Taxpayers waiting 23 minutes to get through to the HMRC might now understand why there is no response - all the inspectors are in Devon and Cornwall cracking down on second homeowners.
According to a Freedom of Information Request by the Telegraph, investigations by HMRC into holiday let investments jumped twenty-fold between the 2021-22 tax year and 2023-24.
Staycations, AirBnB and expired Covid exemptions are all fair game for the taxman, according to the report, which comes just weeks after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt abolished tax relief on furnished holiday lets.
According to one mortgage advisor, the crackdown follows a surge in buyers taking advantage of the tax breaks on holiday letting that include mortgage interest payments offset against profits and capital gains tax relief on the sale of a property.
Investors might be nearly £3,000 a year worse off from the changes according to wealth manager Quilter.
An HMRC spokesman said: “The short-term property rental market is growing fast and it’s our role to ensure owners pay the right tax, creating a level playing field for all.
“We have dedicated specific resource to opening enquiries where there is evidence that those renting out holiday lets have not declared income.”