Asked by: Lord Mann (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many landowners claim annually through the tax-exempt heritage assets scheme; and how much they claim each year.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Conditional exemption from Inheritance Tax is available for transfers during lifetime or on death of land of outstanding scenic, historic, or scientific interest, buildings of outstanding historic or architectural interest and land protecting the setting of an outstanding building together with objects and collections of national, artistic, historic or scientific interest.
Information on how many landowners claim annually through the tax-exempt heritage assets scheme, and how much they claim each year, is not centrally collated. However, HMRC publishes annual official statistics on Inheritance Tax liabilities at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/inheritance-tax-liabilities-statistics. Table 12.2 has information on the number of estates claiming reliefs and exemptions.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of people who will be affected by the new 2019 loan charge (a) in total and (b) who are public sector workers.
Answered by Mel Stride - Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
The charge on disguised remuneration (DR) loans is targeted at artificial tax avoidance schemes where earnings were paid via a third party in the form of ‘loans’. These loans were paid in place of ordinary remuneration, with the sole purpose of avoiding income tax and National Insurance contributions. In reality these loans were never repaid. When taking into account the loan they received, loan scheme users have on average twice as much income as the average UK taxpayer.
The Government estimates that up to 50,000 individuals will be affected by the 2019 loan charge. HMRC has published a breakdown of individuals affected by industry. HMRC data indicates that fewer than 3% of those affected work in medical services (doctors and nurses) and teaching. No estimate of the number of individuals affected within the public sector overall is available. Further information can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/loan-schemes-and-the-loan-charge-an-overview/tax-avoidance-loan-schemes-and-the-loan-charge#who-affected
HMRC has simplified the process for those who choose to settle their use of avoidance schemes before the charge arises, so that those earning less than £50,000 a year and no longer engaging in tax avoidance can agree a payment plan of up to five years without the need for detailed supporting information. There is no maximum period within which an overall settlement can be agreed, and HMRC will deal with individual cases appropriately and sympathetically.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much is levied each year in additional business rates due to (a) sprinklers and (b) other fire protection systems being classified as plant and machinery or being otherwise subject to higher rates.
Answered by Mel Stride - Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
Sprinkler and fire protection systems are named items within the relevant business rates legislation relating to plant and machinery and as such are rateable. The value of such systems are usually reflected in the overall rateable value of the building, although more specialist systems may be separately valued as an individual plant and machinery item.
The VOA does not routinely record the proportion of a property's assessment that is attributable to the sprinkler or fire protection systems. Therefore it is not possible to determine how much is levied each year in business rates in respect of sprinklers and fire protections systems.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much is levied in additional business rates as a result of the installation of CCTV attracting a higher level of such rates.
Answered by Mel Stride - Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
CCTV systems are named items within the relevant business rates legislation relating to plant and machinery and as such are rateable. The value of such systems are usually reflected in the overall value of the building, although more specialist systems may be separately valued as an individual plant and machinery item.
The VOA does not routinely record the proportion of a property's assessment that is attributable to a CCTV system. Therefore it is not possible to determine how much is levied each year in business rates in respect of CCTV systems.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much is levied in additional business rates on landlords of residential properties as a result of the classification of sprinkler systems as plant and machinery or otherwise so as to attract a higher level of such rates.
Answered by Mel Stride - Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
Most residential properties are liable for council tax, not business rates. In the main, it is the occupier of a residential property that is liable for council tax, rather than the landlord.
The value of any sprinkler system would usually be included in the council tax banding assessment.
The VOA does not routinely record the proportion of a property's assessment that is attributable to a sprinkler system.