For anyone buying, selling, occupying or developing property, obtaining expert property tax advice that minimises tax liabilities is paramount.
What do we do?
Our specialist tax team provides expert advice across all aspects of property taxation, supporting clients in both the residential and commercial real estate sectors.
Tax advice for housebuilders
We work on all transactions on which the firm is instructed by housebuilders.
We can provide tax advice on a standalone basis to clients or operate alongside and supporting the residential development team. The team has an in-depth knowledge of corporation tax, VAT, CIS and stamp duty land tax in particular.
We advise on:
- structuring complex housebuilding transactions;
- equalisation structures;
- mitigating the tax problems involved in joint land ownership and collaboration structures, including the use of cross-options and land-pooling trusts to maximise the legitimate tax efficiency of transactions and improve the outcomes for our clients;
- all the tax aspects of development transaction structuring including site assembly, golden brick, mixed use and joint ventures;
- the drafting and implementation of policies and procedures for anti-money laundering and anti-tax evasion; and
- the tax treatment of payments and compensation relating to ground rent clauses and cladding remediation.
Tax partner James Gopsill is a recognised expert on VAT on property transactions and stamp duty land tax. For over 10 years, James was the consulting editor for LexisNexis Encyclopaedia of Forms and Precedents for VAT on Property, Stamp Duty Land Tax, Stamp Duty Reserve Tax and Stamp Duty and has contributed to the corporation tax, VAT and SDLT commentary for the encyclopaedia’s volumes on the sale and development of commercial land.
Tax advice for commercial property investors, developers, and landlords and tenants
We work closely with our real estate team to advise on the tax consequences of commercial real estate investment, development and leasing transactions. We have an in-depth knowledge of corporation tax, VAT, CIS and SDLT in particular.
Our work in this area includes:
- Advising on complex SDLT matters, such as property transactions involving turnover rents and periodic tenancies. Where tenants remain in occupation of properties after their lease expires, we also advise on the tax consequences and compliance responsibilities of the tenant.
- Advising on complex VAT consequences of real estate development, investment and leasing transactions. From advising on transfers of going concerns to the special option to tax disapplication rules, we focus on commercial solutions to real estate challenges.
- Advising banks on the tax impacts of restructuring of property portfolios on which finance has been secured.
Who do we help?
Whether you are a landowner, a landlord, a tenant, a property fund, a lender, an investor or a commercial property developer we can advise on all the tax aspects of buying, building, converting, refurbishing or fitting out or leasing commercial property to enable you to maximise tax savings and minimise tax liabilities.