Capital Gains Tax Services: Expert Support for Property, Shares and Business Assets

Capital Gains Tax can arise when an individual sells, gives away or otherwise disposes of an asset that has increased in value. The rules may apply to investment properties, shares, business assets, valuable personal possessions, overseas assets and cryptocurrency.

Calculating the tax is not always as simple as subtracting the original purchase price from the sale proceeds. Acquisition costs, legal fees, improvement expenditure, capital losses, ownership periods and available reliefs can all affect the final liability.

Certain property disposals must also be reported and paid much sooner than the normal Self Assessment deadline. Missing the separate reporting period can result in interest and penalties, even when the disposal will later be included in an annual tax return.

Professional Capital Gains Tax services can help ensure that gains are calculated accurately, relevant reliefs are considered and every reporting obligation is met. SAS Accountants supports landlords, investors, business owners, shareholders and individuals with Capital Gains Tax calculations, planning and HMRC submissions.

What Is Capital Gains Tax?

Capital Gains Tax, commonly called CGT, is a tax charged on the gain made when a chargeable asset is disposed of.

The tax normally applies to the increase in value rather than the total amount received. For example, if an asset was purchased for £150,000 and later sold for £220,000, the starting gain would generally be £70,000 before allowable costs, losses, exemptions and reliefs are considered.

A disposal can include selling an asset, giving it away, transferring ownership, exchanging it for another asset or receiving compensation because it has been destroyed or lost.

Capital Gains Tax is separate from Income Tax. However, the rate charged can depend on the individual’s taxable income because the gain may fall within or above the available basic-rate band.

Which Assets Can Create a Capital Gain?

Capital Gains Tax can apply to many different types of assets.

Common examples include second homes, buy-to-let properties, holiday properties, commercial premises, land, shares held outside an ISA, business assets and valuable personal possessions.

A gain may also arise when cryptocurrency is sold, exchanged for another token, used to purchase goods or services, or given to someone other than a spouse, civil partner or charity.

HMRC identifies property that is not a main home, shares held outside an ISA, business assets and most personal possessions worth £6,000 or more as common chargeable assets. Its overview of assets subject to Capital Gains Tax provides further information.

SAS Accountants can review the disposal and establish whether it falls within the Capital Gains Tax rules.

Capital Gains Tax Rates for 2026–27

For individuals, Capital Gains Tax is generally charged at 18% to the extent that taxable gains fall within the available basic-rate band. Gains falling above that band are generally charged at 24%.

The calculation considers both taxable income and taxable capital gains. Consequently, someone who normally pays basic-rate Income Tax may still pay some Capital Gains Tax at 24% if the gain uses the remaining basic-rate band and pushes the combined amount above it.

Trustees and personal representatives are generally subject to a 24% Capital Gains Tax rate.

Qualifying gains covered by Business Asset Disposal Relief are charged at 18% for disposals made from 6 April 2026. Different rates applied to qualifying disposals completed in earlier tax years.

Current rates and calculation examples are provided in HMRC’s Capital Gains Tax rate guidance.

The Annual Exempt Amount

Individuals generally receive an annual Capital Gains Tax exemption, known as the Annual Exempt Amount.

For the 2026–27 tax year, the Annual Exempt Amount is £3,000 for individuals and personal representatives. The standard allowance for most trusts is £1,500.

Only net taxable gains above the available exemption are normally charged to Capital Gains Tax. The allowance cannot be carried forward if it is not used during the tax year.

The exemption applies across the taxpayer’s combined gains rather than separately to each asset. Someone selling shares and a rental property during the same tax year does not receive a new allowance for each disposal.

HMRC confirms the current exemption in its Capital Gains Tax allowances guidance.

How a Capital Gain Is Calculated

The basic calculation begins with the amount received for the asset and deducts its allowable acquisition cost.

Certain additional costs may also be deducted. Depending on the asset, these can include legal fees, estate-agent charges, valuation costs, advertising expenses, Stamp Duty Land Tax and qualifying improvement expenditure.

Improvement costs must normally add to the asset’s value and remain reflected in the asset when it is sold. Routine maintenance, repairs and decorating costs are not generally treated as capital improvements.

