daytics™
This calculator provides an estimate for guidance only. UK CGT has many reliefs and edge cases (Business Asset Disposal Relief, Private Residence Relief, letting relief, share pooling, Bed & ISA) not covered here. Always verify with HMRC or a qualified tax adviser before submitting.
daytics is free. Help keep it that way.
Built by one person. No sign-ups, no paywalls, no newsletter spam. If a tool saved you time, a coffee goes a long way.
How to Use the CGT Calculator
- Pick your asset type — shares, property, or other. From October 2024, all asset types use the same CGT rates (18% basic, 24% higher), but property has a 60-day reporting deadline we highlight in the result.
- Select tax year — 2026/27 and 2025/26 use identical rules.
- Enter the purchase and sale prices — what you paid originally and what you received on disposal.
- Add allowable costs — stamp duty on purchase, legal fees, estate agent fees on sale, brokerage fees. Subtract these before calculating the gain.
- Enter your taxable income — salary, rental income, pension income combined. Used to determine whether gains fall in the 18% or 24% band.
- Click "Calculate" — see total gain, Annual Exempt Amount applied, split of gain between rate bands, and total CGT owed.
Current rates (2026/27)
UK Capital Gains Tax rates for 2026/27:
- Basic rate taxpayer (income up to £50,270): 18% on chargeable gains
- Higher/additional rate taxpayer (income over £50,270): 24% on chargeable gains
These rates apply to all asset types from 30 October 2024 onwards. Previously residential property had a higher rate (28% / 24%); this was unified with other asset rates in the Autumn Budget 2024.
The £3,000 Annual Exempt Amount
The Annual Exempt Amount (AEA) is the tax-free allowance every UK individual receives each year for capital gains. For 2026/27 it is £3,000 per person — dramatically lower than it was a few years ago (£12,300 in 2022/23). The AEA is applied before calculating CGT and cannot be carried forward if unused.
Strategic implication: sell assets across tax years to use multiple allowances. Selling £6,000 of gains split across the 5 April / 6 April boundary uses two years' AEA and eliminates CGT; selling £6,000 on 3 April incurs CGT on £3,000. Timing matters.
The straddle rule — basic vs higher rate
If your income plus taxable gain crosses the basic rate threshold (£50,270 for 2026/27), the gain is split: the portion that falls within the basic rate band pays 18%, and the portion above pays 24%. This is the "straddle rule" and it's where most DIY CGT calculations go wrong.
Example: Salary £35,000 + £22,000 taxable gain = £57,000 combined. Basic rate band has £15,270 remaining after your salary (£50,270 − £12,570 personal allowance − £22,430 taxable income). So £15,270 of the gain is at 18% (£2,748.60) and £6,730 is at 24% (£1,615.20). Total CGT: £4,363.80.
The calculator above handles this split automatically — show the breakdown in the result table.
Residential property — the 60-day rule
UK residential property gains (except your main home) must be reported and paid to HMRC within 60 days of completion, not in next January's Self Assessment. This was tightened from 30 days to 60 days in October 2021 but still catches many sellers out.
Reporting is via the online "Report Capital Gains Tax on UK Property" service on gov.uk. You need to know: the completion date, the gain calculation, and your estimated income for the year (to determine 18% or 24% rate). Get it wrong? HMRC reconciles at Self Assessment; overpayment or underpayment is settled then.
Missing the 60-day deadline triggers a £100 fine immediately, with further penalties after 3 and 6 months. Even if no CGT is owed (e.g. within AEA), the return still needs filing.
What's exempt from CGT?
- Your main residence — Private Residence Relief (PRR) covers the period you lived in the property as your main home
- Assets inside an ISA — all gains tax-free, always
- Assets inside a SIPP or workplace pension — tax-free within the wrapper
- UK gilts / government bonds — zero CGT
- Personal possessions under £6,000 — furniture, personal items; above that they become chargeable
- Spousal transfers — no-gain-no-loss basis; the receiving spouse inherits the original cost for future CGT purposes
- Gifts to UK charities — no CGT on the disposal; donor may also claim Gift Aid
- Prize winnings — lottery, premium bonds, betting (different tax treatment entirely)
Worked example — £25,000 shares gain
You sold shares for £75,000 that you bought for £50,000. Salary £35,000. No allowable costs.
| Step | Value |
|---|---|
| Sale price | £75,000 |
| Purchase price | £50,000 |
| Gain | £25,000 |
| Annual Exempt Amount | −£3,000 |
| Taxable gain | £22,000 |
| Basic band remaining (£50,270 − £12,570 PA − £22,430 taxable income) | £15,270 |
| At 18% (basic band) | £15,270 → £2,748.60 |
| At 24% (higher band) | £6,730 → £1,615.20 |
| Total CGT | £4,363.80 |
Effective rate: 17.5% on the total gain. You keep £20,636.20. Strategies to reduce this: Bed & ISA (sell in General Investment Account and rebuy in ISA to shelter future gains), spouse transfer to use both AEA allowances, pension contributions to drop into basic rate band. See our full CGT guide.
Do I pay CGT if I sell my main home?
Usually no. Private Residence Relief (PRR) exempts your main home from CGT for the period you lived in it as your main residence. The final 9 months are also covered by default. If you lived in the property for the entire ownership period, CGT is zero. If you only lived there for part of the time (e.g. moved out and rented it), the proportion of the gain relating to the non-residence period may be chargeable.
How much CGT do I pay on £10,000 of shares gain?
It depends on your income. With a £35,000 salary: £10,000 - £3,000 AEA = £7,000 taxable. You likely have ~£15,270 basic band remaining, so the full £7,000 falls at 18% = £1,260 CGT. With a higher-rate salary (over £50,270), the full £7,000 at 24% = £1,680 CGT. Use the calculator above with your exact figures.
Can I offset capital losses against gains?
Yes. You can offset losses against gains in the same year. If losses exceed gains, you can carry the excess forward up to 4 years. Losses must be reported to HMRC to be claimable - via Self Assessment or a letter. Without reporting, you forfeit the right to offset. Losses inside an ISA or SIPP are NOT offsettable against outside gains (wrappers are separate tax universes).
Do I have to report CGT if it is below £3,000?
If your total gains are below £3,000, you do not need to file a CGT return - the AEA covers it entirely. However, if your disposal proceeds (total sale value, not gain) exceed £50,000 in a tax year, you must still report the disposal even if no CGT is due. For property specifically, the 60-day rule requires filing even if within AEA.
What's the CGT rate on crypto in 2026/27?
Same as other chargeable assets: 18% for basic rate taxpayers, 24% for higher/additional rate. HMRC treats crypto as property for CGT purposes since 2019. Each transaction (sale, trade to another crypto, use to buy something) is a disposal. Keep detailed records of each transaction - the calculation can be complex due to HMRC pooling rules.
Can my spouse and I combine our CGT allowances?
Yes, via transfer before disposal. Transfer an asset to your spouse/civil partner (no-gain-no-loss basis - no CGT on the transfer itself). Each of you then has your own £3,000 AEA, effectively giving the household £6,000 tax-free per year. After the transfer, each spouse can sell their portion in different tax years to spread AEA use further.
