Non-residents and UK property

Non-UK residents owning UK real estate, whether directly or via companies, partnerships, trust arrangements or collective investment vehicles, should be aware of important UK tax changes due to take effect from April 2019.

On 6 July 2018 draft legislation to provide for these changes, together with a further consultation response, was published by the UK government. This update will be of particular interest to tax-exempt investors and non-UK collective investment vehicles (CIVs).

From April 2019, all gains from UK real estate realised by non-UK residents, whether of residential or non-residential (commercial) property and whether by way of direct or “indirect” disposal, will be subject to UK capital gains tax or corporation tax on chargeable gains (as applicable). This will be a fundamental extension to the scope of the UK tax regime, which has historically been very favourable for non-UK investors investing in UK real estate.

The most recent proposals may mean that non-UK CIVs (such as JPUTs) may need to elect to fall outside the new rules on “indirect” UK property disposals. Details as to the timing and process requirements for any such election are expected later this year.

Current UK tax rules

The UK tax rules applicable to UK real estate purchases, holdings, and sales have been the subject of considerable change over recent years. This has resulted in, arguably, a rather incoherent tax regime with different rules for (1) residents as opposed to non-residents, (2) residential property as opposed to commercial property, and (3) individuals as opposed to corporate and other “non-natural” entities.

The current UK tax regime also only applies to gains realised on direct disposals of UK residential property by (certain) non-UK residents.

The current UK tax regime, for disposals of UK real estate by non-residents, is summarised in the Annex to this bulletin.

From April 2019

The UK government’s view is that non-UK residents have an advantage over UK residents when it comes to the taxation of UK commercial real estate, due to the fact that “unlike most other major jurisdictions” the UK does not exercise its full taxing rights as afforded by international tax rules.

In summary what is proposed is that, from April 2019, a single UK tax regime will apply for disposals of both residential and commercial UK real estate by non-residents, comprising:

• A new UK tax charge for gains on UK commercial real estate
• An extension of the existing rules for taxing gains on UK residential real estate, and
• An each case (ie for both commercial and residential UK property) an extension of the UK tax charge to gains made by non-residents on “indirect disposals” of UK “property rich” interests. This will bring within the scope of UK tax disposals by non-residents of certain companies, partnerships and unit trusts holding UK real estate.

The applicable rate of UK tax will be 19%1 for non-resident companies caught by the new rules and, it seems, a top rate of 28% for non-resident individuals and others (or 20% in the case of commercial property).

The new tax charge(s) will in each case only apply to gains arising since April 2019 (ie property held at that date will be rebased to its current market value).

• at the time of disposal, at least 75% of the value of the interest (eg shares, partnership interests or units) disposed of is derived from UK land (whether directly or indirectly, and whether residential or commercial). The test is applied to the gross-asset value of the entity in question, using the market value of the assets at the time of disposal, and
• the non-resident making the disposal holds at least a 25% interest in the entity. Interests held by certain parties related to the non-resident will be taken into account. This test will also be met if at least a 25% interest has been held within the two years ending on the date of disposal.

Collective investment vehicles

It is intended that the new “indirect disposal” tax charge would apply equally to non-residents disposing of interests in (UK tax-exempt) real estate investment trusts (REITs) and other UK CIVs. Direct disposals of UK real estate by the (tax-exempt) UK CIV itself would continue to be exempt from UK tax.

Non-UK CIVs which, currently, escape UK tax on gains on UK real estate disposals solely by virtue of being non-UK resident, would be caught by the new direct disposal tax charge from April 2019. 

To find out more, download the full update.