Interest charged on a loan used to purchase an asset is not normally deductible from the capital gain. Costs that have already been claimed against business or rental income cannot usually be deducted again.

HMRC confirms that costs of buying, selling and improving property may be deductible, while ordinary maintenance and loan interest are excluded. Further details are available in its guidance on working out a property gain.

SAS Accountants can review purchase documents, legal statements and improvement invoices to identify the costs that may properly reduce the gain.

Capital Gains Tax on Residential Property

Capital Gains Tax frequently arises when someone sells a buy-to-let property, second home, holiday property or former main residence.

The calculation may require the original purchase completion statement, sale completion statement, legal fees, estate-agent charges and evidence of qualifying improvements. Where the property has been owned for many years, obtaining reliable historical information can be one of the most challenging parts of the process.

Complications can also arise where the property was jointly owned, inherited, gifted or used as the owner’s main home during only part of the ownership period.

Each joint owner is generally responsible for calculating and reporting their own share of the gain. Ownership does not always follow the person who received the sale proceeds, so legal and beneficial ownership should be considered carefully.

SAS Accountants can calculate property gains, assess the available reliefs and help clients meet the separate reporting deadline.

The 60-Day Property Reporting Deadline

UK residents who sell UK residential property and have Capital Gains Tax to pay must generally report the disposal and pay an estimate of the tax within 60 days of completion.

The report is normally submitted through a Capital Gains Tax on UK Property account. The calculation must therefore be prepared well before the annual Self Assessment deadline.

A taxpayer who already completes Self Assessment will normally also need to include the property disposal in their annual return. Tax previously paid through the property service is taken into account when the final annual position is calculated.

Missing the 60-day deadline may result in penalties and interest. HMRC explains the requirement in its official UK property Capital Gains Tax guidance.

SAS Accountants can prepare the gain calculation, assist with the online property return and ensure that the disposal is reflected correctly in the subsequent Self Assessment return.

Private Residence Relief

Private Residence Relief may protect some or all of the gain when an individual sells a property that has been their only or main home.

Full relief may be available where the property was occupied as the owner’s only or main residence throughout the relevant ownership period and the applicable conditions are satisfied.

The calculation becomes more complicated when the property was let, used for business, occupied only during part of the ownership period or accompanied by extensive land.

Where a property has qualified as the main residence at some point, the final nine months of ownership will generally qualify for relief even if the owner was not living there during that time. Longer final periods may apply in certain circumstances, including some cases involving disability or long-term residential care.

HMRC provides details in its Private Residence Relief guidance.

SAS Accountants can review occupation dates, periods of absence and letting arrangements to calculate the proportion of the gain that may remain taxable.

Capital Gains Tax for Landlords

Landlords may face Capital Gains Tax when selling a rental property, even if the property has not produced significant rental profits.

The capital calculation is separate from the annual rental-income calculation. Mortgage interest, routine repairs and everyday property-management expenses do not automatically reduce the capital gain.

However, legal acquisition costs, sale fees and qualifying capital improvements may be deductible when the necessary evidence is available.

Where a former home was later rented out, Private Residence Relief may protect the period of qualifying occupation. Letting Relief is now available only in much more limited circumstances and should not be assumed to apply simply because the property was rented.

Professional advice before marketing a property can provide an estimate of the likely tax and identify missing records while there is still time to obtain them.

Capital Gains Tax on Commercial Property and Land

Disposals of shops, offices, warehouses, development land and other commercial property can create significant gains.

The calculation may involve historical valuations, enhancement expenditure, part disposals, leases or changes in the use of the property. Relief may be available where a qualifying business asset is replaced or where the disposal forms part of the sale of a business.

Land transactions can become particularly complicated when only part of a larger site is sold. The original acquisition cost may need to be apportioned between the part disposed of and the interest retained.

SAS Accountants can review the transaction and coordinate with legal or valuation professionals where specialist evidence is required.

Capital Gains Tax on Shares and Investments

Selling shares outside an ISA may create a taxable gain.

The calculation is not always based on simply matching the shares sold with the earliest shares purchased. Special identification rules can apply to shares acquired on the same day, shares repurchased within 30 days and shares held within a pooled Section 104 holding.

