Asked by: Harriet Cross (Conservative - Gordon and Buchan)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of changes in tax liabilities and reliefs on small-scale furnished holiday let operators transitioning to long-term residential letting; and what the difference in tax relief will be between (a) the current Furnished Holiday Lettings tax regime and (b) the standard residential letting arrangements from April 2025.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government will abolish the Furnished Holiday Lettings (FHL) tax regime from April 2025. The FHL tax regime has created a distortion that favours short-term holiday lets over longer-term rentals. Abolishing it will equalise the tax treatment of FHL and non-FHL landlords’ income and gains, making the tax system fairer.
Tax reliefs will still be available to individuals providing furnished holiday letting services, including mortgage interest relief at 20 per cent and relief for the replacement of domestic items. These reliefs will be at the same level as those available to landlords who provide long-term residential lets.
Asked by: Harriet Cross (Conservative - Gordon and Buchan)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the policy paper entitled Abolition of the furnished holiday lettings tax regime, updated on 7 November 2024, on what evidential basis her Department determined that the furnished holiday let tax regime created market distortions in relation to (a) property investment patterns and (b) tax advantages.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government will abolish the Furnished Holiday Lettings (FHL) tax regime from April 2025.
The FHL tax regime has created a distortion that favours short-term holiday lets over longer-term rentals, by providing a tax incentive to invest in and provide the former over the latter.
Abolishing the regime will remove this incentive by equalising the tax treatment of FHL and non-FHL landlords’ income and gains.
Asked by: Harriet Cross (Conservative - Gordon and Buchan)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assumptions on the timing of intergenerational farm transfers were used in forecasts of farms affected by changes to (a) Agricultural Property Relief and (b) Business Property Relief.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Chancellor wrote to the Chair of the Treasury Select Committee about the reforms to agricultural and business property reliefs announced at the 2024 Autumn Budget: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/45691/documents/226235/default/.
The UK Government’s analysis is based on the number of estates expected to pay more inheritance tax rather than the number of farms or businesses affected. This is because inheritance tax is a wealth transfer tax on the estate (the property, money, and possessions) of someone who has died.
The number of claims for these reliefs, meaning how many estates would be impacted by this change, is affected by many things such as: who owns the business; the nature of that ownership; how many owners there are; the level of debt; and how they plan their affairs. The UK Government remains firmly of the view that claims data is the correct way to understand an inheritance tax liability.
The reforms are expected to result in up to around 520 estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim business property relief, paying more inheritance tax in 2026-27. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim for business property relief, would not pay more tax in 2026-27.
Around 1,500 estates claiming only business property relief are expected to be affected in 2026-27, with around 1,000 of these holding shares designated as “not listed” on the markets of recognised stock exchanges, such as the Alternative Investment Market. The remaining 500 estates will include business assets from sectors across the economy that are eligible for business property relief.
These reforms mean that around three-quarters of estates claiming business property relief in 2026-27 (excluding those only relating to holding shares designated as “not listed” on the markets of recognised stock exchanges) will not pay more inheritance tax in 2026-27.
The costing for this tax change was certified as ‘reasonable and central’ by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) at Autumn Budget 2024. The OBR has published more detail about the assumptions underpinning the costing here: https://obr.uk/download/october-2024-economic-and-fiscal-outlook-costing-of-changes-to-agricultural-and-business-property-relief/?tmstv=1738846567.
In accordance with standard practice, a tax information and impact note will be published alongside the draft legislation before the relevant Finance Bill.
Asked by: Harriet Cross (Conservative - Gordon and Buchan)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assumptions on marital status were used in forecasts of farms impacted by changes to (a) Agricultural Property Relief and (b) Business Property Relief.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Chancellor wrote to the Chair of the Treasury Select Committee about the reforms to agricultural and business property reliefs announced at the 2024 Autumn Budget: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/45691/documents/226235/default/.
The UK Government’s analysis is based on the number of estates expected to pay more inheritance tax rather than the number of farms or businesses affected. This is because inheritance tax is a wealth transfer tax on the estate (the property, money, and possessions) of someone who has died.
The number of claims for these reliefs, meaning how many estates would be impacted by this change, is affected by many things such as: who owns the business; the nature of that ownership; how many owners there are; the level of debt; and how they plan their affairs. The UK Government remains firmly of the view that claims data is the correct way to understand an inheritance tax liability.
The reforms are expected to result in up to around 520 estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim business property relief, paying more inheritance tax in 2026-27. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim for business property relief, would not pay more tax in 2026-27.
Around 1,500 estates claiming only business property relief are expected to be affected in 2026-27, with around 1,000 of these holding shares designated as “not listed” on the markets of recognised stock exchanges, such as the Alternative Investment Market. The remaining 500 estates will include business assets from sectors across the economy that are eligible for business property relief.
