Government begins collection of data to record earnings of short-term rental platforms

Starting January 1, 2024, Airbnb and similar short-term rental platforms must report their clients' earnings to His Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC). HMRC is also extending its scrutiny to high-value company-owned rental properties. They have urged companies with UK residential properties valued above 500,000 to re-evaluate and inform HM Revenue and Customs accordingly.

Renters' Reform Bill

HMRC will receive more information from digital platforms outside the UK as part of its enhanced data access strategy. The Renters' Reform Bill introduces a new database that could become a valuable resource for HMRC in tracking tenants-increasingly-love-corporate-landlords'>landlords who have yet to disclose their rental income. This move can make the data invaluable, transforming it into a tax 'gold mine'.

Starting January 1, 2024, platforms like Airbnb, Uber, and Fiverr must share client earnings data with HMRC. The information to be shared will extend beyond short-term rentals to include various freelance services in the gig economy. HMRC will leverage this data to detect under-reporting of income by taxpayers accurately. Failure to report all income may result in penalties of up to 30 percent of the owed tax, coupled with the outstanding tax payment or even legal action. HMRC believes they suffer a loss of around 1.2 billion annually in tax evasion within the gig economy.

Airbnb issued a notice

Earlier this year, Airbnb issued a notice on its platform, informing users that it collaborates with HMRC and has been sharing data from the 2017-18 tax year onward. It is essential for tenants-increasingly-love-corporate-landlords'>landlords and individuals renting out entire properties on Airbnb to be aware of the financial implications of doing so. According to the 'trading allowance' rule, earnings up to 1,000 a year remain tax free. However, any profits exceeding this threshold must be declared for taxation.

There is a more generous tax-free allowance for those opting to rent out a room only through short-term let platforms, especially if they adhere to the government's Rent a Room initiative. Individuals can earn up to 7,500 per year without incurring taxes on this income.

Tax regulations

It is important to note that this amount is halved if the income is shared with a partner or another individual. Understanding these tax regulations is crucial for individuals engaging in short-term property rentals to comply with tax obligations and avoid potential penalties. HMRC is proactively ensuring tenants-increasingly-love-corporate-landlords'>landlords accurately report their rental profits and sales gains. This move is aimed at promoting fair taxation. tenants-increasingly-love-corporate-landlords'>Landlords who recognise errors in their reporting are encouraged to rectify their position voluntarily, leveraging resources like the Let Property Campaign within HMRC's Digital Disclosure Service or other disclosure processes.

The transparency of property ownership

The transparency of property ownership and transactions is all set to increase with additional property data becoming available through the Land Registry's implementation of new information requirements outlined in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill. HMRC plans to integrate this fresh data from the tenants-increasingly-love-corporate-landlords'>landlord database with existing accessible information, including records from the Land Registry, the Register of Overseas Entities owning UK property, and data within HMRC's extensive Connect database, housing over 55 billion data points.

This comprehensive data analysis will empower HMRC to identify potential cases for investigation. They can impose taxes, collect late payment interest, and issue tax-geared penalties where warranted. The strategy aims to enhance compliance and uphold tax obligations within the property sector.