Our webinar considered three hypothetical client scenarios, each illustrating various tax issues often observed by our real estate and construction team in the practice.

The core issues we explored in connection with “Student Property Ltd” converting a larger commercial property into student rental units were around VAT, capital allowances, and structures and buildings allowance (SBA). For VAT purposes, some services and building materials supplied in the course of “qualifying conversions” were subject to the reduced rate of VAT, at 5%. Most other costs falling outside of this definition were standard rated, at 20%, in the absence of planning. It can nonetheless be difficult to recover input tax on these conversion costs, as a future rental or sale of a residential property interest is usually an exempt supply and input tax is only recoverable when incurred in making taxable, as opposed to exempt, supplies. However, the first grant of a “major interest”, being a freehold sale or lease exceeding 21 years, in a converted dwelling by a company with “person converting” status is zero rated and some VAT recovery could be possible in this scenario. We outlined that SBA and capital allowances are not generally available in connection with dwelling houses. Whilst certain “common parts” can qualify for capital allowances, there were various further complexities to consider here.

“Property Company Ltd” held various property assets and was considering what to do in relation to a property held as a trading asset. Most of our commentary considered what would happen in the case of a profit recognition event where a trading asset is sold to a third-party, subject to an intra-group transfer, or recognised as a fixed asset. Unless elections are available, these transactions give rise to trading profits subject to corporation tax at 25% from 1 April 2023. We illustrated how the new associated companies rules would bring the company within the quarterly instalment payments (QIPs) regime. As a result of these rules, the company was considered “very large” under the legislation and required to make accelerated corporation tax payments, all before the end of the relevant accounting period, with late payment interest accruing at 6.25% on unpaid balances. We also explored how the corporate interest restriction can cause significant complexity for groups with finance costs in excess of £2 million, particularly where there is some capitalised interest on properties.

Our final scenario discussed the opportunities available to “Property Investments Ltd” after acquiring an investment property in South Yorkshire. We noted that this region is currently designated as an investment zone and could, in the future, qualify for various tax and non-tax incentives. However, these investment zones are still in the early development stages. As the client here was looking to invest heavily, we explored the full expensing for main rate plant and machinery (P&M) investments and the 50% first year allowance for special rate P&M investments. In general, we note that companies need to ensure that expenditure is adequately reviewed and itemised. Additionally, it is of paramount importance to negotiate a s.198 election with the seller so that the client can benefit from capital allowances on the existing fixtures and fittings. The availability of SBA should always be considered as a useful cash-flow benefit, although relief would be clawed back through a sale proceeds adjustment.

Our recent presentation intended to illustrate how even the fairly straightforward transactions and developments discussed can give rise to complex tax issues. The facts and tax issues are only discussed, in our presentation and this article, at a high level to illustrate key points of principle. It is therefore important to take relevant expert advice at an early stage so that the tax risks and wider commercial consequences can be assessed fully before proceeding with any transactions given these layers of complexity. A question worth posing is whether current tax policy assists real estate and construction businesses or merely adds to this complexity.

A number of tax cuts were announced in the Autumn Statement 2023 based on improved economic forecasts. However, the Office for Budget Responsibility has downgraded growth forecasts from March 2023 and forecast that inflation will remain higher than expected. In reality, this means that the various freezes to tax thresholds continue to increase the tax burden to the highest level seen in the post-war period according to the Institute of Fiscal Studies. The most significant announcements were non-tax measures, including a government package termed “Getting Great Britain building again”, and planning law reforms which intend to incentivise construction, housing, and infrastructure developments. However, the headline tax measures were as follows:

• Full expensing is being presented as a the “biggest tax cut” to businesses and, whilst a welcomed and positive announcement, it primarily brings forward the deductibility of expenditure which would otherwise be claimed through the writing down allowance over a period of time. The extension of full expensing will primarily benefit very large companies expending over £1 million on P&M every year. It is important to note that the increase in the corporation tax rate from 19% to 25% may concurrently increase the overall tax burden for most companies in this sector.
• Investment zones will be extended from five to ten years with a proportionate increase in funding. There will also be a further £150 million fund established to help investment zones obtain further support. This extension should provide additional certainty for those looking to invest in these regions but the overall benefits and effects will need to be assessed over a longer period.
• Business rates are to remain subject to temporary extensions. The small business multiplier is frozen at 49.9p for a fourth fiscal year and the 75% relief for retail, hospitality, and leisure businesses will remain for a fifth fiscal year. Big questions remain as to more fundamental reforms to business rates and the temporary nature of these measures does create further long-term uncertainty for businesses.

In our view, the tax measures are underwhelming for those operating in the real estate and construction sector. Most measures offer temporary reliefs and do little to counteract the effect of fiscal drag, which may fail to generate long-term business confidence in UK real estate. The on-going tinkering, scaling back, and extension of various programmes and reliefs without clear long-term strategies generates further uncertainty. In our view, a more fundamental review of business rates seems warranted and more clarity around the non-tax measures will be eagerly awaited. Until then, long-term uncertainty remains for businesses as they continue to navigate the complexities of the UK tax system.

^{*The views expressed are the author's and not ICAEW's.}