HMRC’s focus on ‘accidental landlords’ falls short

The let property campaign has led to disclosures from less than 3% of its original target according to data obtained by Saffery Champness through a freedom of information request. 

When it opened the campaign in 2013 the government estimated that up to 1.5 million landlords had underpaid or failed to pay up to £500m in tax between 2009 and 2010. It targeted those who own more than one property specialist landlords who rent to students people with holiday lets and those who let houses in multiple occupation.

Since then 35 099 people have made voluntary disclosures to HMRC only 2.3% of the individuals originally identified and £85m has been recovered.

James Hender head of private wealth at Saffery Champness said: ‘The tax system is becoming more complex and the burden is shifting further towards the taxpayer. This inevitably means individual mistakes and misunderstandings can...