James George Gibson appealed against a closure notice from HMRC regarding a property named Doe Bank Manor. The notice issued last year demanded an additional £83,000 for Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).
Some key details about the property and the case:
1. Property Details:
• Purchased for £1,595,000 on 10 January 2019.
• Gibson and his family occupied it from 27 November 2018.
• Features include a six-bedroom house, a double garage with an office, a two-bedroom self-contained barn, two stables, and a two-acre paddock.
• Previously, the property had farm buildings, a farmyard, and a market garden. Now, these areas are in disuse.
• Adjoining proprietors, CHR Ventures Ltd and Paul and Rosemary Hobday, had an informal grazing agreement for the paddock.
2. SDLT Dispute:
• Gibson's initial SDLT return labelled the property as ‘mixed-use’ with a tax due of £69,500.
• However, HMRC decided the property was entirely residential, which meant higher SDLT rates, totalling £153,000.
• Gibson didn’t claim multiple dwellings relief (MDR) initially. But on 20 December 2020, he argued its eligibility since the house and barn had separate amenities and addresses.
3. Evidence & Claims:
• Gibson provided evidence of the property's use for grazing and its historical agricultural significance.
• He referred to a pre-purchase visit and brochure photographs showing grazing sheep.
• An agreement with adjoining proprietors stated that the paddock was used for grazing for at least four years before Gibson's purchase.
4. HMRC's Counter Argument:
• At the time of the transaction, the property was solely residential.
• The paddock’s grazing was informal, serving to maintain the rural ambience rather than for commercial exploitation.
5. Judge's Ruling:
• Judge Gemmell WS believed that the paddock did not serve a significant commercial purpose, making it hard to classify the property as mixed residential and non-residential.
• Regarding the MDR, HMRC argued Gibson's claim was tardy and lacked evidence. The First-tier Tribunal (FTT) agreed, noting that Gibson didn’t amend his SDLT return timely. As a result, his appeal was denied.
Contacts
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