Sell Your UK Property from the USA: Cash Offer for US-Based British Owners

The USA is the most tax-complex jurisdiction we work with. The interaction between UK Non-Resident CGT, US federal tax, US state tax, FATCA reporting (Form 8938), FBAR (FinCEN 114), and the US-UK Double Taxation Treaty creates a paperwork challenge that catches many US-based British owners off guard. Selling the UK property itself is straightforward; managing the cross-border tax cleanly is where most stress lives.

We buy UK property directly from US-based owners, for cash. WhatsApp keeps communication moving across the 5 to 8 hour time gap. We work alongside US cross-border CPAs (we’ll recommend one if you need it), and our process is structured so the UK side is decided and complete before the US tax filing windows arrive.

Why selling from the USA is uniquely complex

A few realities most US-based British owners hit:

1. Three tax authorities, one transaction. HMRC (UK), IRS (US federal), and your state revenue department all want to know about the sale. Each has different forms, different deadlines, and different definitions of “gain.”
2. The 60-day UK clock. From UK completion, you have 60 days to file the NRCGT return. The US tax reporting waits for the annual cycle (April 15), but the UK clock is running.
3. Form 8938 thresholds. US tax residents must report foreign assets above certain thresholds on Form 8938. The thresholds for those living abroad ($200,000 for single, $400,000 joint) are higher than for those living in the US ($50,000/$100,000). UK property and the bank account holding proceeds may both be reportable.
4. FBAR is separate from Form 8938. Many US-based owners conflate these. They’re different forms with different thresholds and different filing destinations (Treasury vs IRS). A bank account holding £300,000 of UK sale proceeds will trigger FBAR even if you don’t owe more tax.
5. State tax can be material. California, New York, and New Jersey can add 5 to 13% to the federal CGT on the gain. Move to a no-state-tax jurisdiction (Texas, Florida) before the sale and the maths changes, but this is multi-year planning, not a sale-time decision.

A direct cash sale plus a cross-border CPA collapse most of this complexity into a manageable process.

How our process works for US-based owners

The standard journey, adapted for someone in New York, San Francisco, Boston, Austin, Miami, or anywhere else in the US:

1. Initial WhatsApp or email

Send us the postcode, photos if available, and a short note on the situation. Our team replies during the UK day, which is your morning (East Coast) or middle of the night (West Coast). Same-day reply for most messages.

2. Written offer within 24 hours

Comparable sales analysis, condition assessment, tenancy review if let. Written, no-obligation offer.

3. CPA introduction (if needed)

We’ll connect you with a US-UK cross-border CPA before exchange. They’ll project your combined US federal, state, and UK tax liability so you know the net before signing.

4. Acceptance and instruction

We instruct UK solicitors immediately. You instruct your own UK solicitor (we share recommendations) or work alongside a US property attorney.

5. Power of Attorney or e-signing

LPA setup involves notarisation at the British Consulate in your nearest major city (DC, NY, Chicago, LA, Miami, etc.) plus state-level apostille. Allow 4 to 8 weeks. Or use e-signing for most documents and skip the LPA entirely.

6. Exchange and completion

2 to 4 weeks of legal preparation, then exchange and completion. UK funds land with your solicitor.

7. NRCGT filing within 60 days

You file the UK NRCGT return through HMRC’s online portal. Pay any UK CGT due. Your CPA captures this for the US Foreign Tax Credit on Form 1116 in the next US filing cycle.

8. US tax reporting in the next April cycle

Schedule D for the gain, Form 1116 for the UK tax credit, Form 8938 if foreign asset balances trigger reporting, FBAR if the proceeds-holding account exceeds $10,000.

The tax picture, plainly stated

Figures and rules below are accurate as of May 2026. UK and US tax laws change; always confirm with a qualified US-UK cross-border CPA before acting.

The taxes that touch a UK property sale by a US-based owner:

UK Non-Resident CGT at 18% basic / 24% higher rate on the gain since 6 April 2015, reported to HMRC within 60 days of completion.

US federal CGT on the gain. Long-term capital gains rates (assets held over 1 year) range 0% / 15% / 20% federal, depending on income. The Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) of 3.8% may also apply.

US state tax depending on where you live. California up to 13.3%; Texas, Florida, etc. = 0%.

Foreign Tax Credit (FTC) via Form 1116 lets you offset UK tax paid against US tax owed on the same gain. You won’t pay twice on the same income, but residual US/state tax can apply if US/state rates exceed UK rates.

FATCA / Form 8938 if foreign asset balances exceed thresholds.

FBAR / FinCEN 114 if foreign financial accounts exceed $10,000 at any point in the year.

UK SDLT is paid by the buyer; you pay no SDLT on a sale.

Why a direct cash sale beats the open market for US-based sellers

The open-market route assumes physical presence (or a trusted UK contact) for viewings, surveys, and last-minute issues. US-based owners rarely have either, and the time-zone friction multiplies the coordination cost.

The honest comparison, on a £300,000 UK property:

Illustrative figures based on the assumptions above. Your specific numbers will differ.

A roughly £26k difference (around USD 33,000 at current rates) for the equivalent of 5 months of savings, no fall-through risk, no UK trip, and a cleaner US tax filing in the next April cycle.

Related pages

• Selling UK property from abroad: broader guide for all overseas owners
• Inherited UK property when you live abroad: if the property came via inheritance
• Sell a tenanted property: if your UK property is currently let
• Cash buyer vs estate agent vs auction: comparison of routes
• Cash buyer: plain-English definition

Start a cash offer from the USA

Send us the postcode and your time zone. We’ll reply on WhatsApp or email within hours, written offer with you inside 24 hours. We’ll connect you with a US-UK cross-border CPA before exchange so you know your true net (after all three tax authorities) before committing.

The entire process, including UK completion and NRCGT filing, can run without you flying back.