Your main home is generally exempt from CGT. This includes any garden or grounds up to 5,000 square metres. If you’ve let part of your home, lettings relief may still apply, though rules have tightened significantly since April 2020. See HMRC guidance for detailed eligibility criteria.

If you sell shares and rebuy them within 30 days (bed-and-breaking), the acquisition cost for CGT purposes is adjusted. You cannot immediately realize gains and rebuy without tax consequences. The 30-day matching rule prevents artificial gain crystallisation.

Now called Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR), this allows qualifying business owners to pay 10% CGT on gains up to £1 million lifetime limit. You must have owned the business for at least 2 years and meet other conditions. Check official BADR rules.

Assets passed on death receive a “base cost uplift” to market value at date of death. Transfers between spouses/civil partners happen on a no-gain/no-loss basis, deferring any CGT until the receiving spouse sells. This strategy can help utilise both partners’ annual exemptions effectively.

After deducting the £3,000 annual exemption, your taxable gain is £97,000. If you’re a basic rate taxpayer and your income plus gain stays within the basic rate band, you’d pay 18% = £17,460. If you’re a higher rate taxpayer, you’d pay 24% = £23,280. Many people fall into a mixed calculation where part is taxed at each rate. Use our calculator to get precise figures based on your income level.

If all your disposals are less than 4 times the annual exempt amount (£12,000 for 2025/26) and your total proceeds from all sales are under £60,000, you typically don’t need to report to HMRC. However, if you normally file Self Assessment, include it on your tax return. See HMRC Capital Gains Manual for exceptions.

Yes. Unused capital losses can be carried forward indefinitely to offset against future capital gains. You must register the loss with HMRC within 4 years of the end of the tax year in which the loss occurred. Losses must be offset against gains as soon as possible in future years. You cannot choose to skip offsetting losses to preserve the annual exemption.

HMRC treats cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum as taxable assets, not currency. Selling crypto for fiat, exchanging one crypto for another, or using crypto to purchase goods all trigger CGT events. Keep detailed records of all transactions, including dates, amounts, and GBP values at transaction time. Read HMRC cryptoasset guidance for full details.

A capital loss occurs when you sell an asset for less than you bought it (after allowable costs). You can use this loss to offset gains from other assets in the same tax year, or carry it forward to future years. You cannot claim a tax refund for losses alone, but they reduce future tax bills. Register losses within 4 years to ensure HMRC recognises them.

No. The 60-day reporting requirement only applies to UK residential property. For shares, business assets, and other disposals, report and pay by 31 January following the end of the tax year when the sale occurred (through Self Assessment). Missing the 60-day deadline for property sales attracts immediate penalties starting at £100, even if no tax is due.

Your CGT rate depends on whether your total taxable income (salary + gains) falls within the basic rate band (£50,270 for 2025/26). If your income plus gains stays under this threshold, you pay the basic rate (18% for property, 10% for other assets). Any gains pushing you into higher/additional rate territory are taxed at 24% or 20% respectively. You may have a hybrid rate where part of your gain is taxed at each level.

Not directly. Each individual has their own £3,000 annual exemption and separate CGT liability. However, transferring assets between spouses is usually done on a “no gain, no loss” basis — meaning you can transfer before selling to utilise both allowances effectively. Consult an accountant about optimal timing for transfers to maximise tax efficiency. See HMRC’s guide on spousal transfers for more information.

Keep detailed records for at least 5 years after the relevant tax year end. Include: purchase/sale dates and prices, invoices for improvement costs, estate agent statements, solicitor fees, valuation reports, and calculations showing how you determined your gain. Failure to produce records during an enquiry can result in penalties up to £3,000 plus accuracy-related charges on any additional tax discovered.

Log into HMRC’s online service and complete the Capital Gains summary pages (SA108). Report total disposals, allowable costs, losses brought forward, and the final taxable gain. For residential property sales, you must also use the separate “Capital Gains Tax on UK Property” service within 60 days of completion — this is required even if you normally file Self Assessment annually. Both reports must reconcile with each other.