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Depending on how much you earn, you might need to pay tax on profits received through the rentals juggernaut that is Airbnb. In this article we explain who is liable to pay tax on Airbnb rental income.
Airbnb unites users looking for somewhere to stay with those who are advertising their spare room, caravan, or entire home for rent. It’s often cheaper than staying in a hotel, and there’s an impressive range of the types of place that are available to stay.
For property owners it’s a terrific way to make some extra cash from their home when it’s not in use. The money that you get paid as an Airbnb host still counts as income though, and as such is still liable for income tax.
Airbnb’s terms of service encourage users of their service to be ‘responsible hosts’, and explicitly state that paying taxes is included in this. So, you might be glad to know that the Rent a Room Scheme gives you a tax-free buffer before you have to pay tax on your Airbnb earnings!
If you qualify for the Rent a Room Scheme, you can earn up to £7,500 in profits each tax year from renting out furnished accommodation, and it is tax free.
The tax exemption for holiday lets is automatic, so if your rental profits are lower than £7,500 in a tax year, you don’t need to do anything. Above £7,500 then you’ll need to opt in for the scheme to be able to claim your allowance.
The key word here is profit! The tax-free allowance for your Airbnb is applied to your profits, not to your income. Deduct your expenses from your earnings to work out profit.
The Rent a Room Scheme isn’t just for Airbnb properties, and can be claimed by any resident landlord. There are a few points to consider:
Learn more about eligibility for the Rent a Room Scheme
If your Airbnb profits earn you more than the tax-free threshold, you’ll need to complete a Self Assessment tax return. This tells HMRC how much you’ve earned, so they can work out how much tax you need to pay.
Learn more about Self Assessment tax returns
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