February questions and answers

Q. I own several properties jointly with my son. Most of them are rented out, but my son has lived in one of them for five years. My son is now considering buying a house on his own and this will become his main residence. Will he have to pay the higher stamp duty land tax charge on the purchase? 

A.Broadly, if the value of your son’s share of the rental property is more than £40,000, he will be liable to the higher rate of SDLT when he purchases a new property.

Further information can be found in the HMRC guidance on the higher rates of SDLT applicable to the purchase of additional residential properties, which was published in November 2016; and on the GOV.uk website at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/stamp-duty-land-tax-buying-an-additional-residential-property.

Q. I am the sole director and 100% shareholder of a company. Can the company claim capital allowances for the cost of setting up a website?

A. Expenditure on setting up a website is generally treated as expenditure on computer software. According to HMRC guidance (Business Income Manual: BIM35815) ‘the cost of a web site is analogous to that of a shop window. The cost of constructing the window is capital; the cost of changing the display from time to time is revenue’.

From 1 April 2002, new expenditure on software by a company qualifies for relief as an intangible asset (under CTA 2009, Part 8). However, the company can make an election within two years of the end of the accounting period in which the expenditure was incurred to claim capital allowances on a piece of software instead of the amortisation (under CTA 2009 Part 8). Where amortisation is charged in the accounts, the advisability of making an election will depend on the period over which the expenditure is written-off.

Computer software acquired with hardware (e.g. an operating system) and accounted for as part of the cost of the hardware will qualify as plant in the main capital allowances pool.

Q. What should we pay employees who are on jury service?

A. There is no statutory entitlement for an employee to be paid by his employer during jury service. However, if the contract of employment has a clause covering such a situation, the employer must follow the terms of the contract.

Whilst on jury service, the employee is entitled to claim allowances from the court to cover travel and subsistence costs. In addition, a financial loss allowance may be claimed in respect of any loss of net earnings suffered as a result of attending the court.

The maximum financial loss allowance depends upon the number of hours served. These amounts are reviewed annually and are currently as follows:

– First 10 days: 4 hours or under each day – £32.47
– First 10 days: Over 4 hours each day – £64.95
– Day 11 to day 200: 4 hours or under each day – £64.95
– Day 11 to day 200: Over 4 hours each day – £129.91
– After day 201: 4 hours or under each day – £114.03
– After day 201: Over 4 hours – £228.06