Frequently asked questions

If you or your company pays tax in the UK and owns a commercial property, you are likely to qualify.

Yes. You or your company need to own the UK commercial property. Tenants who paid for their own fit-out can claim on that expenditure.

Yes. Allowances follow whoever bore the capital cost, so the benefit depends on the lease terms and who paid for the works. We assess this case by case.

Plant in a dwelling-house let as part of a property business does not qualify (s35 CAA 2001). Communal areas, care homes, hotels and property run as a trade are treated differently, so ask us.

No. SIPP and SSAS pension funds don’t pay tax, so there is nothing to relieve. If you are buying a property from a pension fund, talk to us before exchange.

Usually, yes. For properties bought before April 2014 there is no time limit. After April 2014 the fixtures pooling rules apply and a two-year window can matter, so get advice quickly.

Embedded capital allowances are a UK relief. If an overseas property has UK tax implications, it may still be worth discussing with our team.

Yes. Each commercial property you or your company owns can potentially qualify.

Renovations and additions often produce the largest claims, because 70–90% of fit-out spend can qualify. We survey after the works to capture everything.

Embedded allowances need a property survey, a valuation and specialist tax knowledge. Most accountancy firms claim invoiced items such as furniture and computers, but don’t have the surveying resource to identify fixtures built into the fabric of a building.

It isn’t mandatory, but we recommend it. We work alongside your accountant and give them a report they can file with confidence.

The relief has existed for decades, but it takes surveyors and tax specialists working together to identify, value and claim it properly.

Anything from a couple of hours to a few days, depending on size. Our surveyors work around your business.

Nothing extra. Survey costs are included in our fee regardless of property size or number.

Floor plans and building reports sent in advance can cut survey time by up to 50%.

We send a short online Survey Review Form. You know the property best, so it helps our tax specialists confirm what qualifies and what has been claimed before. It takes a few minutes.

You review the report for accuracy, then we plan the submission to HMRC with you and your accountant, usually through an amended or current-year tax return.

Claims are typically processed within 28 days of submission to HMRC. The relief reduces your tax bill or, where tax has already been paid, may be repaid.

Every claim is documented to stand up to scrutiny, and we support you throughout any HMRC enquiry. To date every report we have submitted has been approved.

Use the estimator or call 01384 904090. We’ll confirm eligibility and give you an estimate before any survey.

No. If we can’t identify previously unclaimed allowances, there is no fee. Full fee terms are set out in our engagement letter.

No. Valuations ignore capital allowances, and documented allowances can help you negotiate on a future sale.

Allowances are not deducted from the cost of the asset when calculating a gain (s41 TCGA 1992), so a claim cannot create or increase a chargeable gain. They can restrict a capital loss, and on a sale the s198 election decides what passes to the buyer, so plan it into the transaction.

Contact us immediately. Unless the right clauses and a s198 election are in the contract before exchange, the relief can be lost permanently.

Yes. Our processes are GDPR compliant and we are an ICAEW-registered firm, one of the most recognised standards of professional practice.

After any significant works, and as a rule of thumb every five years.