Capital Gains Tax evidence for HMRC

LalaandPo

I have recently sold a property that was owned jointly by me and my late husband (it was intended as our retirement home but that was not to be). As we never actually lived in the property there is a CGT liability. The Accountant wants the Settlement Statement from date of purchase in 1999, but I just cannot find it! The solicitors do not keep records back that far. I wonder if there is a record of average conveyancing charges anywhere and if so, would this be acceptable to HMRC?

Eye25

House Price tracking websites and I think the Land Registry should have the purchase price info? 

tacpot12

I'm not aware of any who keeps a history of average conveyancing costs, or survey costs (which you might also have paid and which are deductable). 

I had to pay CGT a few years back on a rental property I bought in 1995, and so I was able to check what I paid for conveyancing and surveys. It was £588 in total, but the house was quite cheap. I also had retained the completion statement so I could be certain of these figures.

I think it likely that you might have paid £600 for conveyancing and £400 for a survey, £1000 total, but I'm guessing these figures. 

The easiest option is not to claim any deductions for conveyancing or surveys. CGT is only 18-24%, so you are only saving yourself about £250. The other option is to estimate (guess) what you paid, but keep it low so that HMRC don't see it as out of the ordinary. They will have an idea of what fees will have been charged in 1999, and if you try to claim that you paid a lot for the conveyancing or surveys, I expect they will investigate.

Ultimtely you in the hands of your solicitor as to what they are prepared to do. Clearly, going in with a zero figure for deductions is the safest for them, but disadvantages you. You'll have to talk to them to see what they are prepared to do. 

sheramber

You could try
https://www.gov.uk/search-house-prices

eskbanker

sheramber said:

You could try
https://www.gov.uk/search-house-prices

OP isn't looking for house prices, but conveyancing costs?

Bookworm105

have you not kept your bank statements? At least that would show the amount actually paid. 

LalaandPo

Bookworm105 said:

have you not kept your bank statements? At least that would show the amount actually paid. 

Unfortunately not from 25 years ago!

Bookworm105

LalaandPo said:

Bookworm105 said:

have you not kept your bank statements? At least that would show the amount actually paid. 

Unfortunately not from 25 years ago!

shame, my father kept all his bank statements from when he left the army in 1946 to date 
i have all mine from when I opened my first account in 1982

I think you will struggle to justify any claimed costs in the absence of actual evidence as HMRC is quite strict on making sure the costs are "correct" - ie relate to the actual purchase itself 
As others mention, you can of course shove in any old amount on the basis it is a gamble whether your return will be selected for actual inspection, most are not.
CG15250 - Expenditure: incidental costs of acquisition and disposal - HMRC internal manual - GOV.UK

CG15260 - Incidental costs of acquisition and disposal: specific examples - HMRC internal manual - GOV.UK