Selling UK property while living abroad
60-day Capital Gains Tax reporting, non-resident property disposals, and Private Residence Relief for expat owners.
Short answer: When you sell UK property while living abroad, you must report the sale to HMRC within 60 days of completion—even if you made no profit or made a loss. Missing this strict deadline triggers instant £100+ fines. Matthew calculates your gain, applies private residence relief, and files your 60-day report on time.
Key points
- Strict 60-day deadline from completion date to report to HMRC and pay any tax.
- Reporting is mandatory even if you made a financial loss or have zero tax to pay.
- Non-residents can rebase property value to April 2015 to reduce taxable profit.
- Private Residence Relief (PRR) reduces gains for years you lived in the home.
- Matthew prepares the Capital Gains calculation and submits the online report.
The strict 60-day reporting deadline
If you are non-UK resident and sell residential or commercial UK land or property, you must report the sale to HMRC within 60 days of completion.
Conveyancing solicitors handle the sale conveyancing, but they rarely file this tax report for you. Leaving it until your annual tax return triggers automatic late penalties and daily interest.
How non-resident Capital Gains Tax is calculated
You do not simply pay tax on the difference between what you originally bought it for and what you sold it for. Non-residents benefit from special rules that can drastically reduce the tax bill.
File your 60-day property report safely within the deadline...
Matthew calculates your exact capital gain, applies April 2015 rebasing and residence relief, and submits your official HMRC 60-day report with zero stress.
- April 2015 rebasing: only pay tax on property growth since 5 April 2015
- Private Residence Relief: full tax relief for the years you lived in the home as your main residence
- Allowable deductions: estate agent fees, legal costs, stamp duty paid on purchase, and capital renovation costs
Written and reviewed by Matthew S Manderson CTA ATT AMIT
Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA), Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT), Association of Malta International Taxation (AMIT). General guidance only; tax treatment depends on individual facts.