Is it possible to avoid or minimise the rental income tax in the given scenario?

NOVAMET21

Hi
Not sure if this is the right page for this question.
If a couple; one on high tax bracket and another on basic tax bracket owns a buy to let then is it possible for both couple to own the property but only pay 20% tax?
If a couple; one on basic tax bracket and another not working then is it possible to pay no tax?
I have heard people do this but not sure if it is legal.
Thanks

AdrianC

There's been a huge number of threads here, and a huge number of media articles and tax-blogs about this over the years.

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2015/jul/02/can-we-split-income-from-our-buy-to-let-house-according-to-the-portion-we-own

dimbo61

When you buy a property if your buy with your wife/ husband or civil partner you can decide to buy as Tenants in Common and the basic rate taxpayer own say 90/95% and the higher rate taxpayer own 10/5%.
With the Income requirements to get a BTL few basic rate taxpayers pass the lending checks 

theartfullodger

If you donate enough to the Tory party no doubt Bozo will come up with some cunning plan to avoid paying tax. 

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/may/30/call-for-inquiry-into-why-senior-tory-robert-jenrick-helped-donor-avoid-40m-tax

greatcrested

As dimbo says above.

If you own as Joint tenants, you each receive, and pay tax at your respective rates, 50% of the rent.

If you own as Tenants In Common, you must specify who owns what %. You then each pay tax on the % of rent you receive.