The Government looks to bash Oxford's landlords with stealth tax changes

Regular readers will know that I am disturbed by the Government's changes to the way buy to let landlords because of the knock-on effect on the availability of good quality property at a time of great demand in Oxford.  Any measures that could result in buy to let landlords withdrawing from the rental sector has the potential to destabilise the fragile balance in the Oxford lettings market.  At a time when Government - National and local are failing to build sufficient new stock. To hear that the Government is trying to sneak further measures to bash Oxford's landlords is very disturbing.  A Law Society article reads:

Major amendments to the Finance Bill have been “slipped in” at committee stage.
According to the Law Society, they set a disturbing and undemocratic precedent of avoiding proper consultation and scrutiny.

The changes could result in property investors paying income tax rather than Capital Gains Tax on profits when they sell.

The apparently covert changes would mean that the Government would rake vastly more into its coffers – and it would undoubtedly act as a further deterrent to buy-to-let investors.
Capital Gains Tax was significantly cut in the 2016 Budget and is currently charged at 20% for higher rate taxpayers (10% for basic rate payers).
By contrast, Income Tax is currently charged at 20% basic rate, 40% higher rate and 45% additional rate.

The specific clauses in the Finance Bill that are of concern to the Law Society are 75-78.