Corporate actions such as rights issues, bonus shares, takeovers, reorganisations and company mergers may also change the allowable cost of a shareholding.

Stockbroker fees and Stamp Duty Reserve Tax paid when purchasing shares may generally be included in the calculation. HMRC provides further information in its guidance on working out gains from shares.

SAS Accountants can examine investment statements and transaction histories to calculate gains and losses across multiple share disposals.

Investments Held Within an ISA

Gains arising on investments held within an Individual Savings Account are normally exempt from Capital Gains Tax.

Shares transferred into an ISA from an ordinary investment account are generally treated as being disposed of and repurchased. The transfer itself may therefore create a taxable gain unless the shares are moved through a qualifying arrangement, such as certain employee share-scheme transfers.

A review of investments before disposal can help distinguish exempt ISA holdings from shares that need to be included in a Capital Gains Tax calculation.

Capital Gains Tax on Cryptocurrency

Cryptoassets can create Capital Gains Tax obligations even when no money has been withdrawn to a bank account.

A disposal may occur when tokens are sold for sterling, exchanged for another cryptocurrency, used to purchase goods or services, or given to another person.

Each transaction may need to be valued in pounds sterling at the time it occurred. Pooling rules, same-day rules and 30-day matching rules can also affect the allowable cost.

Transaction fees may be deductible in appropriate circumstances, while moving tokens between wallets owned by the same person is not normally a disposal by itself.

HMRC explains common taxable events and record requirements in its cryptoasset Capital Gains Tax guidance.

SAS Accountants can review exchange reports, wallet histories and transaction data to calculate gains and identify missing information.

Capital Gains Tax on Business Assets

Business owners may face Capital Gains Tax when selling a business, shares in a personal company, business premises, goodwill or other qualifying assets.

The tax treatment depends on the structure of the business and precisely what is being sold. A sole trader selling business assets is treated differently from a shareholder selling shares in a limited company.

The sale agreement may divide the total price between goodwill, property, equipment, stock and other elements. These allocations can affect both Capital Gains Tax and other tax liabilities.

Obtaining advice before agreeing the transaction is important. Once the legal documents have been completed, opportunities to restructure the sale or satisfy relief conditions may no longer be available.

Business Asset Disposal Relief

Business Asset Disposal Relief may reduce the tax payable when an individual sells all or part of a qualifying business, an interest in a partnership or shares in a qualifying personal company.

Specific ownership, employment, trading and time conditions must be satisfied. Meeting one condition does not automatically mean that the entire disposal qualifies.

For qualifying disposals made from 6 April 2026, eligible gains are generally charged at 18%. Relief is subject to a £1 million lifetime limit on qualifying gains, rather than a separate annual limit.

HMRC explains the current requirements in its Business Asset Disposal Relief guidance.

SAS Accountants can review the ownership history, company activities and disposal structure to establish whether a claim may be available.

Gift Hold-Over Relief

Giving an asset away can still create a Capital Gains Tax charge because gifts to connected people are generally treated as taking place at market value.

Gift Hold-Over Relief may defer some or all of the gain when qualifying business assets or certain shares are given away or sold below market value.

Instead of removing the gain permanently, the relief normally passes it to the recipient by reducing their acquisition cost. The deferred gain may then become taxable when the recipient later disposes of the asset.

Both the person making the gift and the recipient may need to make the appropriate claim. The conditions are explained in HMRC’s Gift Hold-Over Relief guidance.

Transfers Between Spouses and Civil Partners

Transfers between spouses and civil partners who are living together are generally made on a no-gain, no-loss basis.

This means the person making the transfer does not normally pay Capital Gains Tax immediately. The recipient effectively takes over the original acquisition cost and may face the accumulated gain when they later dispose of the asset.

A transfer between spouses must represent a genuine change in beneficial ownership. It should not be carried out after a sale has already become legally binding.

Special rules apply following separation or divorce, so professional advice should be obtained before transferring property, shares or other valuable assets.

HMRC provides further information about gifts to spouses, civil partners and charities.

Capital Losses

A disposal that produces a loss may reduce taxable capital gains.

