June W

I am returning to the UK due to ill health and am not sure about my house in Asia.

It's the only property I own and have lived in it for 15 years. Will I have to pay tax on the sale if I return to the UK? That being if I sell it after I return to the UK and have not yet bought a place in the UK? Or do I need to sell it before I leave for the UK? I will be paying tax on the sale in Thailand where the property is, but the tax is only about 4%.

durham_lad

With it being your primary home I don’t believe it will attract HMRC tax on any gains even if you don’t sell it before you get back.

Pulaski

If it was your home and you lived in it throughout your period of ownership and didn't rent it out or use it for a business, then any gain isn't chargeable for CGT in the UK (assuming you're tax resident in the UK at the time of the sale), and you have 9 months after you moved out to sell it and still get the benefit of not paying CGT on the gain. I am not sure how this works for overseas properties, but you apparently need to notify HMRC at the time of the sale that it was your home / principle private residence.