CGT Calculator Page FAQs

Question 1

What is the capital gains tax calculator?

Accepted Answer

Our free UK CGT calculator helps you estimate the Capital Gains Tax you may owe based on your gain and taxable income. It applies HMRC's annual exempt amount, splits the gain across the basic and higher CGT rate bands using your salary, and works for crypto, shares and property disposals.

Question 2

What is capital gains tax (CGT)?

Accepted Answer

Capital Gains Tax is a tax on the profit (or gain) you make when you sell or dispose of an asset, such as property, shares, or cryptocurrency. You only pay CGT on the profit above your annual tax-free allowance. Take a look at our blog about capital gains tax on crypto for more information.

Question 3

How is capital gains tax calculated?

Accepted Answer

Capital gains tax is calculated by taking the selling price of the asset, subtracting the purchase price, and then accounting for any allowable costs or reliefs. The resulting profit is your capital gain. You can use our crypto tax calculator tool to work out the gain on a cryptocurrency trade.

Question 4

What is the annual tax-free allowance for capital gains tax in the UK?

Accepted Answer

The annual CGT exempt amount in the UK is £3,000 for the 2026/27 tax year (unchanged since 2024/25, down from £6,000 in 2023/24 and £12,300 before that). You only pay CGT on total gains above that allowance, and unused allowance can't be carried forward to the next year. See our UK tax rates article for more detail.

Question 5

What assets are subject to capital gains tax in the UK?

Accepted Answer

Capital gains tax applies to various assets, including property (like second homes and rental properties), stocks and shares, cryptoassets and valuable items such as antiques and collectibles. Always refer to HMRC guidelines or consult a tax professional for specific situations.

Question 6

Do I have to pay capital gains tax on cryptocurrency?

Accepted Answer

Yes, cryptocurrency is treated as an asset for tax purposes in the UK. If you sell or dispose of crypto and make a gain above the annual exempt amount, you may be liable to pay capital gains tax. Check out our UK crypto tax guide to find out how HMRC tax rules apply.

Question 7

When do I need to report capital gains tax?

Accepted Answer

You need to report and pay any capital gains tax owed by January 31 following the end of the tax year in which you made the gain. This is typically done through your Self Assessment tax return.

Question 8

Are there any reliefs available to reduce capital gains tax?

Accepted Answer

Yes, there are several reliefs for capital gains; each has specific conditions, so it’s essential to check if you qualify.

Question 9

Can losses be used to offset capital gains?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can offset capital gains with capital losses in the same tax year, which can help reduce your overall tax liability. If your losses exceed your gains, you can carry forward the unused losses to future tax years without any limit, but you must claim them within four years of the loss year. Note, you cannot roll forward your annual exemption allowance.

Question 10

What are the UK Capital Gains Tax rates for 2026/27?

Accepted Answer

For the 2026/27 tax year, UK Capital Gains Tax is charged at 18% on gains that fall within your basic-rate income band and 24% on gains in the higher-rate band. The same 18%/24% structure applies to crypto, shares and most non-residential property disposals after the 30 October 2024 Budget changes. Use the calculator above to see how the rates apply to your specific gain and salary.

Question 11

Is this CGT calculator free to use?

Accepted Answer

Yes — the Recap CGT calculator is completely free, requires no signup, and stores nothing about your inputs (the calculation runs in your browser). It's built and maintained by Recap, the UK's privacy-focused crypto tax software, and updated each tax year for the latest HMRC rates and allowances.

Question 12

How much capital gains tax do I pay on shares in the UK?

Accepted Answer

Gains on shares are taxed at 18% where they fall within your basic-rate income band and 24% in the higher-rate band for 2026/27 — the same rates that apply to crypto. You only pay on gains above your annual exempt amount, and losses on other disposals in the same tax year can be offset against them. Enter your gain and salary in the calculator above to see how the split across the two bands affects you.

Question 13

Do I pay capital gains tax when I sell a second home?

Accepted Answer

Usually yes. Your main home is normally covered by Private Residence Relief, but a second home or buy-to-let property is subject to Capital Gains Tax on any gain above your annual exempt amount. Residential property also has a much tighter reporting deadline than shares or crypto — see the next question.

Question 14

How do I report capital gains tax to HMRC?

Accepted Answer

For most assets, including shares and crypto, you report gains on your Self Assessment tax return and pay by 31 January following the end of the tax year in which you made the disposal. UK residential property is the exception: you must report and pay within 60 days of completion using an HMRC UK Property Account, separately from Self Assessment.

Question 15

Does the bed and breakfast rule apply to shares?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The 30-day ‘bed and breakfast’ rule was originally written for shares and applies to them as well as to crypto. If you dispose of an asset and reacquire the same one within 30 days, the disposal is matched against that repurchase rather than your Section 104 pool, which can change the taxable gain significantly. Our guide to HMRC’s bed and breakfast rule explains the full matching order.

Question 16

Do I pay capital gains tax on shares held in an ISA?

Accepted Answer

No. Shares and funds held inside a Stocks and Shares ISA are free from Capital Gains Tax, and you do not need to report them on your Self Assessment return. CGT only applies to shares held outside a tax-free wrapper such as an ISA or a pension.

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