Residential property taxation in 2018 down nearly 10% compared to 2017

Despite tax revenue from residential property seeing its usual annual rise between July and September, total tax revenue in the first nine months of 2018 across England and Wales was 9.5% lower than a year ago, according to the latest data published this week by HMRC and the Welsh Government.

Despite tax revenue from residential property seeing its usual annual rise between July and September, total tax revenue in the first nine months of 2018 across England and Wales was 9.5% lower than a year ago, according to the latest data published this week by HMRC and the Welsh Government.

The number of properties liable for the 3% Higher Rate of Additional Dwelling (HRAD) levy fell over 5% in this period. The amount collected from the HRAD 3% element was down £243 million, the equivalent of 14.3%, to £1.24 billion.

Since its introduction in the 2017 Autumn Budget, the government has also ‘lost’ £427 million, owing to the introduction of first-time buyer tax relief which has benefitted over 180,000 first-time buyers. That number will rise thanks to the backdating of the scheme for first-time buyers purchasing shared ownership properties, as announced this autumn. On average, first-time buyers account for just over one fifth of residential property purchases each quarter.