As a typical theory transfers of property amongst spouses dwelling jointly, which include Civil Associates, are deemed to consider place on a ‘no get, no loss’ basis and no demand to tax will crop up. The buying specific is addressed as if the asset was acquired for a thought of this sort of an amount of money as would assure that on the disposal neither a attain nor a reduction would accrue to the specific building the disposal (part 58 TCGA 1992).
This can produce important opportunities for mitigating Cash Gains Tax (CGT) liabilities otherwise arising by arranging property so as to:-
– Make use of particular person CGT exemptions out there (at the moment £9,200)
– Utilise lower and essential fee tax bands.
This can generally involve the transfer of ownership of belongings prior to disposal, normally at the “final moment”. As the legal responsibility for CGT follows ‘beneficial ownership’ concepts, fairly than lawful possession, this can normally be reached by way of ‘declaration’ somewhat than the actual physical transfer and vesting of assets in the name of the receiver. A useful device when timescales are limited!
The normal ideas outlined higher than only implement to transfers in a tax year when the few are married, or civil associates, and living alongside one another at someday in the course of the tax 12 months. The principles will thus utilize to transfers which choose area in the 12 months a pair forever independent.
Thereafter having said that, these kinds of transfers, even if section of a money settlement arising on divorce or dissolution, could give rise to a charge to CGT.
The explanation is that, assuming the transfer of belongings takes put in the 12 months subsequent separation, but when the functions are even now married, or civil partners, then the disposal will be to a “linked particular person” as described in the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992. These kinds of disposals are deemed to get spot at sector worth, irrespective of the consideration changing arms, if any.
So, get for instance a spouse transferring an financial commitment home to his wife as portion of an agreed economical settlement. The market place value of the house at the time of transfer is £200,000 and experienced an first acquisition value of £100,000. The achieve arising right after taper reduction and yearly exemption is £50,800 giving rise to a prospective liability to CGT of £20,320.
In such scenarios it is very important that the query of CGT is thought of at an early stage in the divorce method.