James Mitchell
James Mitchell · Senior Tax Advisor (CTA, ATT) · Reviewed
› Tax Guides › Capital Gains Tax Rates UK 2026
Autumn Budget 2024 Updated

Capital Gains Tax Rates

Complete reference to UK Capital Gains Tax rates for 2025/26 and 2026. Covers shares, property, business assets, BADR, annual exempt amount, and the 60-day reporting rule — with interactive CGT calculator.

£3,000
CGT Annual Exempt Amount 2025/26
18% / 24%
CGT Rates (basic / higher) from Oct 2024
60 days
Property CGT reporting deadline

Capital Gains Tax Calculator 2025/26

Gross Gain—
Less: Capital Losses—
Less: Annual Exempt Amount—
Net Taxable Gain—
Gain at Basic Rate—
Gain at Higher Rate—
Rates Applied—
Total CGT Due—
Effective CGT Rate—

CGT Rates 2025/26 — Autumn Budget 2024 Changes

The October 2024 Autumn Budget introduced significant changes to CGT rates, effective from 30 October 2024. The previous 10%/20% rates for most assets were replaced with 18%/24%, aligning rates more closely with residential property CGT.

Standard CGT Rates — From 30 October 2024

Asset TypeBasic Rate TaxpayerHigher/Additional Rate Taxpayer
Residential property18%24%
Shares & funds18%24%
Other chargeable assets18%24%
Business Asset Disposal Relief (from Apr 2025)14% — rising to 18% from Apr 2026
Investors' Relief (from Apr 2025)14% — rising to 18% from Apr 2026
Trusts24% (one rate; £1,500 exempt amount)

Previous rates (pre-30 Oct 2024): 10% basic / 20% higher for most assets; 18% basic / 28% higher for residential property. BADR was previously 10% and rose to 14% from April 2025.

How CGT Rates Are Determined

Whether you pay the basic or higher rate of CGT depends on the total of your taxable income plus your taxable capital gains relative to the basic rate band (£50,270 in 2025/26).

Rate calculation example: If your taxable income is £35,000 (£15,270 below the £50,270 basic rate limit), the first £15,270 of your net gains are taxed at the basic rate (18%) and any remaining gains at the higher rate (24%). This applies regardless of asset type for gains arising after 30 October 2024.

Annual Exempt Amount 2025/26

Taxpayer TypeAnnual Exempt Amount
Individuals£3,000
Trusts (most)£1,500
Personal representatives£3,000 (year of death + 2 years)

The individual exempt amount has fallen sharply: £12,300 in 2022/23 → £6,000 in 2023/24 → £3,000 from 2024/25. It is frozen at £3,000 until at least 2030.

Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR)

PeriodBADR Rate
To 29 Oct 202410%
30 Oct 2024 – 5 Apr 202510%
6 Apr 2025 – 5 Apr 202614%
From 6 Apr 202618%

Lifetime limit: £1 million of qualifying gains. Applies to disposals of businesses, shares in personal companies, and qualifying EMI options.

Assets Subject to CGT

Chargeable Assets (CGT Applies)

  • Residential property (not main home)
  • Shares and unit trusts (outside ISA/SIPP)
  • Investment funds
  • Business assets and goodwill
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Personal possessions worth over £6,000
  • Land
  • Antiques, art, jewellery over £6,000

CGT-Exempt Assets (No CGT)

  • Main home (Private Residence Relief)
  • ISA and SIPP holdings
  • UK Government gilts (gilts)
  • Premium Bonds
  • Cars (in most cases)
  • Personal possessions under £6,000
  • Lottery and gambling winnings
  • Gifts to charity
  • Wasting assets (e.g. boats used for pleasure)

Reporting & Payment Rules

60-Day Rule: Residential Property

If you sell a UK residential property and make a taxable gain, you must report and pay the CGT within 60 days of completion. This applies to:

  • Buy-to-let properties
  • Second homes
  • Inherited properties
  • Properties where PRR only partially applies

Use HMRC's "Report and pay CGT on UK property" online service. A self-assessment return is still needed for the full year.

Self-Assessment: Other Assets

CGT on other assets (shares, business disposals, etc.) is reported via your annual Self-Assessment tax return by 31 January following the tax year end. Payment is due on the same date.

If you do not normally complete self-assessment but have a CGT liability above the annual exempt amount, you must register for self-assessment. Contact HMRC by 5 October after the tax year.

