Chancellor Rachel Reeves eyes capital gains tax hike to 39%

Chancellor Rachel Reeves eyes capital gains tax hike to 39%

10:15 AM, 14th October 2024, About a month ago 6

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Chancellor Rachel Reeves could hike capital gains tax to a whopping 39%, according to The Guardian.

The newspaper reports the Treasury is testing a range of 33%-39% for capital gains tax to fill in the so-called £22 billion black hole in Britain’s finances.

Propertymark warns raising capital gains tax could jeopardise growth in the housing sector.

Complete disarray

Former chancellor Jeremy Hunt cut the higher rate of capital gains tax from 28% to 24%.

However, Ms Reeves has refused to rule out an increase and previously told Bloomberg TV she wants to “strike the right balance.”

According to the Guardian, Treasury internal modelling suggests raising capital gains tax could bring in extra revenues of around a billion pounds.

A senior source at the Treasury revealed to The Guardian: “Some very big tax decisions are being left until very late in the day.” Another insider suggested the Treasury’s tax-raising plans were in “complete disarray.”

In response, a Treasury spokesperson denied the claims of disorder to the Guardian, stating, “These claims are inaccurate,” and emphasising that they do not comment on “pure speculation” concerning specific tax measures before the budget.

Reduce the number of property transactions

Propertymark has urged the government not to increase capital gains tax following an interest rate cut.

The Bank of England cut interest rates from 5.25 to 5% in August for the first time in four years which was welcomed by many in the property sector.

Richard Worrall, NAVA Propertymark, said: “The Bank of England cutting interest rates should help stimulate growth in the housing market, which is fantastic news for those who are hoping to purchase their next home.

“However, if the Chancellor increases the higher rate of Capital Gains Tax, this could reduce the number of property transactions on the market at a time when full confidence needs to be restored to the housing market, especially when encouraging housing growth is a central part of the new UK government’s mission.”

Director of Benham and Reeves, Marc von Grundherr, warns the capital gains tax hike could see landlords leave the market.

He said: “Buy-to-let landlords have been targeted by a number of laws and legislative changes over recent years, all designed to reduce the profitability and tempt more landlords to quit the sector, thus, in theory, freeing up more stock for owner-occupier homebuyers.

“However, our new Labour government has made it very clear which side of the fence they wish to sit, first with the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Bill, with it looking likely that further tax hikes are on the way in the Autumn Statement.

“It remains to be seen just what these tax changes will entail but any further attack on landlords is only likely to see private rental stock levels reduce further, exacerbating the rental crisis in the process and driving rents ever higher at the expense of tenants.”


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Jimmy Smith

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11:52 AM, 14th October 2024, About a month ago

Don't think just grab grab grab grab

JB

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12:15 PM, 14th October 2024, About a month ago

Did I hear (or was I having a nightmare) that RR is planning on increasing tax on property capital gains within a limited company?

LaLo

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12:53 PM, 14th October 2024, About a month ago

All the doors are closing for the PRS ! Increasing CGT could have the opposite effect to selling - is it worth it? Everyone write directly to Ms Reeves as I have done with other various politicians in the past with some success. Keep it short - they don’t have time to read page after page. It’s worth a try!

Cider Drinker

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13:10 PM, 14th October 2024, About a month ago

Reply to the comment left by JB at 14/10/2024 - 12:15
The tax grab needs to be shared equally, otherwise the burden will fall more heavily on those that hold their property in personal names.

Judith Wordsworth

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15:17 PM, 14th October 2024, About a month ago

As the Treasury reportedly earnt £1bn from Taylor Swift's recent UK concert the Government should just put on another 21 Taylor Swift or Oasis concerts around the UK.

Then the so called £22bn black hole would be filled to the brim

Jason

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16:10 PM, 14th October 2024, About a month ago

How do you encourage growth if you tax one of the main reasons for investment. People will just invest elsewhere. Also if people decide not to sell how does that raise the funds they are after? 40% of nothing is errm nothing.

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