Homeowners could legally earn up to £20,070 tax free by combining the standard personal allowance with income generated through the Government-backed rent a room scheme.
The threshold is made up of the £12,570 personal allowance and an additional £7,500 that can be earned tax free through renting out a spare furnished room in a primary residence.
The policy comes as the Government has extended the freeze on income tax thresholds for a further three years, meaning bands are currently expected to remain unchanged until 2031.
The freeze means that while wages continue to rise due to inflation and labour market pressures, the amount people can earn before paying higher rates of tax remains fixed.
Economists commonly refer to this effect as fiscal drag, which describes a situation where workers move into higher tax brackets despite not seeing a significant improvement in real terms income.
Under current rules, the basic rate of 20 per cent applies to earnings above £12,570 and continues up to £50,270.
Income above £50,270 is taxed at the higher rate of 40 per cent.
Earnings above £125,140 are subject to the additional rate of 45 per cent.
The threshold is made up of the £12,570 personal allowance and an additional £7,500
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The personal allowance has remained frozen since 2021, meaning more workers are now paying higher levels of tax as wages gradually increase.
The rent a room scheme allows homeowners to earn up to £7,500 per year from renting out a furnished room in their home without paying tax on that income.
The scheme only applies to rooms within a property that the homeowner lives in as their main residence and cannot be used for buy to let investments.
If rental income remains at or below £7,500 per year, which is approximately £625 per month, homeowners do not have to pay tax on that income.
The exemption applies automatically when earnings remain below the threshold
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GETTYThe tax exemption applies automatically when earnings remain below the threshold, meaning additional tax calculations are not required in most cases.
Homeowners must still declare the rental income through a self assessment tax return even if no tax is owed on the amount earned.
The scheme also allows individuals to opt out if it becomes financially beneficial to do so under certain circumstances.
Opting out may be useful if a homeowner records a financial loss related to renting out the room and wishes to offset that loss against taxable income elsewhere.
If rental income from the room is shared with another person, such as a partner or joint homeowner, the tax free threshold is reduced to £3,750 per person.
The Government states homeowners can rent out as much space within their home as they choose under the scheme, provided it remains their primary residence.
HMRC states the scheme is designed to support homeowners who want to make additional use of available space while helping to increase the supply of short term rental accommodation.
Officials have said the policy forms part of wider efforts to support flexible living arrangements and help households manage rising living costs.
Tax specialists have previously said schemes such as rent a room can provide a simple way for homeowners to generate additional income without increasing their tax liability.
Main residences only apply
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The policy remains separate from other property income rules and does not affect capital gains tax treatment on primary residences.
Homeowners are advised to check eligibility rules carefully before entering into rental agreements to ensure they meet scheme requirements.
The scheme does not change rules around planning permission, mortgage conditions or lease agreements, which may still restrict renting activity in some properties.
Financial advisers have said homeowners should also consider the impact of additional occupants on insurance policies and household costs before renting out rooms.
The Government has said it continues to review tax thresholds and allowances as part of wider fiscal policy planning.
