Sale of house - current use value

ssap16

Registered User
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21
A friend of mine is selling his house in a small town. He is getting €1 million for it. His accountant advises him that he will have to pay CGT on the excess of the million over the current use value of the house which is estimated at €400,000. The buyer is the neighbouring shopkeeper. However no planning permission for change of use has occured. Is this correct? I thought you could sell your house and an acre of garden and claim principal private residence exemption.
 
Maybe the accountant is referring to the following as being applicable here (Chapter 5, Section 5):
 

Only the value of his house as a private residence is tax free. The €600,000 excess being paid relates to the development value of the site which is not tax free. The accountant is correct