Tax tips when purchasing a holiday home overseas
Income tax is charged broadly on the world income of UK residents.
Individuals are normally taxed on the full amount of foreign income arising abroad, whether it is brought into the UK or not. A British resident who is not UK domiciled or not ordinarily resident in the UK, is, however, charged only as and when income is brought into the UK (referred to as the ‘remittance basis’).
The government is reviewing the residence and domicile rules in relation to individuals. The main area of concern is the ability of long-term resident non-domiciled individuals to pay little or no UK tax because on overseas income they are taxed only on amounts remitted to the UK. Where tax is charged on the amount that arises abroad, the income to be brought into account is the sterling equivalent of the overseas amount at the date it arises. An average exchange rate for the year may be used, using rates published by the Revenue.
If an individual buys investment property abroad, then any rental income from a foreign possession is charged under Schedule D Case V.
Foreign rental income is calculated in a similar way to UK rental income, but the special rules for furnished holiday letting