Current-year allowable losses are normally deducted from gains arising in the same tax year. Unused losses may be carried forward and used against gains in future years, subject to the applicable rules.

Losses generally need to be reported to HMRC before they can be used. A taxpayer usually has up to four years after the end of the tax year of disposal to claim a capital loss.

Restrictions can apply to losses arising from transactions with connected people. Losses on exempt assets may also be unavailable.

HMRC explains the basic process in its Capital Gains Tax loss guidance.

SAS Accountants can review previous tax returns and investment records to identify unused losses that may reduce the current liability.

Inherited Assets and Capital Gains Tax

Capital Gains Tax does not normally arise simply because someone inherits an asset.

The beneficiary’s acquisition cost is generally based on the asset’s value for probate or Inheritance Tax purposes at the date of death. A taxable gain may arise if the beneficiary later sells the asset for more than that value.

Personal representatives may also face Capital Gains Tax if an asset increases in value between the date of death and its sale by the estate.

Reliable probate valuations should be retained because they may become essential when the asset is eventually sold.

SAS Accountants can calculate gains on inherited property, shares and other assets using the appropriate valuation and disposal information.

Gifts to Other Family Members

A gift to a child, sibling, parent or other connected person is generally treated as a disposal at market value, even when no payment is received.

The person making the gift may therefore have Capital Gains Tax to pay without receiving cash from which to settle the liability.

A professional valuation may be required to support the market value used in the calculation. Depending on the asset and circumstances, Gift Hold-Over Relief may be available.

Capital Gains Tax and Inheritance Tax can sometimes apply to the same gift under different rules. The wider tax and estate-planning consequences should therefore be considered before the transfer is completed.

Non-Residents Selling UK Property

Non-UK residents are generally required to report disposals of UK land and property within 60 days of completion.

The reporting requirement can apply even where no Capital Gains Tax is payable or the disposal produces a loss. Different rebasing and calculation rules may apply depending on the type of property and when it was acquired.

Non-resident companies are generally subject to Corporation Tax rather than individual Capital Gains Tax on gains from UK property.

HMRC explains the current calculation and reporting rules in its non-resident property guidance.

Overseas Assets Owned by UK Residents

UK residents may be liable to Capital Gains Tax on gains from overseas property, shares and other foreign assets.

The calculation normally needs to be prepared in pounds sterling. The acquisition cost, sale proceeds and relevant expenses may each need to be converted using the appropriate exchange rate for the date of the transaction.

Foreign tax may also have been paid in the country where the asset is located. Double-taxation relief may be available, but the amount and method of relief depend on the applicable rules and treaty arrangements.

Cross-border disposals can also involve residence status and foreign legal documentation. SAS Accountants can help organise the UK calculation and identify when additional specialist advice may be necessary.

Reporting Capital Gains Through Self Assessment

Most gains not covered by the separate property-reporting service are reported through Self Assessment.

The return normally includes information about the asset, disposal proceeds, allowable costs, gains, losses and reliefs claimed. Supporting calculations should be retained in case HMRC later requests them.

A disposal may sometimes need to be reported even when no tax is payable, particularly where the taxpayer is already registered for Self Assessment and total disposal proceeds exceed the applicable reporting threshold.

Taxpayers outside Self Assessment may be able to use HMRC’s real-time Capital Gains Tax service for certain gains.

SAS Accountants can determine the appropriate reporting method, prepare the supporting calculation and submit the relevant information after receiving the client’s approval.

Correcting a Capital Gains Tax Return

A Capital Gains Tax calculation may need to be corrected when new information becomes available.

For example, an estimated property gain reported within 60 days may change after the taxpayer’s annual income, losses and other gains are known. A missing improvement invoice or revised valuation could also affect the final amount.

The appropriate correction process depends on whether the gain was reported through the property service, real-time service or Self Assessment.

SAS Accountants can review the original calculation, prepare the adjustment and ensure that any additional payment or repayment is handled correctly.

Capital Gains Tax Planning Before a Disposal

Capital Gains Tax planning is most effective before a sale, gift or transfer becomes legally binding.

