Tax
Capital Gains Tax Rates 2026-27 UK — CGT Calculator & Allowances
Capital gains tax rates, allowances, and calculation for 2026-27 tax year. How much CGT you'll pay on shares, property, crypto, and other assets. Includes worked examples.
Capital Gains Tax (CGT) is charged on the profit when you sell or dispose of assets that have increased in value. Here’s everything you need to know for 2026-27.
CGT Rates 2026-27
Standard Rates (Most Assets)
| Tax Band |
CGT Rate |
| Basic rate (up to £37,700 taxable income) |
18% |
| Higher rate (above £37,700) |
24% |
| Additional rate |
24% |
Carried Interest Rates
| Tax Band |
CGT Rate |
| Basic rate |
32% |
| Higher rate |
36% |
Note: These rates apply from 30 October 2024. Prior to this, non-property rates were 10%/20%.
How Your Tax Band Affects CGT
Your CGT rate depends on your total taxable income including the gain.
| Your Income |
Add Gain |
CGT Rate on Gain |
| £30,000 |
£5,000 |
18% (within basic band) |
| £45,000 |
£10,000 |
Part 18%, part 24% |
| £60,000 |
£15,000 |
24% (all higher rate) |
Annual Exempt Amount (Allowance)
Recent Changes
| Tax Year |
CGT Allowance |
| 2026-27 |
£3,000 |
| 2025-26 |
£3,000 |
| 2024-25 |
£3,000 |
| 2023-24 |
£6,000 |
| 2022-23 |
£12,300 |
The allowance has dropped 75% since 2022-23.
Key Rules
| Rule |
Detail |
| Per person |
Each person gets £3,000 |
| Per year |
Resets each tax year |
| Use it or lose it |
Doesn’t carry over |
| Couples |
£6,000 combined if both own asset |
Calculating Capital Gains Tax
Step-by-Step Calculation
| Step |
Calculation |
| 1 |
Sale price (or market value) |
| 2 |
Minus purchase price |
| 3 |
Minus allowable costs |
| 4 |
Equals total gain |
| 5 |
Minus losses (if any) |
| 6 |
Minus annual exempt amount (£3,000) |
| 7 |
Equals taxable gain |
| 8 |
Apply CGT rate(s) |
Allowable Costs
| Deductible |
Not Deductible |
| Purchase costs (stamp duty, legal fees) |
Your time |
| Sale costs (estate agent, legal fees) |
General maintenance |
| Improvement costs (extensions, renovations) |
Interest on loans |
| Valuation fees |
Insurance |
Worked Examples
Example 1: Basic Rate Taxpayer Selling Shares
| Item |
Amount |
| Sale price |
£50,000 |
| Purchase price |
£30,000 |
| Dealing costs |
£500 |
| Gross gain |
£19,500 |
| Annual allowance |
£3,000 |
| Taxable gain |
£16,500 |
| CGT at 18% |
£2,970 |
Example 2: Higher Rate Taxpayer
| Item |
Amount |
| Salary |
£60,000 |
| Taxable gain (after allowance) |
£20,000 |
| CGT rate |
24% |
| CGT due |
£4,800 |
Example 3: Mixed Rate Situation
| Item |
Amount |
| Salary |
£45,000 |
| Taxable gain (after allowance) |
£12,000 |
| Basic rate band remaining |
£5,270 (£50,270 - £45,000) |
| Gain at 18% |
£5,270 × 18% = £949 |
| Gain at 24% |
£6,730 × 24% = £1,615 |
| Total CGT |
£2,564 |
CGT on Different Assets
Shares and Investments
| Asset |
CGT Applies? |
Notes |
| UK shares |
Yes |
18%/24% |
| Overseas shares |
Yes |
Same rates, may have double tax relief |
| ETFs/funds |
Yes |
Same rates |
| ISA investments |
No |
Tax-free |
| Pension investments |
No |
Tax-free until withdrawal |
Cryptocurrency
| Crypto Transaction |
CGT Applies? |
| Selling for £ |
Yes |
| Swapping crypto for crypto |
Yes (disposal) |
| Spending crypto |
Yes (disposal) |
| Gifting crypto |
Yes (market value) |
| Receiving as payment |
Income tax (then CGT on sale) |
Property
| Property Type |
CGT Applies? |
| Main home |
No (PRR exempt) |
| Second home |
Yes |
| Buy-to-let |
Yes |
| Holiday let |
Yes |
| Land |
Yes |
| Overseas property |
Yes |
Other Assets
| Asset |
CGT Status |
| Cars |
Exempt (wasting asset) |
| Personal items under £6,000 |
Exempt |
| Antiques/art over £6,000 |
Taxable |
| Gold bullion |
Taxable |
| Premium Bonds |
Exempt |
Private Residence Relief (PRR)
Main Home Exemption
| Situation |
CGT Status |
| Only home, lived in throughout |
Fully exempt |
| Multi-home — nominated main home |
Exempt |
| Grounds under 5,000 sqm |
Exempt |
| Grounds over 5,000 sqm |
May be taxable |
Partial PRR
| Period |
Relief |
