Selling a US house- Paying UK taxes on profits?

I'm selling my house here in Berkeley in early June and am embaressed by how much we will profit... I will be a UK employee and  tax resident starting June 1st... I've been warned that the UK may try to collect taxes. Is this true?
Should I put off my start date until after the check clears?

I'm NOT an accountant or tax specialist - hell, I only just about stagger from pay check to pay check, but what I do know is that we have bought and sold three houses here in the UK and all the profit was totally tax free - hooray!  There was no need to declare it on my UK tax returns.

There is something here called 'stamp duty', which is about 3%(?) of the purchase price and is paid to 'register' the new owner of the property, so it's a tax in all but name.  But this would not apply to a sale you had made outside the UK.

I can't see how the UK would tax you on any money you made in the US from the sale of property, but like I said, I'm no expert, if you're still concerned, I'd strongly recommend you see a UK based independent financial adviser - where are you moving to??? Someone here may be able to recommend one?

If the Berkeley house your main residence, Oskibear, the Inland Revenue wouldn't normally collect  taxes on it (just like in the US, you don't get capital gains tax on your main residence). Problem is that you are presumably transferring money over from the USA... It's the money transfer they might view as taxable.  I have heard if it comes from an interest bearing account (in the USA) the IR tries to collect tax, otherwise they don't.  Don't know if that's true, but agree you should try to get an accountant in London to advise.


Stamp duty is 1% if purchase price is 1% on property purchase of £125k to below £250k, then it's 3%, I think there's a 5% band, too, but I can't afford to buy that sort of house so am fuzzy