These reforms mean that around three-quarters of estates claiming business property relief in 2026-27 (excluding those only relating to holding shares designated as “not listed” on the markets of recognised stock exchanges) will not pay more inheritance tax in 2026-27.
The costing for this tax change was certified as ‘reasonable and central’ by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) at Autumn Budget 2024. The OBR has published more detail about the assumptions underpinning the costing here: https://obr.uk/download/october-2024-economic-and-fiscal-outlook-costing-of-changes-to-agricultural-and-business-property-relief/?tmstv=1738846567.
In accordance with standard practice, a tax information and impact note will be published alongside the draft legislation before the relevant Finance Bill.
Asked by: Harriet Cross (Conservative - Gordon and Buchan)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many farms impacted by changes to (a) Agricultural Property Relief and (b) Business Property Relief she expects to have previously claimed solely for Business Property Relief.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Chancellor wrote to the Chair of the Treasury Select Committee about the reforms to agricultural and business property reliefs announced at the 2024 Autumn Budget: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/45691/documents/226235/default/.
The UK Government’s analysis is based on the number of estates expected to pay more inheritance tax rather than the number of farms or businesses affected. This is because inheritance tax is a wealth transfer tax on the estate (the property, money, and possessions) of someone who has died.
The number of claims for these reliefs, meaning how many estates would be impacted by this change, is affected by many things such as: who owns the business; the nature of that ownership; how many owners there are; the level of debt; and how they plan their affairs. The UK Government remains firmly of the view that claims data is the correct way to understand an inheritance tax liability.
The reforms are expected to result in up to around 520 estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim business property relief, paying more inheritance tax in 2026-27. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim for business property relief, would not pay more tax in 2026-27.
Around 1,500 estates claiming only business property relief are expected to be affected in 2026-27, with around 1,000 of these holding shares designated as “not listed” on the markets of recognised stock exchanges, such as the Alternative Investment Market. The remaining 500 estates will include business assets from sectors across the economy that are eligible for business property relief.
These reforms mean that around three-quarters of estates claiming business property relief in 2026-27 (excluding those only relating to holding shares designated as “not listed” on the markets of recognised stock exchanges) will not pay more inheritance tax in 2026-27.
The costing for this tax change was certified as ‘reasonable and central’ by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) at Autumn Budget 2024. The OBR has published more detail about the assumptions underpinning the costing here: https://obr.uk/download/october-2024-economic-and-fiscal-outlook-costing-of-changes-to-agricultural-and-business-property-relief/?tmstv=1738846567.
In accordance with standard practice, a tax information and impact note will be published alongside the draft legislation before the relevant Finance Bill.
Asked by: Harriet Cross (Conservative - Gordon and Buchan)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what criteria on (a) total acreage, (b) agricultural land usage, (c) livestock numbers and (d) Rural Payments Agency claim data were used to define an agricultural holding for impact assessments of changes to (i) Agricultural Property Relief and (ii) Business Property Relief.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Chancellor wrote to the Chair of the Treasury Select Committee about the reforms to agricultural and business property reliefs announced at the 2024 Autumn Budget: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/45691/documents/226235/default/.
The UK Government’s analysis is based on the number of estates expected to pay more inheritance tax rather than the number of farms or businesses affected. This is because inheritance tax is a wealth transfer tax on the estate (the property, money, and possessions) of someone who has died.
The number of claims for these reliefs, meaning how many estates would be impacted by this change, is affected by many things such as: who owns the business; the nature of that ownership; how many owners there are; the level of debt; and how they plan their affairs. The UK Government remains firmly of the view that claims data is the correct way to understand an inheritance tax liability.
The reforms are expected to result in up to around 520 estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim business property relief, paying more inheritance tax in 2026-27. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim for business property relief, would not pay more tax in 2026-27.
Around 1,500 estates claiming only business property relief are expected to be affected in 2026-27, with around 1,000 of these holding shares designated as “not listed” on the markets of recognised stock exchanges, such as the Alternative Investment Market. The remaining 500 estates will include business assets from sectors across the economy that are eligible for business property relief.
These reforms mean that around three-quarters of estates claiming business property relief in 2026-27 (excluding those only relating to holding shares designated as “not listed” on the markets of recognised stock exchanges) will not pay more inheritance tax in 2026-27.
The costing for this tax change was certified as ‘reasonable and central’ by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) at Autumn Budget 2024. The OBR has published more detail about the assumptions underpinning the costing here: https://obr.uk/download/october-2024-economic-and-fiscal-outlook-costing-of-changes-to-agricultural-and-business-property-relief/?tmstv=1738846567.
In accordance with standard practice, a tax information and impact note will be published alongside the draft legislation before the relevant Finance Bill.
Asked by: Harriet Cross (Conservative - Gordon and Buchan)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of (a) changes to (i) Agricultural Property Relief and (ii) Business Property Relief and (b) interest rates on (A) family farm succession planning and (B) food security.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Chancellor wrote to the Chair of the Treasury Select Committee about the reforms to agricultural and business property reliefs announced at the 2024 Autumn Budget: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/45691/documents/226235/default/.
