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HomeFarming NewsFarmers urged to watch out for land development tax
Catherina Cunnane
Catherina Cunnanehttps://www.thatsfarming.com/
Catherina Cunnane hails from a sixth-generation drystock and specialised pedigree suckler enterprise in Co. Mayo. She currently holds the positions of editor and general manager at That's Farming, having joined the firm during its start-up phase in 2015.
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Farmers urged to watch out for land development tax

Old Mill, leading specialist farm accountants, financial planners, and tax advisers in the UK, has warned farmers to watch out for land development tax.

Selling development land can yield valuable extra income and might sound straightforward. However, there are significant tax implications that farmers should watch out for.

The key with any land development sale is to understand the implications early in the process.

Laura Wylie, senior tax manager at Old Mill agricultural accountants, explains more.

Every situation is different and could require things like restructuring of land ownership to avoid tax pitfalls.

Land development tax

What should landowners need to be aware of?

Sales of bare development land by sole traders and business partners normally incur Capital Gains Tax (CGT) at 10% up to the higher rate Income Tax threshold of £50,271 and 20% thereafter.

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However, where housing has already been constructed, the higher CGT rates for residential property apply. This is 18% for lower rate taxpayers and 28% for higher rates.

Build rather than sell 

Landowners looking to build property rather than sell bare land to developers are potentially going to change the nature of the disposal from capital to income as they may be seen as a property developer.

In this case, be wary of the higher 45% Income Tax. There won’t be Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR) or Rollover Relief (RR) available.

BADR, previously known as Entrepreneurs’ Relief, means less CGT may need to be paid when selling all or part of a business.

All gains on qualifying assets will be taxed at 10% – to qualify, sole traders, partnerships and businesses must have owned the asset for at least two years.

RR means that proceeds from the sale can be reinvested into new assets, delaying the CGT bill until the new assets are sold.

To qualify, new assets need to be bought within three years of selling the old ones. The business must be trading at the point of both sale and purchase, and both assets must be used in a trading business.

If the land is held by a company, any gains are normally subject to Corporation Tax. At present, this is 19% but come 2023, it will increase to 25%.

Suppose a landowner sells a dwelling, which has been their main residence throughout ownership.

In that case, there could be scope to claim Private Residence Relief (PRR) to reduce the amount of gain on which CGT is payable – potentially eliminating any CGT burden.

Selling land after one’s lifetime

However, a landowner may not sell development land during their lifetime.

When it comes to farmland and property, Agricultural Property Relief (APR) will only apply to the agricultural value of land.

All value above this may be exposed to Inheritance Tax (IHT) at 40% unless Business Property Relief (BPR) applies.

Therefore, gifting land before death could be an option to maximise the availability of these reliefs.

Also, it is worth being mindful of how long any option or promotion agreement lasts. No one wants to be unable to do anything else on their land for 20 years.

Stamp duty land tax 

And while Stamp Duty Land Tax is a cost to the purchaser, it will likely filter down to the landowner in a reduced sale price.

It is important to get an accountant involved with the heads of terms and discussions at an early stage.

It can even influence the VAT levied on planning application fees.

An accountant can highlight such tax liabilities and help with decision-making to best benefit the landowner and their situation.”

Further reading:
  • Passing assets on to non-farming children while keeping the farm intact: Read
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