Declaring lodger income

[cafedesreves]

DH and I are trying to declare our lodger income under the rent a room scheme so we can use it as part of our income for mortgage reasons.
Can DH just do a tax return declaring it all as we don't want to faff around with 2 separate ones? We own the home jointly. Happy to sign something to that effect.

Many thanks all!

I've not had to do it but I'm used to tax returns. I would have thought it would only be your husband (if that's who you're choosing). You can't both do it as it would then be counted twice? I wouldn't have thought they would make you split it half and half?

Have a look at this www.taxinsider.co.uk/jointlyowned-property-and-rental-income-whose-is-it#:~:text=(1)%20Joint%20owners%20are%20spouses%20or%20civil%20partners&text=The%20default%20position%20is%20that,beneficial%20ownership%20of%20the%20property. Generally speaking for tax purposes it's treated as joint income and can only be apportioned differently in certain circumstances and dependent on how the property is owned. Unfortunately I think you'll both need to complete a tax form.

You declare joint ownership on the property pages of a tax form and submit all figures as 50%

I stand corrected! What a faff!

Ugh I feared as much, very helpful. Thank you!

I agree, you'll both need to do a return.
It's just become evident to dh's accountant that I have been declaring all the income from a jointly owned property rental as only my income. He went ballistic (well, as ballistic as dh's elderly, sedate, gentleman accountant can).
There was no advantage to it - I paid tax on it as have my own employment earnings too, if dh had declared it it wouldn't have pushed him into a higher tax bracket, both dh and I pay the same rate of tax, there was no financial advantage at all.
We've done this for about 15 years. But apparently it's a no-no.
So I'll be paying less tax this year then 😃

Can you not just show the bank receipts of the income into your bank and a copy of the agreement you have with your lodger (if you have one).

Thanks all! Will definitely try the agreement. So annoying as earned under £7.5k anyway!

If you are earning under the threshold, it is pointless filing a return. It won't show up on the SA302, as it's exempt.

Thanks @Haver74 . This is the issue we’re having!

Hi I'm trying to find out some info on the rent a room scheme, currently on universal credit and thinking about air b&b a room in our house as we are struggling till I start work after maternity.
There seems to be some loop holes that say income from your rent a room scheme isn't classed as income if it's under 7,500? And you don't need to report that income to universal credit? It would just be guests at the wknds. Theres conflicting info online that say air b&b is classed as a lodger and some that say it isn't. It would all be in the same house on the same metering system with same boiler etc.
Can anyone direct or have been in a similar situation, we are a family of 4 struggling to make ends meat and pay all our bills.

My understanding is that it is fine as long as it’s using airbnb to rent out a room, rather than renting out the whole house.

https://www.which.co.uk/money/tax/income-tax/tax-on-property-and-rental-income/rent-a-room-scheme-letting-a-room-in-your-home-aD6DD1b738TW

https://www.gov.uk/rent-room-in-your-home