

sumo69

2,164 posts

250 months

Friday 1st November 2013
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If you received property income in the tax year ended 5th April 2013, you had until 5th October to register yourself (and your wife if jointly held) for self-assessment otherwise you may be fined.

Have you done this?

There are also a number of costs beside mortgage interest that can be deducted for tax purposes.

David

David

z4chris99

12,527 posts

209 months

Friday 1st November 2013
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move offshore , it's sunnier

CoolHands

Original Poster:

23,619 posts

225 months

Friday 1st November 2013
quotequote all
yeah I'm trying to work how to be a nom-dom like billionaire tory michael ashcroft

http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/dom...

98elise

32,740 posts

191 months

Friday 1st November 2013
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You can only reduce the profit by any legitimate expenses maintaining the property. Capital expenditure (improvements) can only be offset against the capital gains. You can offset the interest mortgage payments, but thats it, you cannot offset any capital payments.

If your wife is a lower rate tax payer or doesn't use their allowance, then you can use that to your advantage.

As you have another mortgaged property, then max out the mortgage on the rented one, and use the released money to pay down the other mortgage.

There isn't much else you can legitimately do beyond that.

Edited by 98elise on Friday 1st November 17:23

rufusgti

2,573 posts

222 months

Friday 1st November 2013
quotequote all
98elise said:
Y

If your wife is a lower rate tax payer or doesn't use their allowance, then you can use that to your advantage.

As you have another mortgaged property, then max out the mortgage on the rented one, and use the released money to pay down the other mortgage.



Edited by 98elise on Friday 1st November 17:23
Interesting. I thought IR wouldn't like you to withdraw equity on a BTL to pay down your residential as to avoid tax, is this a recent loophole?

Would you elaborate on the first point also. As I'm in this same situation and that could be useful.

Eric Mc

125,770 posts

295 months

Friday 1st November 2013
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If a property is jointly held, then rental profits are split 50/50 between the two parties and they each pay their own Income Tax bill based on their share of the rental profit.

If one of the individuals already has no income or very low income from other sources during the tax year, then they will pay a lower amount of tax compared to someone who is a higher rate taxpayer.

Therefore, splitting the income between spouses/partners may result in a lower overall tax bill compared to the situation if all the rental income was treated as being in the hands of one individual.

98elise

32,740 posts

191 months

Saturday 2nd November 2013
quotequote all
rufusgti said:
98elise said:
Y

If your wife is a lower rate tax payer or doesn't use their allowance, then you can use that to your advantage.

As you have another mortgaged property, then max out the mortgage on the rented one, and use the released money to pay down the other mortgage.



Edited by 98elise on Friday 1st November 17:23
Interesting. I thought IR wouldn't like you to withdraw equity on a BTL to pay down your residential as to avoid tax, is this a recent loophole?

Would you elaborate on the first point also. As I'm in this same situation and that could be useful.
I've not actually done it, but I can't see why it would be an issue. Refinancing to release equity on rented properties is quite common (or was a few years ago). An account is probably best confirming either way.

Eric has covered the tax advantages of a lower tax rate spouse, and he's an accountant smile

Wings

5,970 posts

245 months

Monday 4th November 2013
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As already stated jointly owned means tax liability is shared equally 50/50. Other than mortgage interest, one can claim other expenses, such as insurance premium, repairs, printing, postage, accountancy fees, letting agents fees, advertising, telephone, cleaning etc. etc., and if in the case of the latter your wife does the same, then nothing stops you paying your wife.

Paying into a private pension scheme may also reduce the rate of personal tax payable.