The UK Government’s analysis is based on the number of estates expected to pay more inheritance tax rather than the number of farms or businesses affected. This is because inheritance tax is a wealth transfer tax on the estate (the property, money, and possessions) of someone who has died.
The number of claims for these reliefs, meaning how many estates would be impacted by this change, is affected by many things such as: who owns the business; the nature of that ownership; how many owners there are; the level of debt; and how they plan their affairs. The UK Government remains firmly of the view that claims data is the correct way to understand an inheritance tax liability.
The reforms are expected to result in up to around 520 estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim business property relief, paying more inheritance tax in 2026-27. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim for business property relief, would not pay more tax in 2026-27.
Around 1,500 estates claiming only business property relief are expected to be affected in 2026-27, with around 1,000 of these holding shares designated as “not listed” on the markets of recognised stock exchanges, such as the Alternative Investment Market. The remaining 500 estates will include business assets from sectors across the economy that are eligible for business property relief.
These reforms mean that around three-quarters of estates claiming business property relief in 2026-27 (excluding those only relating to holding shares designated as “not listed” on the markets of recognised stock exchanges) will not pay more inheritance tax in 2026-27.
The costing for this tax change was certified as ‘reasonable and central’ by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) at Autumn Budget 2024. The OBR has published more detail about the assumptions underpinning the costing here: https://obr.uk/download/october-2024-economic-and-fiscal-outlook-costing-of-changes-to-agricultural-and-business-property-relief/?tmstv=1738846567.
In accordance with standard practice, a tax information and impact note will be published alongside the draft legislation before the relevant Finance Bill.
Asked by: Harriet Cross (Conservative - Gordon and Buchan)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to (a) Agricultural Property Relief and (b) Business Property Relief on (i) food security, (ii) agricultural investment and (iii) the viability of family-run farms.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Chancellor wrote to the Chair of the Treasury Select Committee about the reforms to agricultural and business property reliefs announced at the 2024 Autumn Budget: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/45691/documents/226235/default/.
The UK Government’s analysis is based on the number of estates expected to pay more inheritance tax rather than the number of farms or businesses affected. This is because inheritance tax is a wealth transfer tax on the estate (the property, money, and possessions) of someone who has died.
The number of claims for these reliefs, meaning how many estates would be impacted by this change, is affected by many things such as: who owns the business; the nature of that ownership; how many owners there are; the level of debt; and how they plan their affairs. The UK Government remains firmly of the view that claims data is the correct way to understand an inheritance tax liability.
The reforms are expected to result in up to around 520 estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim business property relief, paying more inheritance tax in 2026-27. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim for business property relief, would not pay more tax in 2026-27.
Around 1,500 estates claiming only business property relief are expected to be affected in 2026-27, with around 1,000 of these holding shares designated as “not listed” on the markets of recognised stock exchanges, such as the Alternative Investment Market. The remaining 500 estates will include business assets from sectors across the economy that are eligible for business property relief.
These reforms mean that around three-quarters of estates claiming business property relief in 2026-27 (excluding those only relating to holding shares designated as “not listed” on the markets of recognised stock exchanges) will not pay more inheritance tax in 2026-27.
The costing for this tax change was certified as ‘reasonable and central’ by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) at Autumn Budget 2024. The OBR has published more detail about the assumptions underpinning the costing here: https://obr.uk/download/october-2024-economic-and-fiscal-outlook-costing-of-changes-to-agricultural-and-business-property-relief/?tmstv=1738846567.
In accordance with standard practice, a tax information and impact note will be published alongside the draft legislation before the relevant Finance Bill.
Asked by: Harriet Cross (Conservative - Gordon and Buchan)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of used tyre exports on the environment; and what steps his Department is taking to help mitigate these impacts.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
UK legislation requires that those involved in the shipment of waste take all necessary steps to ensure waste is managed in an environmentally sound manner throughout its shipment and at the waste management facility in the country of destination. Any operators found to be illegally exporting waste can face severe sanctions - from financial penalties to imprisonment for a period of up to two years.
Asked by: Harriet Cross (Conservative - Gordon and Buchan)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of planned changes to the furnished holiday let tax regime on tourism accommodation capacity in (a) rural Scotland and (b) the UK.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government will abolish the Furnished Holiday Lettings (FHLs) tax regime from April 2025. This will equalise the tax treatment of FHL and non-FHL landlords’ income and gains.
The Government wants to support visitor accommodation alongside housing for longer-term residents to rent or buy. Achieving this balance is crucial in supporting the tourism sector and many of the people that work in the sector, who need access to local housing.
Draft legislation to abolish the FHL tax regime was published on 29 July 2024, providing businesses and other parties across the UK - including Scottish stakeholders - an opportunity to share their views on the changes with the Government.