Losses and Carry Forward

  • Current-year losses must first be offset against current-year gains
  • Remaining losses carry forward indefinitely against future gains
  • You can elect to carry forward losses rather than waste your annual exempt amount
  • Claim losses within 4 years of end of the tax year
  • Losses on connected-person transactions have restricted use

Gifts, Spouses & Trusts

  • Gifts to spouse/civil partner: no gain/no loss — spouse inherits your base cost
  • Gifts to others: CGT calculated at market value at date of gift
  • Hold-Over Relief: available for gifts of business assets
  • Trusts: 24% CGT rate; £1,500 exempt amount
  • Non-UK residents: NRCGT on UK residential property — 60-day rule applies
Important — Autumn Budget 2024: The October 2024 Budget raised CGT rates significantly. If you are considering disposals, the timing of a sale can materially affect your tax liability. Gains realised before 30 October 2024 were taxed at the old rates; gains after are at the new 18%/24% rates for most assets. Always seek independent financial advice for large transactions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Capital Gains Tax rate in the UK for 2026?
From 30 October 2024, CGT rates on most assets are 18% for basic-rate taxpayers and 24% for higher and additional-rate taxpayers. This applies to residential property, shares, funds, and other chargeable assets. The rate you pay depends on whether adding your net gains to your taxable income keeps you within or above the £50,270 basic rate band.
What is the CGT annual exempt amount for 2025/26?
The CGT annual exempt amount is £3,000 for individuals in 2025/26 and has been frozen at this level until at least 2030. This means the first £3,000 of net capital gains in a tax year is free of CGT. The exempt amount was reduced from £12,300 (2022/23) to £6,000 (2023/24) to £3,000 from April 2024 onwards.
Do I pay CGT when I sell my main home?
Normally no. Private Residence Relief (PRR) exempts gains on your only or main home for the period you lived there as your main residence. However, gains relating to any period of absence (unless covered by deemed occupation periods), any land area over half a hectare, any business use, or the final nine months before sale may not be fully exempt. A partial CGT liability can arise even on a main home in some circumstances.
What is the 60-day CGT reporting rule?
UK residents who sell a residential property and make a taxable gain must report the gain and pay the CGT due to HMRC within 60 days of completion. This is done via HMRC's online "Report and pay CGT on UK property" service. You still need to include the disposal in your annual self-assessment return. Failure to report within 60 days incurs automatic penalties.
What is Business Asset Disposal Relief and what rate applies?
BADR (formerly Entrepreneurs' Relief) provides a reduced CGT rate on qualifying business disposals up to a lifetime allowance of £1 million. The rate changed from 10% to 14% from April 2025, and will rise again to 18% from April 2026. To qualify, you must have been a director or employee for at least two years, owned at least 5% of the company, and held those shares for at least two years.
Can CGT losses be carried forward?
Yes. Capital losses must first be set against gains in the same tax year, but any unused losses can be carried forward to future tax years indefinitely. You do not have to use carried-forward losses if doing so would waste your annual exempt amount — you can choose to apply only enough to bring your net gains down to the exempt amount and carry forward the rest.
Is there CGT on gifts to a spouse or civil partner?
No. Transfers between spouses and civil partners who live together are treated as no gain/no loss disposals — no CGT arises at the time of transfer. However, the receiving spouse inherits your original acquisition cost as their base cost, so when they later sell the asset, CGT will be calculated using the original purchase price, not the value at the time of the gift.

Related Calculators & Guides

CGT Calculator CGT Property Calculator BADR Guide Stamp Duty Rates 2026 Income Tax Calculator Self Assessment Guide
MB
Mustafa Bilgic
Mustafa Bilgic (MB) is the founder of UKCalculator.com, specialising in UK tax, investment, and personal finance tools. All CGT rates and figures are sourced from HMRC official guidance and the October 2024 Autumn Budget. Last reviewed: 20 February 2026.

How Capital Gains Tax Rates Works

This calculator estimates your Capital Gains Tax (CGT) liability on asset disposals using current 2025/26 HMRC rates. CGT applies when you sell or dispose of an asset that has increased in value, including property (other than your main home), shares, and business assets. You only pay tax on the gain, not the full sale price.

The annual CGT exempt amount allows you to make a certain level of gains each year without paying tax. Gains above this are taxed at rates that depend on whether you are a basic or higher rate taxpayer and the type of asset.

Key Information for 2025/26

The annual CGT exemption is £3,000 (reduced from £6,000 in 2023/24). CGT rates on most assets: 10% for basic rate taxpayers, 20% for higher rate taxpayers. Residential property rates: 18% (basic) and 24% (higher). Business Asset Disposal Relief (formerly Entrepreneurs' Relief) provides a 10% rate on the first £1 million of qualifying gains.

Example Calculation

Selling a buy-to-let property with a £50,000 gain: deduct the £3,000 annual exemption, leaving £47,000 taxable. A higher rate taxpayer pays 24% CGT on residential property = £11,280. A basic rate taxpayer might pay 18% on the portion within their basic rate band and 24% on the rest.

Source: Based on official HMRC 2025/26 CGT rates. Last updated March 2026.

Official Sources

Data verified against official UK government sources. Last checked April 2026.