Your salary, self-employed income, etc. Used to determine if you're a basic, higher, or additional rate taxpayer.
If you've already realised gains this year, enter the amount of allowance already used.
CGT due
£2,864
on £15,000 gross gain
Effective rate
19.09%
of gross gain
Net proceeds
£12,136
after CGT
Annual exempt amount applied (£3,000)
Unified CGT rates 18% / 24% (post-Oct 2024)
Item
Amount
Gross gain (proceeds − cost)
£15,000
Less: capital losses
−£0
Less: annual exempt amount
−£3,000
Taxable gain
£12,000
Basic rate portion @ 18%
£270 → £49
Higher rate portion @ 24%
£11,730 → £2,815
Total CGT
£2,864
How CGT is calculated: your taxable gain is stacked on top of your taxable income. The portion that fits inside your remaining basic-rate income tax band (up to £50,270) is taxed at the lower CGT rate; anything above that is taxed at the higher rate. So the same £20,000 gain costs less tax for a basic-rate earner than for a higher-rate earner — your income determines your CGT band, not just the size of the gain.
How is Capital Gains Tax calculated in the UK in 2026/27?
Capital Gains Tax (CGT) is charged on the profit when you sell or dispose of an asset for more than you paid for it. In 2026/27, the first £3,000 of gains in any tax year is tax-free under the annual exempt amount — slashed from £6,000 in 2023/24 and £12,300 in 2022/23, a cut that has dragged hundreds of thousands of small investors into CGT for the first time. After deducting the allowance and any allowable losses, the remaining gain is added on top of your taxable income to determine which CGT band applies. The portion that fits within your unused basic-rate income tax band (up to £50,270) is taxed at 18%; anything above that threshold is taxed at 24%. From 30 October 2024 these unified rates apply to all chargeable assets — the previous 10% / 20% non-residential rates no longer exist.
CGT on shares vs property — what's the difference?
Since the Autumn Budget 2024, shares, ETFs, funds, cryptocurrency, residential property (that is not your main home), and most other chargeable assets are all taxed at the same unified rates: 18% within the basic band and 24% above it. Your main residence is generally CGT-exempt under Private Residence Relief (PRR), provided you've lived there as your only or main home throughout ownership — PRR continues to apply at 0% even after the rate unification. The key remaining difference is timing: residential property gains must be reported and the tax paid within 60 days of completion using the UK Property Reporting Service, while other gains are settled via Self Assessment. If you're calculating gains on a property sale, our stamp duty calculator covers the costs on the buying side. High earners with significant investment income may also fall into the £100k–£125,140 personal allowance taper — see our 60% tax trap calculator.
How married couples can reduce CGT
Transfers between spouses or civil partners are made on a "no gain / no loss" basis — meaning you can move an asset (or a share of it) to your partner without triggering CGT, with the recipient inheriting your original cost base. By splitting an asset 50/50 before sale, a couple can use both £3,000 annual exempt amounts (£6,000 combined) and both basic-rate bands. Worked example: a £30,000 gain on shares for a basic-rate-taxpayer couple. Sold by one spouse alone: £30,000 − £3,000 = £27,000 taxable, taxed at 18% / 24% depending on how much fits in their remaining basic band. Split 50/50: each spouse gets £15,000 − £3,000 = £12,000 taxable; if both have headroom in the basic band the whole lot is taxed at 18% → £2,160 each = £4,320 combined, versus a higher bill if a single spouse pushes into the 24% band. Always document the transfer properly with a deed of trust before disposal. When planning estate transfers, also consider IHT — see our Inheritance Tax Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the CGT allowance in 2026/27?
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The Capital Gains Tax annual exempt amount (AEA) for individuals is £3,000 in 2026/27. This was cut from £6,000 in 2023/24 and £12,300 in 2022/23 — a 75% reduction in two years that has dragged hundreds of thousands of small investors into CGT for the first time. Trustees of most settlements get half this allowance (£1,500). The £3,000 applies per person per tax year, is not transferable between spouses, and cannot be carried forward if unused.
Do I pay CGT on cryptocurrency?
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Yes. HMRC treats Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptoassets as chargeable assets for CGT purposes. Every disposal — selling for fiat, swapping one coin for another, spending crypto on goods, or gifting (other than to a spouse or charity) — is a taxable event. Since 30 October 2024, all CGT rates are unified at 18% within the basic band and 24% above it (the previous 10%/20% non-residential rates no longer exist). Crypto-to-crypto trades are taxable at the GBP value of the new coin received. Detailed share-pooling rules apply to identical tokens (the s.104 pool, plus same-day and bed-and-breakfasting 30-day rules).
When do I pay Capital Gains Tax?
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For most assets, CGT is reported and paid through your annual Self Assessment tax return — by 31 January following the end of the tax year. However, residential property disposals must be reported and any tax paid within 60 days of completion using the UK Property Reporting Service (the old 30-day deadline was extended in 2021). If you don't already file Self Assessment but have CGT to declare, you can use HMRC's real-time CGT service for non-property gains, or register for Self Assessment.
Can I offset capital losses against gains?
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Yes. Capital losses realised in the same tax year are automatically offset against gains before the £3,000 allowance is applied. Unused losses can be carried forward indefinitely against future gains, but you must claim them within four years of the tax year in which the loss arose. Carry-forward losses are only deducted to the extent needed to bring your taxable gains down to the annual exempt amount — they're not wasted by being forced to absorb the £3,000 allowance.
Is there CGT on inherited property?
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There is no CGT at the moment of inheritance — the property passes to the beneficiary at its market value on the date of death (the 'probate value'), and Inheritance Tax may apply to the estate instead. CGT only kicks in when the beneficiary later sells the property: the gain is calculated as sale price minus the probate value, not the original purchase price. If the beneficiary lives in the property as their main residence after inheriting, Private Residence Relief can shelter the gain in proportion to occupancy.
How is CGT calculated on a buy-to-let sale?
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Buy-to-let gains are taxed at the unified residential rates (18% basic / 24% higher) and must be reported within 60 days. The taxable gain is sale proceeds minus original purchase price, minus allowable costs (stamp duty paid on purchase, legal fees, estate agent fees on sale, capital improvements like a new kitchen or extension — but not repairs or mortgage interest). The £3,000 allowance and any carried-forward losses are then deducted. Letting Relief was abolished for most landlords in April 2020 and is now only available where the owner shared the property with the tenant.
Calcsmith provides estimates based on the information you enter and the 2026/27 tax bands. Not financial advice; consult a qualified accountant for your situation, especially for property and complex disposals.