Advance planning can provide time to establish the likely gain, locate historical documents and obtain professional valuations. It can also determine whether the disposal qualifies for a relief or whether a particular condition must be satisfied before completion.

Depending on the circumstances, planning may involve considering the timing of disposals, available capital losses, genuine transfers between spouses or civil partners and the structure of a business sale.

Tax planning must be based on genuine transactions and current legislation. It should not involve concealing ownership, inventing costs or creating artificial losses.

SAS Accountants provides practical planning focused on legitimate reliefs, accurate calculations and timely compliance.

Common Capital Gains Tax Mistakes

One common mistake is calculating tax on the total sale proceeds rather than the gain. Another is deducting ordinary repairs, mortgage interest or costs already claimed against income.

Property owners may overlook the 60-day reporting deadline because they assume the disposal can wait until the next Self Assessment return.

Investors may use the wrong share cost because they ignore pooling and 30-day matching rules. Cryptoasset holders may fail to recognise that exchanging one token for another is a disposal.

Taxpayers also sometimes forget to report capital losses, resulting in more tax being paid on later gains than necessary.

Professional support can identify these issues before a return is submitted or a reporting deadline is missed.

What Information Will Your Accountant Need?

The documents required depend on the asset and the history of ownership.

For property, useful information includes purchase and sale completion statements, legal invoices, estate-agent charges, improvement invoices, ownership details and dates of occupation or letting.

For shares and investments, the accountant may need purchase confirmations, sale statements, dividend-reinvestment information and details of reorganisations or takeovers.

Business disposals may require company accounts, share records, legal agreements and valuations. Cryptoasset calculations may require complete exchange and wallet transaction histories.

Providing complete records allows the gain to be calculated accurately and reduces the need to rely on estimates.

Why Choose SAS Accountants?

SAS Accountants provides Capital Gains Tax services for landlords, property investors, shareholders, business owners and individuals disposing of valuable assets.

The service can include reviewing ownership records, calculating gains, identifying allowable costs, considering capital losses and assessing relevant reliefs. Support is also available with 60-day property returns, Self Assessment reporting, amendments and HMRC correspondence.

The team focuses on clear explanations. Clients receive an understanding of how the gain was calculated, which costs were included, what reliefs were claimed and when the liability must be paid.

Where advice is obtained before a transaction, SAS Accountants can estimate the likely liability and identify tax considerations that should be addressed before completion.

Get Professional Capital Gains Tax Support

Capital Gains Tax can involve valuable assets, short deadlines and complicated calculations. Obtaining professional support can reduce errors and provide confidence that every available deduction and relief has been considered properly.

Whether you are selling a rental property, disposing of shares, transferring a business, gifting an asset or reporting a gain from cryptocurrency, SAS Accountants can provide support suited to your circumstances.

Contact SAS Accountants on 0330 133 0278 to discuss professional Capital Gains Tax services.

Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Capital Gains Tax allowance for 2026–27?

The Annual Exempt Amount for individuals and personal representatives is £3,000 for the 2026–27 tax year. The standard allowance for most trusts is £1,500. Tax is normally charged on net taxable gains remaining after allowable losses and the available exemption have been deducted.

What are the Capital Gains Tax rates for 2026–27?

Individuals generally pay 18% on taxable gains falling within their available basic-rate band and 24% on gains above that band. The calculation depends on both taxable income and capital gains. Different rules can apply to trusts, estates and gains qualifying for particular reliefs.

How quickly must I report the sale of a rental property?

A UK resident who sells UK residential property and has Capital Gains Tax to pay must normally report the disposal and pay an estimate of the tax within 60 days of completion. The sale may also need to be included in the taxpayer’s annual Self Assessment return.

Can improvement costs reduce my property gain?

Qualifying improvement expenditure may reduce the gain when it adds to the property’s value and remains reflected in the property at the time of sale. Routine repairs, maintenance, decorating and mortgage interest are not normally deductible from the capital gain.

Can SAS Accountants help after I have already sold the asset?

Yes. SAS Accountants can calculate the gain, review allowable costs and losses, consider available reliefs and prepare the appropriate HMRC submission. If a property-reporting deadline has already been missed, acting quickly may help prevent further interest and penalties from accumulating.