Is legal advice on potential sale of a rental property tax deductible?

[CharlieMac]

I have engaged the services of a solicitor to obtain a copy of title deeds to a rental property I own.
The same solicitor has also advised me regarding potential CAT and inheritance tax issues that may arise from selling or not selling the place.

Can I treat the fee for this service as tax deductible, against the gross rental income on that property, on my tax return?

 

[torblednam]

No way José

 

[TomEdison]

No. Rental income is not taxed as the income of a trade or profession, but under an entirely separate charging provision in the legislation that taxes income derived from property. And the rules for deductions in relation to income charged under that provision are very tight.

If you do sell the property, and obtaining a copy of the title deeds was something you needed to do in order to be able to sell, then the fees paid in relation to this would be allowable in calculating your capital gain on the disposal.