Furnished holiday lettings businesses are eligible for capital allowances on equipment in the property. Where the business incurs finance costs such as mortgage interest the restriction that applies to other residential property businesses does not apply to furnished holiday lettings.
It should also be noted that qualifying furnished holiday lettings businesses are eligible for a number of important reliefs from capital gains tax. “Rollover” relief would apply where the proceeds of sale of a property are reinvested in another qualifying asset and it is also possible to claim holdover relief on the gift of the whole or part of property business. Note also that entrepreneurs’ relief would be available on the disposal of the furnished holiday lettings business.
As mentioned in a previous article, entitled Britain’s ‘most hated tax’: The future of IHT, the Office of Tax Simplification has recommended that furnished holiday lettings businesses should qualify for inheritance tax (IHT) business property relief which, if legislated, should mean no IHT payable when the business is passed on during lifetime or on death.
If you would like to know more, or to discuss the tax planning options available to you, please contact your usual Beavis Morgan Partner.