Despite a totally stagnant housing market across most of the UK, Savilles estate agents have reported that top-end London property prices have increased 18.6% in 2011. This increase is ascribed to international buyers sinking money into UK real-estate as a tax-efficient safe-haven while other investments look increasingly volatile. By assigning property to an off-shore company, it can exchange hands via the sale of shares rather than deeds. So rather than the usual top rate of 5% stamp duty land tax, only 0.5% stamp duty is paid. It goes further than this though, by exchanging equity in an offshore holding company, capital-gains and inheritance tax can also be avoided, as can tax on rental income if the property were to be let. To add insult to injury to the UK taxpayer, many of these super expensive properties are left empty much of the time. They are purchased as a secure store of wealth rather than a residence. So despite seeing the majority of the London workers being forced to pay an increasing proportion of their income for housing, the most desirable residential locations are becoming increasingly under-utilised.
In fact the only tax that is likely to be paid consistently on property purchased in this way is council tax. However if these properties are left long-term empty then a 50% discount is available for 6 months and 10% discount thereafter. Perhaps in an attempt to lure further foreign buyers to invest, Westminster council proudly proclaims the second lowest council tax in the UK. An apartment in no.1 Hyde Park, valued at £30 million, will pay less in council tax than a 'band C' two bed terrace here in Oxford. Remember that Council tax does not pay for local services but more properties left empty by foreign owners does mean fewer bins for Westminster to collect which is handy for them.
And of course central Government proudly announced that, although they have increased VAT and National Insurance, they would be continuing to freeze council tax this year. Bravo.
It's "stagnant" not "stagnate"
ReplyDeleteThis bit isn't true: "tax on rental income [can be avoided] if the property were to be let". By and large, UK rental income from UK land and buildings is taxable in the UK, I know this for a fact because I do plenty of tax returns for offshore companies who have UK rental income.
You are correct on the Stamp Duty point, but don't forget that there are only IHT and CGT savings if the company is actually owned by foreign residents, if a UK resident person sets up such a scheme he is in big trouble.
And I don't know if all councils still do the 50% discount for vacant.
Thanks for the clarification. Rental income is probably a moot point since I believe most of these types of purchases are maintained as pied-a-terres of varying degrees of utilisation.
ReplyDeleteA 50% discount is still quoted on Westminster's Website. I guess cases will be dealt with on an individual basis however.
Irrespective of tax savings a 18.6% annual yield is not to be sniffed at.