Selling a business, second home, or high-value portfolio should be a milestone, not a tax headache. Our approach identifies tax traps before they happen, using every available relief to simplify HMRC compliance and protect your assets.
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CGT is the tax you pay on the profit when you sell an asset that has increased in value. It is the appreciation that is taxed, not the total amount you receive.
You are typically liable for CGT when you dispose of ‘chargeable assets’, which include:
Proactive tax planning is essential for anyone holding significant assets outside of tax-sheltered accounts. It is typically suitable for those who:
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Read Imogen’s case studyWhile the tax reliefs are generous, we never let the ‘tax tail wag the investment dog’. We view SEIS as a sophisticated satellite component of a broader financial plan, not a standalone gamble.
We maximise your (and your spouse’s) tax-free annual exemption and utilise tax-free transfers of assets. This ensures you are making full use of all available family allowances.
We use ‘Bed & ISA’ and ‘Bed & SIPP’ maneuvers to realise gains or crystallise losses within tax-efficient environments. For assets of negligible value, we make formal claims to reduce your current year’s gains.
We use EIS and SEIS to defer or reduce CGT, with SEIS offering a permanent 50% exemption on reinvested gains. These are implemented only if you are comfortable with the specific risks and three-year holding periods.
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Ask a questionFor the 2025 to 2026 tax year the allowance is £3,000, which leaves your Taxable Gain minus £3,000 to pay tax on. This tax is charged at 18% for basic rate taxpayers.
If you inherit a property in the UK, CGT will only be payable if you decide to sell it and make a profit from the sale. It will be payable on any amount over the value of the property at the time you inherited it. Allowable deductions may still apply. Always speak with a Chartered Financial Planner about the opportunities and risks.
Yes. Following the 2024 Autumn Budget, the tax-free allowance was reduced to £3,000 (effective from April 2024) and has remained at that level for the 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 tax years. Additionally, the main rates of CGT were increased in October 2024 to bring them in line with residential property rates.
No – CGT is paid only on the profit made on the sale of a capital asset, while Income Tax is paid on earned income.
The amount of Capital Gains Tax you pay depends on your total taxable income and the type of asset.
For basic rate taxpayers: CGT is now charged at 18% on most assets (including shares and property).
For higher or additional rate taxpayers: The rate is 24% for all chargeable assets, including residential property.
Business Reliefs: If you qualify for Business Asset Disposal Relief, the rate is 14% for the 2025/2026 tax year, rising to 18% from 6 April 2026.
To reduce your Capital Gains Tax bill, your financial planner may use several tax-efficiency options.
For instance, you may make use of your CGT allowance, give funds and assets to your spouse or civil partner, deduct your costs and losses, use your ISA allowance, donate to charity, use carryforward allowances, and more.
You pay Capital Gains Tax on the profit gained when you dispose of assets. It is important to remember that the gain is taxed, not the amount you receive – this means the increase in value is taxed.
When you sell or ‘dispose’ of an asset that has increased in value. CGT is paid on the increase in value, not the amount you receive.
You usually do not pay Capital Gains Tax when you sell your main (or only) home. This is a result of private residence relief.
You do pay CGT, however, if you are selling a buy-to-let property or second home.
There are a number of checks to ensure you minimise CGT coming up to the tax year end:
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