UK has highest level of property taxes in the developed world

Think tank finds we pay around £60 billion a year on property levies like Stamp Duty and Council Tax. Here’s how to cut your tax bill.

British people pay more property taxes than any other country in the developed world, according to a new report.

Think tank Policy Exchange found that we fork out around £60 billion a year on property levies like Council Tax, Business Rates, Stamp Duty Land Tax, Capital Gains Tax, Inheritance Tax and planning taxes like Section 106.

Of the 34 developed nations that form part of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the UK raises the highest level of property taxes from its residents.

The charges are worth 4.1% of the UK’s economic output, which is more than double the average (1.8%) across the OECD member countries. In the USA property levies account for 3% of GDP, while countries like Germany only rake in 0.9% of GDP from property charges.

Rising house prices and falling levels of home ownership have led to calls for changes to property taxes like introducing a Mansion Tax.

However, the report doesn’t support this move as it claims property taxes don’t have an impact on housing bubbles.

Instead the report argues the availability of homes are more important and calls for 300,000 to be built every year between 2015 and 2020 to improve supply.

Get on top of your budgeting with the MoneyTrack tool

How to save

Given we spend a fortune on property taxes, and reform of them seems unlikely for now, let's take a look at how you can cut your tax bill.

Council Tax

The current system of Council Tax in the UK is related to the value of a property. Rates are set by local authorities.

There are eight bands of values, ranging from A to H. The amount you pay depends on what band your property falls into.

You might be able to get a discount on Council Tax or even be exempt from paying anything depending on your situation. If you’re the only adult living in your home for example you’ll get a single person's discount which amounts to 25% off your bill.

Households where everyone is a full-time student don’t have to pay Council Tax at all.

Read more in How to slash your Council Tax bill.

Stamp Duty Land Tax

If you buy a property in the UK for more than £125,000 you will have to pay Stamp Duty Land Tax.

The Stamp Duty thresholds and rates are detailed in the table below:

Source: HMRC

Many feel the current system is unfair as just £1 difference in purchase price could mean you pay thousands of pounds more in tax.

A property costing £250,000 for example will attract a 1% Stamp Duty charge, totalling £2,500. But pay just £1 more on the price of the property at £250,001 and you will have to pay a 3% levy on the whole amount, landing you with a bill for £7,500. That’s £5,000 extra for spending £1 more.

Unfortunately a lot of schemes to alleviate Stamp Duty charges have now closed.

But Stamp Duty relief is still available on Right to Buy transactions. This is where a public sector body such as a local housing authority sells a property at a discount. Stamp Duty will be calculated at the discounted price you pay rather than the market value.

Read more in How to beat Stamp Duty

Compare mortgages with lovemoney.com

Capital Gains Tax

Capital Gains Tax (CGT) is a levy applied on the sale of assets including property.

Each year we get a tax-free allowance before having to pay CGT. The allowance for 2012/2013 is £10,600.

Basic rate taxpayers have to pay 18% on gains after this allowance is deducted while higher rate taxpayers must pay 28%.

When it comes to property you don’t have to pay CGT if the property sold is a primary residence. But if you sell an investment property, you will have to stump up.

For other ways to save on CGT read Ten ways to avoid Capital Gains Tax

Inheritance Tax

Inheritance Tax (IHT) is a tax which is due if a person’s estate is worth more than £325,000 (£650,000 for couples) when they die.

A charge of 40% is applied on anything above this threshold. The rate can be reduced to 36% if more than 10% of the estate is left to charity.

With the rise in property prices these thresholds apply to more people than ever before, but if you plan carefully you can avoid paying too much IHT on your estate.

For example you can gift your assets while you are still alive. However, you need to remain alive for seven years after the gifting for the exemption to apply.

Read more in How to cut your Inheritance Tax bill

Compare savings accounts with lovemoney.com

More on taxes:

How to pay tax like Google

Second home council tax discount to end in April

Rent A Room scheme: tax-free cash from your spare room

GIST: New online tool that lets you find out where your taxes go

HMRC warns import taxes could make your Christmas more costly