Do I have to pay U.K. tax when my co-host receives 100% of the income and I receive nothing?

[Kelly2475]

Hi,

my parents own a holiday property and I set up the listing for them a few years ago under my account. I then set my mum up an account as a co-host. 
My parents have a business bank account for this holiday cottage and the payments have always been paid directly into this account, and they fill out a tax form every year for this. 

My question is - now that Airbnb are providing all hosts info to HMRC, will they still expect me to fill out a tax return or pay tax for this?

for the first 2/3 years before I set the co-host up to receive 100% of the funds, it showed as me (the host) receiving the funds even though it is being paid into their account and I don’t receive any of it.  My mum is now set up as receiving 100% of the funds. Should I also make her the primary host and me the co-host?

essentially all I do is do all the tech stuff for them that they can’t and I don’t receive anything for it, but I’m concerned that HMRC are going to try and tax me on money I haven’t received. I understand probably no one here will be able to give a 100% answer to this but any guidance or advice is helpful. 

[Mike-And-Jane0 · Accepted solution]

@Kelly2475 worst case the inland revenue will send you a letter and you will have to explain the situation. Arguably you should have created a tax return with the full revenue in it and then an expense of said revenue being paid to the owner leaving you with no taxable income. If its not too late I would call HMRC (8.30am has lowest queue length) and discuss it with them. They are generally very helpful. Don't panic if they say they will fine you until you provide a return for past years - as long as no tax is owing they usually do not.