Article
20 May, 2022
RPDT is a new tax on profits of companies carrying out Residential Property Development activities, and is intended to cover the costs of replacement unsafe cladding. It will only apply on accounting periods which come to an end on or after April 2022. The tax will apply to profits above a £25m annual allowance and the government expects to raise £2 billion in tax over the intended ten year life span.
The tax will only apply to those larger companies which undertake Residential Property Development (RPD) activities, have an interest in the residential properties at any point on which the activities are undertaken and are within the charge to corporation tax.
RPD activities has a very broad definition and it includes anything that is done by a residential developer, on or in connection with land in the UK for the purposes of the development of residential property in particular, it includes:
The tax does not apply to individuals or partnerships in which all the members are individuals.
As the definition is very broad, it could extend to a property trader who would purchase the land, obtain planning permission and then sell the land. Therefore, there would not be any involvement in the development of the land but they will still be subject to the RPDT.
Interest in residential property - Interest (in the residential property) is defined broadly and includes the benefit of an obligation or restriction or condition affecting the value of the land. Residential property is defined as including dwellings under construction or being adapted. Residential property was also originally designed to include undeveloped land in respect of which planning permission to construct residential property has been obtained (or is being sought). However, the Government has subsequently amended the definition to remove the reference to undeveloped land where a residential property "would be" constructed.
Those activities it is not intended to cover are:-
The tax is 4% of any RPD profits above £25 million. The profits will be calculated using company trading profits and the profits of JV companies in which it holds an interest, to the extent that they are related to its RPD activities.
The tax will have similar payment, reporting and compliance procedures to those under corporation tax, and RPD companies will be required to include a statement of RPD profits, losses and reliefs in their company tax returns.
The government have indicated that they feel the tax will have a negligible effect on the housing market as new build account for a small share of the overall market transactions. However any tax announcement is greeted as a pleasant addition and is usually passed down the chain, and will doubtless have an effect deal on both ends of the development chain. With the cost of living being squeezed, and a housing market being put under increased strain as a result any additional tax will be less welcome than ever. It is a case of watching this space as to how the effects are felt.
For more information contact Matthew Jones in our Commercial Property department via email or phone on 01254 222316. Alternatively send any question through to Forbes Solicitors via our online Contact Form.
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