Transfering my AM business to my husband

**karenlb** · 09-04-10

I'm making a return to the forums after a year (!) having been busy being full-time employed.

During a period of unemployment in 2008 I invested in over 50 domain names - of which about 10 are live and about 5 have earned some commission despite being completely neglected during the past year - none of the commission has yet been paid out.

Being full time employed and a higher rate tax payer I don't want to continue with my business but want my husband to take it over as he already works from home - is a sole trader and not anywhere near the VAT threshold etc.

What do I need to do re the transfer of domains and does he need to register himself with the networks/programmes.

Any help much appreciated.

**ian** · 09-04-10

if its already a sole trader business rather than a ltd company receiving the payment, I'd just change the name on the network sites from yours to your husbands so his name appears on the invoices. Leave the domain names as they are. Not sure if there's an admin charge for transfering domain ownership, but not worth the grief anyway

**karenlb** · 12-04-10

Cheers Ian

I don't want it to look like it's just a massive tax dodge. I hope that's all I have to do...

**accelerator** · 12-04-10

As long as he is going to be doing the work on the sites I don't see that there would be a problem. I would just change the details in any affiliate network accounts you have over to his bank details.

You could leave the domains in your name as long as your husband is ok with it. It's probably not worth the hassle transferring them. You might want to give him the domain account login details and change the renewals to go through on his bank card and his business expenses. Note however that you would remain the legal owner of the domains, so without wishing to be morbid you may need to mention them in your estate planning.

Rgds

**Mogga** · 13-04-10

Why don't you speak to an accountant about it? They will offer sound legal and practical advice that will ensure you don't do anything dodgy.

**karenlb** · 14-04-10

Cheers for the advice everyone. We will be speaking to husbands accountant but everyone is so helpful on here - there's normally someone who's "been there, done that"

Regards

K

**dc000000** · 14-04-10

If you get professional advice there will probably be an advantageous way of doing this - particularly if you put some value on the sites.

The bloke who owns BHS is always buying and selling stuff to his wife - and he doesn't pay any tax, so there must be something in it?

**hrbs** · 15-04-10

Originally Posted by karenlb

During a period of unemployment in 2008 I invested in over 50 domain names - of which about 10 are live and about 5 have earned some commission despite being completely neglected during the past year - none of the commission has yet been paid out.

Hi Karen
I presume the fact that none of the commission has yet been paid is because you are below the networks' payment thresholds and so the business would have minimal value. The commissions earned thus far should be part of your taxable income but you would be able to offset costs such as hosting, part of your broadband etc against the income, maybe generating a loss that can be offset against your employment income.

As others have recommended, change the name on the network accounts to your husband's. If you wished to retain the domain names in your name, your husband could pay you an annual domain name rent sufficient to cover the renewal costs each year. This means that you could use them for your own business again at some stage in the future.
Or you could transfer them to your husband. If he paid for the transfers the cost would be tax deductible in his accounts.

Regards

Keith
HRBS.biz