Short Tax Return - How To Enter "rent A Room" Income

[RSDonovan]

Hi

I have to fill in a "short tax return" and it is all very straightforward except I am stuck on question 6.1 - UK Property - Income.

I rent out a room in my principle residence and the total rent comes to more than the Government's "Rent-a-room" scheme maximum, and so the excess is taxable of £4,250. The return does not have a box to say that the income is from the "Rent-a-room" scheme - it could be rental of an office or a whole house, which would NOT get the £4,250 allowance.

Should I deduct £4,250 from the rent I receive and enter the residue, or should I enter the total amount and enter £4,250 in section 6.2, Expenses allowable against tax? I believe that HMRC do not look favourably on notes made in the return, nor at attachments or explanatory letters sent with the form, so I want to get it right first time!

I have tried ringing them but after spending 20 minutes being told of the wonders of filling your tax in online, was told that as mine was a "technical" question, I would have to speak to the technical department who were busy and likely to be so all day, and possibly all week!

If anyone know the answer to this question I would be very pleased to hear it!

Thanks in advance.

[factor-fiction]

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/pimmanual/pim4001.htm
Have you got a copy of this?

[johnny37]

might be easier to reduce the rent to the govt maximum and pay no tax. I dont think you have to declare it