To mitigate the impact of Section 24 (interest relief restrictions), UK landlords commonly incorporate by moving properties into a limited company, where full mortgage interest remains deductible against corporation tax. Other strategies include transferring beneficial ownership to a lower-earning spouse via a deed of trust, selling high-interest properties, or increasing rent to cover tax costs.
Incorrect Loan Purpose: Deductions under Section 24 apply only to loans taken for the purchase, construction, repair, renewal, or reconstruction of a property. Interest on personal loans or loans for land purchase without construction does not qualify.
How Can Buy-To-Let Landlords Mitigate And Manage The Impact Of Section 24?
You can avail deduction on the interest paid on your home loan under section 24(b) of the Income Tax Act. For a self-occupied house, the maximum tax deduction of Rs. 2 lakh can be claimed from your gross income annually, provided the construction/ acquisition of the house is completed within 5 years.
To answer the question, yes, you can claim both tax benefits together in the same year and significantly reduce your taxable income. However, you should maintain proper records and submit the relevant documents.
But what is it, and how does it work? Section 24 removes a landlord's right to deduct finance costs, including mortgage interest and arrangement fees, from their rental income before calculating their profit from rental income. The landlord can then claim back a tax credit equivalent to 20% of annual mortgage interest.
Exemption under Section 54EC
Section 54EC provides that you do not have to pay LTCG tax on the sale of any long-term capital assets if the capital gains are invested in the designated government bonds and instruments. The bonds must be purchased within six months following the asset's sale.
Capital improvements: Improvements that add value to your home or prolong its useful life can reduce the amount of capital gains tax you owe when you sell your home, but won't be immediately deductible.
Under Code Sec. 24, taxpayers can claim a credit for each “qualifying child,” with phaseouts for taxpayers at certain income levels. Under the TCJA, for the 2018-2025 tax years (other than 2021), the CTC is $2,000 per qualifying child. After 2025, it is set to drop back down to $1,000 per qualifying child.
Capital Gains Tax (CGT) is paid to HMRC on the sale of an asset that has made a profit. So, if you have a second home that you are looking to sell, how can you avoid CGT? Well, in truth you can't avoid paying CGT if the property has increased in value. But with expert help, you may be able to lower your final CGT bill.
Section 24 in the new tax regime still deals with deductions related to income from house property, but its scope is significantly narrower compared to the old regime. Deductions allowed under Section 24 in the new tax regime: Interest on housing loan for rented-out property. Standard deduction of 30% on rental income.
No, mortgage interest isn't always 100% deductible; it's subject to limits and conditions, primarily that the loan must be for buying, building, or improving your main or second home, and you must itemize deductions, with current limits at $750,000 of debt ($375k if married filing separately) for loans after December 15, 2017, while older loans have a $1 million limit, and you can only deduct the interest portion, not principal.
Avoid These Common Tax Mistakes
To avoid capital gains tax on a rental property, you can use a 1031 Exchange to defer taxes by reinvesting in a similar property, convert the rental to your primary residence for the Section 121 exclusion, offset gains with losses (tax-loss harvesting), donate the property to charity via a Charitable Remainder Trust, or hold it until death (stepping up the basis). Each strategy has specific rules and timelines, with 1031 exchanges requiring you to find a replacement property within 45 days and close within 180 days.
Maximum marginal rate is the highest rate of tax at any income level. This means for those with incomes between Rs 2 crore and Rs 5 crore, 39% will be the highest applicable tax rate, and for those with incomes above Rs 5 crore, it will be 42.74% — the highest tax rate since 1992.
How To Avoid Capital Gains Tax In India
A common way to defer or reduce your capital gains taxes is to use tax-advantaged accounts. Retirement accounts such as 401(k) plans, and individual retirement accounts offer tax-deferred investment. You don't pay income or capital gains taxes on assets while they remain in the account.
The "6-year rule" for Capital Gains Tax (CGT) in Australia allows you to treat a former main residence as tax-exempt for up to six years after you move out, even if you rent it out, enabling you to avoid CGT on any growth during that period. You qualify by moving out, choosing to treat it as your main home for tax, and can reset the rule by moving back in. If you rent it out for longer than six years, only the portion of the gain after the six-year mark becomes taxable.
The simplest way to avoid capital gains tax is to regularly use your capital gains tax allowance (officially known as your annual exempt amount or AEA). How easy this is to do depends on the assets you are selling.
Common Mistakes While Claiming Section 24B
Filing a claim on loans from unapproved sources can lead to disallowance during assessment and may attract notices from the Income Tax Department. Another common error occurs when reporting interest without the proper certificates from banks or lenders.
Section 24 of the Income Tax Act lets homeowners claim a deduction of up to Rs. 2 lakhs (Rs. 1,50,000 if you are filing returns for last financial year) on their home loan interest if the owner or his family reside in the house property. The entire interest is waived off as a deduction when the house is on rent.