If you’re trying to report a gain on a UK property using the 60-day return, you may hit a stumbling block that gives an error message. However, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) has found a potential solution. What’s the full story?
You have to file a return within 60 days of completion if you make a disposal of UK residential property and there is a tax bill, i.e. the gain isn’t covered by the annual exemption, private residence relief, or losses arising before the completion date. Non-UK residents have to report all gains on UK property, whether it is residential or not.
However, some users have reported receiving an error message saying “sorry we are experiencing technical difficulties, please try again in a few minutes” when trying to use the property reporting service. The ICAEW has reported that the problem may be caused by the way the address has been populated in HMRC’s system. It’s important to ensure that the required information is captured in the correct box. As an example, many address boxes have three or more lines for the main address, and a separate box for the postcode. If the postcode is mistakenly entered into the main address box, it appears to cause the error.
If you are experiencing the error message, check that the address has been correctly captured by logging into online services and viewing your profile. You can change your address from this page if necessary.
This article has been reproduced by kind permission of Indicator – FL Memo Ltd. For details of their tax-saving products please visit www.indicator-flm.co.uk or call 01233 653500.