UK Capital Gains Tax rates calculator

The Capital Gains Tax allowance fell by about 75%, from £12,300 to £3,000 in April 2024, so more of your gains are now taxable. Use this calculator to see exactly what you owe based on your gain and income, then let a UK-qualified Taxfix accountant file it for you.

How is Capital Gains Tax calculated?

For most assets, the rate depends on your total taxable income, not on what you sold. 

The table below shows the 2026/27 rates, which apply across the UK. 

Example (2026/27)

You’re a higher-rate taxpayer with a salary of £60,000. You sell shares and make a £10,000 gain.

Your CGT is: (£10,000 − £3,000 allowance) x 24% = £1,680

When do I owe CGT?

You only owe Capital Gains Tax on gains above your £3,000 allowance in each tax year. Gains of £3,000 or less do not attract CGT.

You must report any gain above £3,000, even if little or no tax is due. Report it through Self Assessment by 31 January after the end of the tax year, or within 60 days of completion if you sold UK residential property.

In practice, here are the deadlines to be aware of:

• You make £70,000 profit from selling a painting in June 2026.
• This is the 2026/27 tax year.
• Register for Self Assessment by 5 October 2027 if you are not already registered.
• File your return and pay the tax on your profit by 31 January 2028.

Who needs to report capital gains?

You need to report a gain to HMRC if your total gains for the tax year are above £3,000 and they come from:

• Selling a second property or buy-to-let
• Selling shares or other investments held outside an ISA or PEP
• Selling crypto, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum
• Selling other assets like art, jewellery or antiques, if you sell them for £6,000 or more

You also need to report if you’re registered for Self Assessment and your total sale proceeds were over £50,000, even if your gains are £3,000 or less.

Dividends and savings interest are taxed as Income Tax, not CGT, so they aren’t on this list.

You do not owe CGT on:

• Your main home, in most cases
• Assets held in an ISA or PEP
• Gifts to your spouse or civil partner
• Gains below £3,000

Read more about CGT exemptions and reliefs.

Reporting property sales: the 60-day rule

If you sold a UK residential property, you must report and pay Capital Gains Tax within 60 days of completion. 

The deadline depends on when the sale was completed:

• 60 days if completed on or after 27 October 2021
• 30 days if completed between 6 April 2020 and 26 October 2021

You report and pay through the Capital Gains Tax on UK property account. Late reporting could result in a penalty and interest. This applies to UK residents and to those who own UK property but live abroad. The following exceptions may apply:

• The legally binding contract for the sale was made before 6 April 2020
• You’re eligible for full private residence relief
• You sold the property to your spouse or civil partner
• The profit you made was within your tax-free allowance
• You’re a UK resident and sold the property for a loss
• The property is outside the UK

Do you owe CGT when you sell your home?

No. If you’re selling your main home, you don’t owe CGT. You only pay capital gains tax on property if you’re operating a buy-to-let business or have a second home that you’re selling. If your home has edge cases, such as partial letting or a large garden, read more about Private Residence Relief.

You also don’t need to worry about paying any CGT on your rental income. You’ll owe Income Tax on this and CGT at the point at which you sell up (if you’re not also living in the house). Read more about rental income tax via our guides.

How can I reduce the CGT I owe?

There are a few things worth knowing before you file:

• Everyone has an annual CGT allowance of £3,000. Gains below this threshold aren’t taxable.
• Capital Losses from other asset disposals in the same tax year are deducted in full. Unused losses from earlier years can reduce your gain down to £3,000, and you must report them to HMRC within four years of the end of the tax year in which they arose.
• Reliefs such as Private Residence Relief and Business Asset Disposal Relief may apply, depending on your circumstances.

CGT for different types of assets

Capital Gains Tax on shares and investments

Capital Gains Tax can apply to shares, funds and certain bonds held outside an ISA or PEP:

• Units in a unit trust
• Certain bonds

The following are not taxed:

• Shares held in an ISA or PEP
• UK government gilts and Premium Bonds
• Qualifying Corporate Bonds

When you sell some of your shares, you usually work out the cost using the average price of all your shares of the same type in that company. Special matching rules apply if you bought shares on the same day you sold them, or within 30 days of selling.

Our UK-qualified Taxfix accountants handle the complex share-matching rules for you. 

See more in our guide on tax-efficient investments.

Capital Gains Tax on crypto

HMRC treats cryptoassets as assets, not currency, so Capital Gains Tax can apply when you dispose of them. Each sale or exchange is a disposal, and you need to work out the gain on each one. A disposal includes:

• Selling your crypto for pounds or another currency
• Exchanging it for a different cryptoasset
• Using it to pay for goods or services
• Giving it to someone else, unless it is a gift to your spouse, civil partner or a charity

Common mistake: swapping one crypto for another, for example Bitcoin for Ethereum, is a taxable event. You can owe tax even if you never turned your crypto into pounds.

Your gains from all disposals in a tax year are added together. You only pay tax on the total above the £3,000 annual exempt amount for 2026/27, which applies across the whole UK.

Capital Gains Tax on property

• Main home: usually exempt through Private Residence Relief, if all the conditions are met, including living there as your main home and not letting part of it out. A lodger does not count as letting.
• Buy-to-let or second home: usually taxable. For 2026/27, the rate is 18% or 24%, depending on your total taxable income, across the whole UK.
• Reporting: for UK residential property, report and pay within 60 days of completion where Capital Gains Tax is due. See “Reporting property sales: the 60-day rule” above.
• Letting Relief: restricted since April 2020, so it only applies if you shared your home with your tenant, such as a lodger.

FAQ: Capital gains tax calculator UK

How much is Capital Gains Tax in the UK?

For 2026/27, Capital Gains Tax is 18% or 24% on gains above your £3,000 annual exempt amount. Subtract the £3,000, then apply 18% to the part within the basic rate band and 24% to the rest. Our capital gains tax calculator UK does this for you.

Do I pay Capital Gains Tax on shares?

Yes, if your shares are not held in an ISA or PEP and your total gains for the tax year are above £3,000. Shares in an ISA or PEP, UK government gilts, Premium Bonds and Qualifying Corporate Bonds are not taxed. 

How do I report capital gains to HMRC?

You report most gains through a Self Assessment tax return, and you must file and pay by 31 January after the end of the tax year. You must report a gain above £3,000 even if little or no tax is due. For UK residential property, report and pay within 60 days of completion through the Capital Gains Tax on UK property account. 

Can I offset capital losses against gains?

Yes. Losses made in the same tax year are deducted in full from your gains. Losses from earlier years can also reduce your gain, but only down to the £3,000 annual exempt amount, and you must report them to HMRC within four years of the end of the tax year in which they arose.

What happens if I don’t report capital gains?

Late reporting or late payment can lead to penalties and interest on the tax you owe. If you have missed a deadline, report the gain as soon as possible and get help from a UK-qualified accountant. 

Do I pay CGT if I gift an asset?

Usually yes, if you give it to someone other than your spouse, civil partner or a charity. HMRC treats a gift as a sale at market value, so you can owe CGT even though you received no money.

How does Taxfix calculate my Capital Gains Tax?

Our CGT calculator deducts your £3,000 annual exempt amount, taxes the part of your gain that falls within the basic rate band at 18%, and taxes the rest at 24%. Enter your gain, annual salary and other income to see your estimate.

This article provides general information only and is not personalised tax advice.