| Lived in |
Full relief |
| Absent for work (up to 4 years) |
Full relief |
| Last 9 months of ownership |
Full relief (even if not living there) |
| Rented out |
Proportional relief |
Lettings Relief
| Rule |
Detail |
| When it applies |
Lived in and rented out |
| Maximum relief |
£40,000 |
| Calculation |
Lower of: PRR amount, letting gain, or £40,000 |
Reporting and Paying CGT
When to Report
| Asset Type |
Deadline |
| UK residential property |
60 days after completion |
| All other assets |
Self Assessment by 31 January |
How to Report
| Method |
When to Use |
| UK Property Account |
Property sales — within 60 days |
| Self Assessment |
All gains — annual return |
| Real Time CGT Service |
Voluntary earlier reporting |
Payment Deadlines
| Asset |
Payment Due |
| UK property |
60 days after completion |
| Other assets |
31 January after tax year |
Reducing CGT Liability
Legitimate Strategies
| Strategy |
How It Helps |
| Use annual allowance |
£3,000 tax-free |
| Spread sales over tax years |
£3,000 each year |
| Transfer to spouse |
Use their allowance too |
| Offset losses |
Deduct from gains |
| Hold in ISA/pension |
Tax-free growth |
Using Losses
| Loss Rule |
Detail |
| Same year losses |
Must be used first |
| Carried forward losses |
Use only to reduce gain to £3,000 |
| Can’t create a loss |
For CGT purposes |
Spouse/Civil Partner Transfers
| Rule |
Detail |
| Transfer between spouses |
No CGT at transfer |
| Receiving spouse |
Takes your purchase price |
| On sale |
They pay CGT based on overall gain |
| Divorce |
Different rules apply |
CGT and Inheritance
Death Transfers
| Situation |
CGT Status |
| Assets passing on death |
No CGT (IHT may apply) |
| Inheritor’s base cost |
Market value at death |
| Future sale by inheritor |
CGT on gain since death |
Gift to Others
| Gift Type |
CGT Treatment |
| Gift to spouse |
No CGT |
| Gift to child |
CGT as if sold at market value |
| Gift to charity |
No CGT |
| Sale at undervalue |
CGT on market value, not sale price |
CGT Reliefs
Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR)
| Criteria |
Requirement |
| Asset type |
Business assets, shares in trading company |
| Ownership |
2+ years |
| Rate |
10% (rising to 14% April 2025, 18% April 2026) |
| Lifetime limit |
£1 million |
Investors’ Relief
| Criteria |
Requirement |
| Asset type |
Shares in unlisted trading company |
| Ownership |
3+ years |
| Rate |
10% |
| Lifetime limit |
£10 million |
Rollover Relief
| Situation |
Effect |
| Sell business asset |
Defer CGT |
| Buy replacement asset |
Within 1 year before to 3 years after |
| Result |
Gain “rolls over” to new asset |
CGT Planning Throughout the Year
Monthly/Quarterly
| Action |
Purpose |
| Track asset purchases |
Know your base cost |
| Record improvement costs |
Increase base cost |
| Keep receipts |
Prove costs to HMRC |
Year-End Planning (January-March)
| Action |
Purpose |
| Review unrealized gains |
Plan disposals |
| Check if losses to harvest |
Offset against gains |
| Transfer assets to spouse |
Before disposal |
| Use annual allowance |
Don’t waste it |
Tax Year Summary
| Date |
Action |
| 6 April |
New tax year — new £3,000 allowance |
| Throughout year |
Track gains and losses |
| January-March |
Year-end planning |
| 5 April |
Last day to use allowance |
| 60 days after property sale |
Report and pay (property) |
| 31 January following year |
Self Assessment deadline |
Common CGT Questions
Do I Pay CGT If I Make a Loss?
| Situation |
Action |
| Loss on disposal |
No CGT (you can carry loss forward) |
| Register the loss |
Within 4 years |
| Uses |
Offset against future gains |
Do I Pay CGT on Foreign Assets?
| Status |
Treatment |
| UK resident |
CGT on worldwide gains |
| Non-UK resident |
Generally only UK property |
| Foreign tax paid |
May get relief |
What If I Don’t Report?
| Risk |
Consequence |
| Late reporting (property) |
£100+ penalties |
| Failure to notify chargeability |
Penalties and interest |
| Deliberate non-disclosure |
Up to 100% of tax owed |