HMRC will get a tax ‘gold mine’ with the new landlord database

HMRC will get a tax ‘gold mine’ with the new landlord database

0:02 AM, 23rd May 2023, About 11 months ago 24

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The Renters’ Reform Bill has unveiled a new database that could turn into a tax ‘gold mine’ for HMRC to chase after landlords who haven’t been paying their taxes, one firm warns.

Accountancy and business advisory firm BDO say the new private rented sector database will have a record of all landlords and their properties under residential tenancies – providing HMRC with an easy way to track down unpaid tax.

According to BDO, the Bill doesn’t clearly state that HMRC will have full access to all the information submitted as part of the registration process, unlike the equivalent provisions for the Register of Overseas Entities.

However, landlords should assume that the tax authorities will be utilising the publicly available data for compliance checks.

‘Holds significant information on taxpayers’ financial affairs’

BDO’s head of tax dispute resolution, Dawn Register, said: “HMRC already holds significant information on taxpayers’ financial affairs.

“The introduction of a new private rented sector database will leave few places to hide for landlords who don’t comply.

“Any landlords who don’t currently pay the right amount of tax would be well advised to bring their UK tax affairs up to date before the register is introduced.”

She added: “In addition to providing peace of mind, making an unprompted disclosure should lead to lower tax-geared penalties for errors, compared to rectifying mistakes after HMRC gets in contact.

“It will also help to mitigate late payment interest – which is currently at a 14-year high of 6.75% per annum and due to rise to 7% from 31 May.”

Declaring their rental profits and gains on sale

HMRC is determined to ensure that landlords are paying their dues and declaring their rental profits and gains on sale.

It is encouraging landlords who have tax mistakes to come clean voluntarily by using the Let Property Campaign or other disclosure processes that are part of HMRC’s Digital Disclosure Service.

Landlords also need to be aware, BDO says that more property data will soon become available after the Land Registry implements the new requirements in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill.

This means that HMRC can combine any new data from the landlord database with its already extensive database of more than 55 billion pieces of data.


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Comments

Rob Thomas

9:49 AM, 23rd May 2023, About 11 months ago

Why shouldn't HMRC have information on landlords?
As a landlord who pays his taxes I don't want to have to compete with others who have the unfair advantage of illegally avoiding paying what they owe.

TheBiggerPicture

9:52 AM, 23rd May 2023, About 11 months ago

Echos of the Doomsday book.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domesday_Book

When they establish who owns what, then they work out how to pluck the geese with the least amount of hissing.

Rob Thomas, it might be sold as getting at the rogue landlords but that doesn't mean once it's set up, that it can't be unfairly used against you.

Rob Thomas

10:00 AM, 23rd May 2023, About 11 months ago

Reply to the comment left by TheBiggerPicture at 23/05/2023 - 09:52
I'm not sure what you mean?
HMRC just apply the tax legislation. They don't make the rules.
I'm not saying the current tax rules are fair: they aren't fair to higher rate paying landlords with property in their own name.

GlanACC

10:06 AM, 23rd May 2023, About 11 months ago

Reply to the comment left by TheBiggerPicture at 23/05/2023 - 09:52
Don't see how it can be used unfairly against you. If you haven't paid the correct amout of tax it your hard luck. Still think rougue landlords wont register though, thats why they are rougue (anyone any idea how many rogue landlords there are as Shelter don't know)

TheBiggerPicture

11:35 AM, 23rd May 2023, About 11 months ago

EPCs when they came out looked harmless too.
Just helpful information packs.

Try telling landlords with a rating of less than C that EPCs are not being used unfairly against them.

(Owner occupiers do not have to comply with the same suggested improvements)

If you think setting up this property portal is the final step and not the first step, then you may want to pay closer attention to politics in general.

Cathie French

11:47 AM, 23rd May 2023, About 11 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Rob Thomas at 23/05/2023 - 10:00The rules are not fair for lower rate tax payer either, especially when you are only doing it to subsidise the mean state pension. If I could claim Universal Credit instead of the state pension then I would be much better off!

Pete England - PaTMa Property Management

12:55 PM, 23rd May 2023, About 11 months ago

I thought most landlords set up their business as a limited company so they will pay corporation tax. Other landlords will fill in a self assessment for sure, but there will be a few that try to avoid it by renting out a room or two and accepting cash but there is a tax relief allowance so not much is lost . A landlord database check will only be useful if tenants also have to register and cross reference their landlord. The database will also need to check the identity of landlord/tenant . Doesn’t each council already have a landlord register for council tax purposes? HMRC could use this data if they were at all concerned about the small amount of revenue it would bring into the treasury!

GlanACC

16:39 PM, 23rd May 2023, About 11 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Pete England - PaTMa Property Management at 23/05/2023 - 12:55
Once the database has the address of the property, you also have the address of the owner by use of land registry documents. Once you have this you have tax records. I used to a software developer and I can tell you HMRC get their information from amazing places and tie it all together

TheMaluka

16:43 PM, 23rd May 2023, About 11 months ago

Reply to the comment left by GlanACC at 23/05/2023 - 16:39Sometime from the most unexpected sources "Well Mr Smif, how did you manage to spend £20,000 on your loyalty card when you only had a declared income of £15,000?"

GlanACC

16:52 PM, 23rd May 2023, About 11 months ago

Reply to the comment left by TheMaluka at 23/05/2023 - 16:43
Its more sneaky than that.. Once worked on a system that detected people who were claiming benefits by cohabiting, so they werent entitled (this is in use today by councils). Looked at phone and TV subscription service payments to see who was making them and from which address

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