THE reduction in Capital Gains Allowance is an “unwelcome blow” and has seen the number of landlords looking to sell up hit a 13-year high.
Jeremy Hunt announced that the amount you can make from the sale of certain assets before paying tax will fall from £12,300 to £6,000 in April and then to £3,000 in April 2024 in the Autumn statement on Thursday.
Tom Cranenburgh from GetAnOffer Estate Agency told City A.M. this morning (05/12/22) that many landlords are now opting to exit the market.
He said: “The changes to Capital Gains Allowance couldn’t really have come at a worse time for landlords. Right now, many are already facing a reduction in property values, rafts of new regulation and the prospect of many of their tenants struggling to pay their rent due to the cost-of-living crisis.
“Many are reacting to this unwelcome blow by already opting to quit the market and sell up.” Tom Cranenburgh
Cranenburgh said data indicated the number of landlords looking to exit the market had hit a 13-year high.
He said: “We track all enquiries really carefully, and landlords looking to sell are coming to us more than I can remember since we began back in 2009.”
Some are hoping to sell with tenants remaining, others have given two months notice and want the place sold as soon as it’s empty to avoid paying all the costs with no rent coming in.”
He said landlords looking to sell are up nearly 65 per cent in November versus October and nearly 300 per cent versus November 2021.”
Rates
Basic rate taxpayers pay 10 per cent CGT on most asset sales and 18 per cent on property. Higher rate taxpayers pay 20 per cent CGT on most assets and 28 per cent on property.
A landlord paying higher-rate tax would pay up to £1,764 more tax on a property gain above the threshold if they sold between April 2023 and April 2024, when the threshold is £6,000, and up to £2,604 more after the threshold drops to £3,000, according to the investment platform AJ Bell.
A landlord paying basic-rate tax would pay up to £1,134 more in CGT if they sold their property between April 2023 and April 2024, and up to £1,674 extra from April 2024.
Landlords who manage their buy-to-let portfolio through a limited company and pay themselves in dividends will also be hit by changes to the dividend allowance, which is the amount that an individual can receive in dividends before paying tax on them.
The allowance will be cut from £2,000 a year to £1,000 in April, and then halved again to £500 in April 2024.
Last month the number of limited companies set up to hold buy-to-let properties passed 300,000 for the first time as more landlords moved properties from personal to company names.
The Chancellor has slashed the exemption amount for capital gains tax and cut the dividend allowance in half today in a move that will strike a “heavy blow” to the UK’s entrepreneurs and investors.
In the Autumn statement, Jeremy Hunt said the government would cut the dividend allowance from £2000 to £1000, with a further 50 per cent cut due to come from April 2024, meaning that investors will now pay tax on dividends at a rate depending on their wider income.
Entrepreneurs who pay themselves via dividends are also set to be hammered by the measures announced by Hunt today.
A cut in the Capital Gains Tax threshold from £12,000 to £6,000 meanwhile is set to hit those with their cash outside ISAs and pensions tax wrappers, who will now pay a higher tax rate on their returns.
Analysts say say the dividend tax cut would choke off investment and dampen returns at a time when ministers should be encouraging investors to back UK firms.
“A dividend tax that kicks in at just £500 of earnings by 2024 could disincentivise investing at a time when it is really needed to help the economy grow, and for millions of investors who are looking to do more with their money to stay ahead of the pernicious effects of inflation,” said Sam North, analyst at trading firm eToro.
He added that slashing the allowance could lead to “unexpected outcomes” like people putting more money away from “typical FTSE income paying stocks to other growth focused – and typically riskier – investments elsewhere.”
Analysts at Bowmore Asset Management said that the changes to capital gains tax and dividends were a “double whammy” against investors.
“Whilst high net worth individuals are unlikely to feel much pain from this, for many small investors that increase in tax on dividends and capital gains is going to be significant,” said Charles Incledon, client director.
“Cuts to this income could cause a real squeeze on the finances of many small investors, especially those who are retired and depend on dividend income from their shares. Bad news considering that we have a cost-of-living crisis at the moment.”
Investment Synergy - we certainly concede that the government has to claw back money in some shape and form, but "unintended consequences" springs to mind ....
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