Updating post from Reddit.

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QUESTION
Posted by FitToPassJudgement 3 weeks ago
Help with understanding my annual rental profit

Hi all,

Would really appreciate some input on my situation as a landlord

I want to calculate my total annual profit for the house that I am renting out.

Rental income = £18,000/year

Mortgage payments (interest only): £820/month × 12 = £9,840/year

Ground rent and service charge: £2,000/year

Total expenses: £9,840 + £2,000 = £11,840

Net Profit (Before Tax) = £18,000 - £11,840 = £6,160/year

Annual salary 65k, hence fall into the higher rate tax band (40%) on income over £50,270.

Under current UK tax rules for Buy to Let with interest-only mortgage, I cannot deduct the mortgage interest directly from rental income. Instead, I get a 20% tax credit on the mortgage interest paid.

Taxable rental profit = £18,000 - £2,000 = £16,00

Since I'm in the 40% tax bracket, the tax on £16,000 = £6,40. But with 20% credit on mortgage interest (£9,840 × 20% = £1,968)

Final tax bill = £6,400 - £1,968 = £4,432

Final profit: £1,728 per year

Is this correct calculation? Seems like such a low profit margin.

thanks for looking into this!

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Posted by lonely-dog 3 weeks ago

Yes the profit benefits for landlords have been squeezed out

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Posted by Slipper1981 3 weeks ago

Seems about right.

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Posted by arctic_arcanum 3 weeks ago

Yes, that seems right to me. I became an accidental landlord when I moved for work 2 years ago and with a repayment mortgage I have worked out my profit is a massive £30 a month after tax.

Admittedly, I could charge more for rent but it was a means to move quickly and I don't regret it. I will probably try to sell in the near future and pay down my residential mortgage for my current home. That and the additional dwelling supplement fees in Scotland are a killer when buying a second home.

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Posted by Superdudeo 3 weeks ago

That's not your profit because you're paying the house back on repayment though

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Posted by arctic_arcanum 3 weeks ago

So I guess I should use the interest portion of the mortgage only to work out the profits? Is that right?  The difference is about £150 per month, so that would put monthly profits nearer £180? That does sound better!

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Posted by Logical_Warthog3230 2 weeks ago

That's so intuitive for me. You choose to take some of your renter's money to pay off a loan you have (your mortgage). That money doesn't disappear, it's obvious it's part of your profit.

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Posted by Lew-red 3 weeks ago

Probably time to sell it! Plenty of people out there needing to get on the ladder.

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Posted by GBParragon 3 weeks ago

This seems like awful returns, how much equity have you got in the property?

On the face of it, unless you are getting or expecting very strong capital growth then I’d be thinking about selling. A boiler replacement or other big ticket item will see you heading towards a loss.

Any thoughts on increasing your pension contributions to get yourself down to basic rate tax? (Big contribution I know) but then you are making more like £5k a year

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Posted by phpadam 3 weeks ago

Leasehold is terrible and you highlight why Higher Rate Taxpayers buy BTL in a LTD Company SPV.

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Posted by Wondering_Electron 3 weeks ago

That is right.

This is why if you want to make this profitable, you shouldn't have a mortgage.

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Posted by Prefect_99 3 weeks ago

What other expenses have you incurred? They reduce your tax liability.

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Posted by FitToPassJudgement 3 weeks ago

there is no other expense, either way that tax liability is 70% of my profit, which is ridiculous

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Posted by egguler 3 weeks ago

You sure? Letting fees, accountancy fees, mileage, building insurance, gas / elec certificates, other maintenance or repairs to name a few..

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Posted by Prefect_99 3 weeks ago

Exactly my point. Whatever, there is no helping some folk.

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Posted by KimonoCathy 3 weeks ago

You may not have any other expenses right now but, in addition to mandatory requirements like an annual gas safety certificate, it’s very likely that in the next year or two there will be things to repair or replace.

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Posted by TravelOwn4386 3 weeks ago

Are you also an ex student so student loan as you will need to calculate the payments on the rental income too. If you are worried about the 40% tax and don't need the money maybe look at salary sacrifice to build your pension fund. Although I just saw your salary is far higher and Id guess you wouldn't want to sacrifice the entire amount. Probably earn more on a global fund over many years and no hassle with that sort of investment.

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Posted by rob_matic 3 weeks ago

How have you not had any maintenance, accountancy, or regulatory expenses? Something is wrong with your calculations.

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Posted by Available_Ad4135 3 weeks ago

Actual profit is lower because you didn’t include:

  • Maintainance costs
  • Management fees
  • Insurance
  • Vacancies

.

To make profit you should:

  • Buy freehold (no service costs)
  • Buy in an LTD to fully deduct interest
  • Buy below market value (higher % return)
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Posted by agors 2 weeks ago

Can you fully deduct interest in a LTD? Really?

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Posted by Available_Ad4135 2 weeks ago

Of course

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Posted by Far-Professional5988 2 weeks ago

I fear that Reeves will get her claws into Ltd companies next.

Would be easy to restrict interest allowance or charge the main rate of corporation tax on all profits.

At the moment it's the only way that makes sense though.

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Posted by Available_Ad4135 2 weeks ago

They’re unlikely to be able to change finance costs to ‘profit’ for public companies, pensive funds etc. It would cause too much economic damage.

The original changes were a little sneaky that they only targeted ‘amateurs’. The pros wield more political power.

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Posted by Far-Professional5988 2 weeks ago

When we last had small company CT rates and main rates for larger companies, all small investment companies were taxed at the main or large company rate.

That at least must be under consideration.

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Posted by FunVisual3192 2 weeks ago

Welcome to the UK

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