Increase in capital gains tax off the agenda?

The FT has reported that the Office for Budget Responsibility’s forecasts for public borrowing may well be overstated. If true, the Chancellor may find himself on a stronger fiscal footing than he might have anticipated earlier this year, when rumours circulated about rate rises and possible reform of the UK’s various capital taxes (as to which see my earlier article).

With less pressure to raise revenue in the short-term, the Government may well look for more limited administrative reforms, such as those set out in the second OTS report into capital gains tax. These include:

• amending principal private residence relief so that it fully relieves situations in which homeowners build additional properties in their gardens;
• changing the way that capital gains tax is reported, including doubling the amount of time individuals have to report gains realised on the disposal of UK property interests;
• extending the amount of time separated couples can transfer assets between themselves on a “no gain no loss” basis; and
• deferring a capital gains tax liability in situations where consideration is deferred.