In the recent case of Desmond Higgins v Revenue & Customs
Commissioners (2019) a taxpayer appealed against the Upper
Tribunal’s interpretation of the phrase ‘period of
ownership’ in the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992
s223(1) (the ‘Act’). This section of the Act states
that a gain will not be chargeable if the property has been the
person’s only or main residence throughout the ‘period
of ownership’. But what is the ‘period of
ownership’?
Mr Higgins had exchanged contracts on the purchase of an
apartment ‘off-plan’ in October 2006 and had paid the
second deposit in March 2007. He sold his former residence in July
2007 but, owing to various delays out of his control, was not able
to complete the purchase of the apartment until December 2009, and
not able to move in until January 2010.