Save content
Have you found this content useful? Use the button above to save it to your profile.
House for sale
istock_VictorHuang_aw

In search of the CGT reporting tool

by

Gains on residential property must now be reported, and the tax paid, within 30 days of the sale. But finding out how to report the gain is not an easy task, as Neil Warren explains.

15th Sep 2020
Save content
Have you found this content useful? Use the button above to save it to your profile.

A minor outcome of the Covid-19 crisis was that an agreement I had to sell a flat in March 2020 fell through, so I had to find another buyer, and the sale eventually completed in August. This had two unfortunate outcomes:

  • The £40,000 lettings relief allowance was abolished on 5 April 2020, which would have averted a capital gains tax (CGT) bill. I lived in the property for some of the period of ownership.
  • I had to do a CGT return and pay the tax within 30 days of the sale. This is a new requirement for gains arising on residential properties from 6 April, where the seller is a UK resident.

Where is the return?

Register for free to continue reading

It’s 100% free and provides unlimited access to the latest accounting news, advice and insight every day. As well as access to this exclusive article, you can:


Content lock down, tick icon

View all AccountingWEB content


Content lock down, tick icon

Comment on articles


Content lock down, tick icon

Watch our digital shows and more

Access content now

Already have an account?

Replies (9)

Please login or register to join the discussion.

avatar
By Paul Crowley
16th Sep 2020 05:05

Superb
Much appreciated. Seems not much help on the real detail anywhere.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By cmiskin
16th Sep 2020 08:01

See https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxguides/2020/taxguide-... from ICAEW Tax Faculty where we have tried to fill the gap in guidance.

Thanks (1)
avatar
By Justin Bryant
16th Sep 2020 09:36

Or as has been mentioned here you could just phone HMRC for a paper return that they will accept with no problem.

Thanks (0)
Replying to Justin Bryant:
avatar
By Homeworker
16th Sep 2020 11:59

Justin Bryant wrote:

Or as has been mentioned here you could just phone HMRC for a paper return that they will accept with no problem.


Easier said than done! I had to call the agent helpline three times for an elderly client and each time they had no idea what I was talking about and the first one sent out the SA pages of the tax return, while the second one was going to until I realised and stopped her. The third time, having waited over half an hour to get through, I was cut off before I could complete the conversation. This seems to happen quite often nowadays.
That said, we did eventually receive not just one but five PPDCGT forms for the client. As they cannot be photocopied for use for other clients this was not much help!
Thanks (0)
Replying to Homeworker:
avatar
By Justin Bryant
16th Sep 2020 12:42

But that's all just par for the course with HMRC and you just have to be persistent. The link below mentioned above is very good:
https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxguides/2020/taxguide-...

Thanks (0)
avatar
By hiu612
16th Sep 2020 10:22

The headache I've found is that when you want to do this on behalf of a client they need to register their PTA and then register for 30 day CGT, enduring Neil's experience. Then give us the reference number, and we then send them a link to click (which itself is perverse - IT security which starts with an e mailed link which you click on and then enter your credentials) so as to authorise us. I reckon about 50% the cost of one of these returns is talking the client through that process and getting the authority in place. As Neil says, the interface once you're in is surprisingly workable.

What is really called for is an API alternative so we can file through our existing tax return software, pre-populating the following year's tax return as we go.

Seems HMRC's policy of agents able to do whatever taxpayers can do as a matter of course continues to be an ambition and not a reality.

Still better than the TRS update service though. . .

Thanks (3)
By cfield
16th Sep 2020 10:29

Good post Neil, but googling "CGT property return" or something of that ilk is what most people would have done to start with, and that would have brought up the HMRC link, so not exactly a brainwave. Not of Einstein proportions anyway.

They have made this whole process unnecessarily complicated though, especially compared to the non-resident CGT returns we've had to do for the last few years. They are a doddle by comparison. No need for logins or authorisations, and the sky never fell in. Why couldn't they have just extended that to UK residents? Too simple I suppose. Or maybe it offended the great god Privacy.

It's also worth mentioning that if you do one of these returns for a client you need an agent services account. The MTD one for VAT will do. Then you need to get them to click the link authorising you. Not too difficult when you know how, but all a bit unnecessary and bureaucratic in my view.

Thanks (2)
avatar
By farhan413
16th Sep 2020 11:33

Question re letting relief, If a buy to let property was sold after 6 April 2020 and it was purchased say 20 years ago, is the £40,000 letting relief apportioned for period of ownership or it is completely abolished?

Thanks (0)
Replying to farhan413:
avatar
By Homeworker
16th Sep 2020 12:00

It's gone completely!

Thanks (2)