Renting out accommodation during the Olympics? Don’t jump the gun - check whether there’s tax to pay

News Release issued by the COI News Distribution Service on 15 March 2011

With only about 500 days until the start of the 2012 Olympic Games, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is reminding anyone thinking of renting out a spare room to visitors to check the Rent a Room Scheme first.

Under the scheme, you can receive up to £4,250 a year tax-free if you rent out a furnished room in a residential property.

You can take advantage of the scheme if you let furnished accommodation - a room or an entire floor of your home - to a lodger who pays to live in your home, sometimes with meals provided, and who occasionally shares the family rooms.

In addition, you can use the Rent a Room scheme if your home is rented; you don’t have to be the owner.

The scheme does not apply, however, if your home is converted into separate flats that you rent out, if you let unfurnished rooms in your home, or if you let your whole home. In these cases you need to declare the rental income to HMRC and pay tax in the normal way.

Full details of the scheme can be found at:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/Taxes/TaxOnPropertyAndRentalIncome/DG_4017804

In the run-up to the Games HMRC will conduct free advice sessions around the country on renting out property.

The next session is on 17 June at St John’s Church, Broadway, Stratford, London. The event runs for around three hours, starting at 10am.

Places for all of the seminars need to be booked in advance on 0845 603 2691 (open from 08:30 to 17:00, Monday to Friday) or at www.hmrc.gov.uk/bst. People can also find out where their nearest seminars are by ringing the booking line.

Notes to Editors

1. There are some 33 Games venues:

Aquatics Centre (London); Athletes' Village (London); Basketball Arena (London); BMX Circuit (London); City of Coventry Stadium (Coventry); Earls Court (London); Eton Dorney (Windsor, Berks); Eton Manor (London); ExCeL (London); Greenwich Park (London); Hadleigh Farm (Essex); Hampden Park (Glasgow); Hampton Court Palace (London); Handball Arena (London); Hockey Centre (London); Horse Guards Parade (London); Hyde Park (London); IBC/MPC (London); Lee Valley White Water Centre (Herts); Lord's Cricket Ground (London); The Mall (London); Millennium Stadium (Cardiff); North Greenwich Arena (London); Old Trafford (Manchester); Olympic Stadium (London); The Royal Artillery Barracks (London); St James' Park (Newcastle); Velodrome (London); Water Polo Arena (London); Wembley Arena (London); Wembley Stadium (London); Weymouth and Portland (Dorset); Wimbledon (London).

2. Follow HMRC on Twitter @HMRCgovuk

NAT 18.11 Issued by HM Revenue & Customs Press Office

Press enquiries only please contact:

Contacts:

HMRC Out of Hours
Phone: 07860 359544
NDS.HMRC@coi.gsi.gov.uk

Andrew Bennett
Phone: 020 7147 0051
andrew.bennett3@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk