Services/Non-Resident CGT

Non-Resident CGT

Since 2015, non-residents pay UK CGT on disposals of UK residential property. Since 2019, commercial property too. The filing deadline is 60 days, and UK rental income must flow through the Non-Resident Landlord Scheme. We match you with a specialist who handles the lot, including treaty relief under your country's double-tax agreement.

The argument

Why a specialist matters here

Non-resident landlords are consistently over-taxed on UK property — usually because their UK accountant doesn't handle cross-border work and their home-country accountant doesn't know UK rules. A specialist with non-resident experience handles the NRL scheme properly, claims rebasing on pre-2015 gains, and applies treaty relief.

What goes wrong

The three problems a general accountant won't catch

01

60-day filing applies regardless of residence

Whether you live in Dubai, Mumbai, or Melbourne, UK residential property CGT must be filed and paid within 60 days of completion. Late filing triggers £100 penalties regardless of where you are, and HMRC increasingly uses beneficial owner registers to find non-compliant disposals.

02

The NRL scheme catches you even when you don't know

If you receive UK rental income as a non-resident, your letting agent or tenant must deduct 20% tax at source unless you've registered with the Non-Resident Landlord Scheme. Many non-resident Harrow landlords are losing 20% of rent to withholding they could recover with proper registration.

03

Rebasing saves tax — but only if claimed

For non-resident CGT on property owned before April 2015 (residential) or April 2019 (commercial), you can elect to use the market value at that date as your base cost, rather than original purchase price. This is often a huge saving — but only if elected on the return, and the election is irreversible.

What you get

What the specialist delivers

01

NRCGT return filing

60-day return drafted, reviewed, and submitted from UK specialists who file these every week. Rebasing election assessed. Reporting completed regardless of your time zone.

02

NRL scheme registration

If you're receiving UK rent as a non-resident, registration with HMRC to receive it gross (via NRL1 approval) — so your letting agent stops deducting 20% and you manage tax via annual self-assessment.

03

Treaty relief application

The UK has double-tax treaties with 130+ countries. Depending on your residence, treaty relief may reduce or eliminate UK tax on rental income or gains. A specialist applies the correct treaty article to your circumstances.

04

Annual self-assessment

Ongoing UK self-assessment for rental income, coordinated with your home-country return to avoid double taxation and claim correct credits.

Area-specific guides

Non-Resident CGT in specific Harrow areas

We publish in-depth analysis only for area–service combinations where we have genuinely distinctive angles. No area–service pages are generated unless we've actually written about them.

Common questions

FAQs on non-resident cgt

Do non-residents pay CGT on UK property?

Yes, since April 2015 for residential and April 2019 for commercial. The rate for residential is 18%/24% depending on your UK-source income; commercial is 10%/20%. You also file a 60-day NRCGT return within 60 days of completion, regardless of whether you're in the UK.

Can I claim my annual exempt amount as a non-resident?

Yes — non-residents get the same annual exempt amount as UK residents (£3,000 from 2024/25). This is deducted from your taxable gain. It's easy to miss if you're filing yourself or using a UK accountant unfamiliar with non-resident rules.

What is rebasing and should I claim it?

For pre-April 2015 residential property, you can elect to use the April 2015 market value as your base cost. If the property has fallen in value since 2015 or risen less than from purchase, rebasing saves tax. The election is made on the NRCGT return and is irreversible — a specialist models whether rebasing helps before electing.

Does my country's tax treaty help?

Treaty impact varies. For most treaties, CGT on UK real property remains taxable in the UK — that's standard. But rental income treatment varies: some treaties give the UK sole taxing rights, others share. Your UK tax is credited against your home-country tax under the treaty — a specialist ensures no double taxation.

Ready to see who we'd match you with for non-resident cgt?