UK Capital Gains Tax Calculator
Calculate CGT on shares, property and other assets after the £3,000 annual allowance at 2024+ rates. Free, privacy-first — inputs never leave your browser.
Asset Details
CGT Payable
Total CGT
£3,764
Effective rate: 18.82%
Gross Gain
£20,000
Allowance
£3,000
Taxable Gain
£17,000
Basic Rate Band
£5,270
Higher Rate Band
£11,730
After-Tax Gain
£16,236
For estimation only. Not professional financial, tax, or legal advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making decisions. Full disclaimer.
UK CGT bands (post 30 October 2024)
CGT rules and allowances are set by HMRC (Capital Gains Tax guidance).
- £3,000 annual exemption — gains up to this amount are tax-free
- 18% basic rate — for gains falling within unused basic-rate income tax band
- 24% higher rate — for gains above the basic-rate band
What counts as a chargeable asset?
Shares (non-ISA), funds (non-ISA), second homes, buy-to-let property, collectibles, cryptocurrency, business assets. Your primary residence is exempt under Private Residence Relief. Transfers between spouses are tax-free.
Tax-smart moves
- Bed & spouse: transfer before selling to use spouse\'s allowance + lower band
- Crystallize gains up to the £3k allowance each tax year (April-April)
- Offset losses against gains; carry unused losses forward indefinitely
Common questions about Capital Gains
What are current UK CGT rates?+
Post 30 October 2024: 18% basic rate, 24% higher rate — applied to all assets including property (previously property was 18%/24% and shares 10%/20%, now unified).
What is the annual CGT allowance?+
£3,000 per tax year (down from £6,000 in 2023-24 and £12,300 in 2022-23). Gains below this amount are tax-free. You cannot carry forward unused allowance.
How do I report and pay CGT?+
Two paths: (1) Property sales — report and pay within 60 days of completion via the UK Property Reporting Service (online HMRC form). Penalties for late filing start at £100. (2) Other assets (shares, crypto) — report via Self-Assessment (or HMRC "real time" service) by 31 January following the tax year. Keep records of purchase price, sale price, costs (broker fees, SDLT, conveyancing), and any improvements that qualify as allowable costs.
Is my main home CGT-free?+
Yes — Private Residence Relief (PRR) exempts your main home from CGT, provided it's been your only or main residence throughout ownership. Partial relief if you let it out, ran a business from it, or had it empty for extended periods. The final 9 months of ownership always qualify even if you've moved out. For second homes and buy-to-let, full CGT applies. Nominate which property is your "main home" with HMRC if you have multiple, especially within 2 years of buying the second.
Can I use my spouse's allowance?+
Yes. Transfers between spouses/civil partners are CGT-free (spouse exemption). Strategy: before disposing of an asset, transfer part to your spouse so you both use your £3,000 annual allowances — doubling the tax-free gain to £6,000. Also useful if spouses are in different tax brackets (basic vs higher rate). Transfer must be a genuine outright gift, not for consideration. Works well for shares, investment trusts, rental properties (with conveyancing).
Can I offset capital losses against gains?+
Yes. Losses on chargeable assets reduce your taxable gains pound-for-pound in the same tax year. Unused losses carry forward indefinitely (must be claimed within 4 years of the tax year they arose). Strategy: "bed and breakfasting" was closed in 1998 but "bed and ISA" or "bed and spouse" still work — sell losing shares to crystallise the loss, then have your spouse or ISA repurchase them. Negligible-value claims also allow you to crystallise a loss on worthless shares without actually selling them.