If you let a furnished property, it is very likely that you will need to replace domestic items from time to time. A specific relief provides tax relief for the cost of replacing certain domestic items. The relief does not extend to the initial purchase of the items.
The relief is available to both unincorporated landlords and corporate landlords. However, it does not apply where the property is a furnished holiday letting or where rent-a-room receipts have been received.
Domestic items are items for domestic use such as movable furniture, furnishings, household appliances and kitchenware.
Availability of the relief is contingent on the following four conditions being met:
Tax relief is given as a deduction in calculating taxable profits for the cost of the new item on a ‘like-for-like’ basis. If the new item is superior to the old item, there is no relief for the cost of the improvement element. In this case, the deduction is equal to the lower of:
Check this as well: TAX RELIEF FOR THE EXPENSES
Andrew lets a furnished flat. He replaces an old washing machine (which cost £150) with a new washer-dryer that cost £325. An equivalent washing machine would cost £200.
As the washer-dryer is an improvement over the old washing machine, the full cost cannot be deducted. Instead, the deduction is capped at £200, which is the cost of a new washing machine equivalent to the model being replaced.
A deduction is also allowed for incidental capital expenditure, such as delivery and installation costs and the cost of disposing of the old item.
If the old item is sold, the amount of the deduction is reduced by the consideration received from the sale of that item. In the above example, had Andrew received £30 from the sale of the old washing machine, the deduction would be reduced by £30 to £170.
If the old item is part-exchanged for the new item, the deduction is the amount paid on top of the part-exchange value.
Partner note: ITTOIA 2005, s. 311A; CTA 2009, s. 250A.