Landlords Overseas Landlords
Landlords Overseas tax
How does the scheme work?
If you live abroad, under the latest regulations, the agent who collects rent for you has to deduct an amount that’s equivalent to Basic Rate Tax (currently 20%) and pay it to the Inland Revenue each quarter. We would normally collect rent for you and ensure this amount is paid to the Inland Revenue.
If the rent isn’t collected by us or another of your agents, such as an accountant or solicitor, we will let your tenants know that they must deduct tax from their rental payments and pay the Inland Revenue.
In summary
If you let your property through an agent then the agent must operate the Scheme and deduct tax from your rental income, unless they receive written notification to the contrary. In simple terms, the Agent will either:-
• If authorised by the Revenue, pay the rental income to their non-resident client GROSS, or
• Deduct tax at the basic rate on the net income subject to certain allowable expenses and deductions.
If your tenant pays the rent directly into your bank account they must also operate the NRL Scheme and deduct tax, unless they receive written notification from the Inland Revenue’s Centre for Non-residents (CNR) to the contrary.
Exemption from having tax deducted
The NRL scheme is operated by the Inland Revenue’s Centre for Non-residents (CNR). Non-resident landlords can apply to the CNR for approval to receive their rental income gross or with no tax deducted (an ‘approval’). If the application is successful, the CNR will issue a notice and the agent will not be required to deduct tax.
An approval will allow you to receive all rental income due without deductions to cover tax liabilities. The forms are available from CNR by phone or directly from their web site at www.hmrc.gov.uk.
Where a non-resident landlord qualifies for approval to receive rental income gross, the landlord should apply for approval as soon as possible. Only tax deductions made in a particular quarter can be refunded by the agent.
How does the scheme work?
If you live abroad, under the latest regulations, the agent who collects rent for you has to deduct an amount that’s equivalent to Basic Rate Tax (currently 20%) and pay it to the Inland Revenue each quarter. We would normally collect rent for you and ensure this amount is paid to the Inland Revenue.
If the rent isn’t collected by us or another of your agents, such as an accountant or solicitor, we will let your tenants know that they must deduct tax from their rental payments and pay the Inland Revenue.
What happens when approval is given?
When approval has been given, HM Revenue & Customs sends a notice of approval to receive rent with no tax deducted to the non-resident landlord, and a separate notice to the letting agents or tenants named on the application form authorising them to pay rent to the non-resident landlord without deducting tax.
Authority to pay rent to a non-resident landlord with no tax deducted is generally backdated to the beginning of the quarter in which HMRC receives the non-resident landlord’s application. As the tax year for the Non-resident Landlords Scheme starts on 1 April, the quarters are the three-month periods that end on 30 June, 30 September, 31 December and 31 March. So if a non-resident landlord applies to us on, say, 20 September, the authority we send to his letting agent/tenant will usually take effect from 1 July.
Applications by non-resident landlords for approval to receive rent with no tax deducted
Non-resident landlords who are eligible can apply at any time for approval to receive their UK rental income with no tax deducted. This includes applying before they have left the UK or before the letting has started.
Applications should be made
on form NRL1 Click here to download it (PDF 28K)
see also NRL1 Notes Click here to download it (PDF 220K)
Also visit the HM revenue website by clicking here (www.hmrc.gov.uk/cnr/nr_landlords.htm)
You will need to quote our reference number, which is NA038880.
If your property is in joint names, you will both need to apply for exemption.
You have to apply for this exemption yourself and it’s a good idea to do it as soon as possible. Otherwise, the exemption certificate may be issued too late and we would have to deduct the required amount of tax deduction before passing on the rent.
