Capital Gains Tax Calculator – Free Tool for Shares, Property & Crypto
Selling shares, a second home, or cryptocurrency can trigger a tax bill that many people do not see coming. Understanding how capital gains tax (CGT) works in the UK for the 2024/25 tax year is essential for anyone disposing of assets above the tax-free allowance. This guide explains the current rates, the £3,000 annual exempt amount, and how to calculate what you might owe across shares, property, and crypto — with practical steps for reporting to HMRC.
Capital gains tax is not a single fixed rate. It depends on the type of asset you sell, your income tax band, and whether the disposal happened before or after 30 October 2024. For most assets sold after that date, the rate is 18% for basic-rate taxpayers and 24% for higher-rate taxpayers. Residential property (other than your main home) follows the same structure. The annual exempt amount has fallen sharply from £6,000 to just £3,000, meaning far more investors now face a tax liability.
Scottish taxpayers use the same UK-wide CGT rates as everyone else, though Scotland’s different income tax bands affect which rate applies. This article draws on HMRC guidance, LITRG analysis, and official calculator tools to give you a clear, fact-based picture of CGT in 2024/25.
How to Calculate Capital Gains Tax in the UK: A Step-by-Step Guide
What Is Capital Gains Tax?
A tax on the profit (gain) you make when you sell or dispose of an asset that has increased in value. It applies to shares, property, crypto, business assets, and other chargeable assets.
Key 2024/25 Allowance
The tax-free Annual Exempt Amount is £3,000 for individuals — down from £6,000 the previous year. Trusts generally have a £1,500 allowance.
Main 2024/25 Rates
Most assets: 18% (basic-rate band) / 24% (higher-rate band). Residential property follows the same 18%/24% structure after 30 October 2024.
Quick Access
Interactive calculators from providers such as Hargreaves Lansdown, Aviva, and Your Company Formations can help estimate your liability across shares, property, and crypto.
Key Insights for 2024/25
- The CGT annual exempt amount halved from £6,000 to £3,000 in 2024/25, meaning significantly more investors will be liable.
- Property gains are taxed at higher rates (18% basic / 24% higher) and must be reported within 60 days of completion.
- Cryptocurrency is treated as a chargeable asset by HMRC; each disposal (sale, trade, spend) triggers a CGT event.
- Scottish taxpayers use UK CGT rates, but their income tax bands differ, which affects which CGT rate applies.
- Losses can be carried forward to offset future gains but must be reported within four years.
- The basic-rate band for CGT is determined by rest-of-UK thresholds (up to £50,270 total taxable income and gains), not Scottish income tax bands.
- The annual exempt amount cannot be carried forward or back if unused in a given tax year.
2024/25 CGT Snapshot: Key Facts
| Summary | 2024/25 Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual exempt amount | £3,000 | Down from £6,000 in 2023/24 |
| Basic rate (most assets) | 18% | Applies if total taxable income + gains below £50,270 |
| Higher rate (most assets) | 24% | |
| Basic rate (property) | 18% | Carried interest also taxed at this rate |
| Higher rate (property) | 24% | Reduced from 28% in 2024/25 |
| Property reporting deadline | 60 days after completion | For disposals from 6 April 2020 |
| Crypto reporting | On self-assessment annual return | Unless below allowance |
| Scotland rates | Same UK rates | Income tax bands differ and affect threshold |
Capital Gains Tax on Shares: Calculator and Allowances for 2024/25
Shares, ETFs, funds, and other investment holdings are chargeable assets for CGT purposes. When you sell or dispose of them, any gain above the £3,000 allowance is taxed at 18% or 24%, depending on your income band. The calculation follows a straightforward four-step process: sale proceeds minus allowable cost and expenses gives the gain; deduct any capital losses to reach the net gain; subtract the £3,000 annual exempt amount; then apply the appropriate rate.
Start with the sale proceeds, deduct the original cost (including any broker fees or stamp duty), and subtract allowable losses. If the result is below £3,000, no tax is due. Above that threshold, the balance is taxed at 18% or 24% depending on whether your total taxable income and gains stay within the basic-rate band (up to £50,270). Hargreaves Lansdown’s CGT calculator provides a practical estimate. Gains from shares and investments are normally reported on your Self Assessment tax return, with payment due by 31 January after the tax year ends.
How to Calculate CGT on ETFs and Funds
Exchange-traded funds and unit trusts are treated the same as individual shares. Each sale or switching transaction is a disposal. The gain is calculated per trade, and you must track the pooled acquisition cost for each holding. Many investors use the “section 104” pooling rules to determine the average cost base, which is required by HMRC when calculating gains on shares and funds held over multiple purchases.
Short-Term vs Long-Term: Is There a Difference in the UK?
Unlike some countries, the UK does not have separate short-term and long-term CGT rates. The rate you pay depends solely on your income tax band and the type of asset, not how long you held it. Holding period may affect whether private residence relief applies to property, but for shares and investments, the holding duration has no direct impact on the CGT rate.
Capital Gains Tax on Property: Selling Buy-to-Let, Inheritance, and Main Home
Property gains are subject to the same 18%/24% rate structure after 30 October 2024, but the reporting rules are stricter than for other assets. If you sell a residential property that is not your main home, you must report and pay any CGT to HMRC within 60 days of completion. This applies to buy-to-let properties, inherited properties that you sell, and second homes.
How to Calculate CGT on Buy-to-Let and Inherited Property
The gain is the sale price minus the original purchase price (or probate value for inherited property), minus allowable improvement costs and selling expenses. The £3,000 annual exempt amount is then deducted from the net gain, and the remaining taxable gain is charged at 18% or 24%. For jointly owned properties, each owner calculates tax on their share of the gain. HMRC’s property reporting service must be used within 60 days of completion for UK residents.
Your primary home is normally covered by private residence relief and is exempt from CGT. This relief does not apply to buy-to-let properties, second homes, or properties that have never been your main residence. If you have used part of your home for business or let out a portion, some of the gain may be taxable. Technical guidance on property CGT explains the distinction in more detail.
Can You Avoid CGT on Property Using Principal Private Residence Relief?
Private residence relief (PPR) applies to the home you live in as your main residence. If you sell your main home, the gain is generally tax-free. However, the relief does not cover periods when the property was not your main residence, such as when it was rented out, unless certain conditions apply. The final nine months of ownership are always treated as deemed occupation, allowing a full exemption for that period regardless of where you lived.
Capital Gains Tax on Cryptocurrency: How to Calculate and Report
HMRC treats cryptoassets as chargeable assets for capital gains tax purposes. Every disposal — selling crypto for fiat, trading one token for another, using crypto to pay for goods or services — is a CGT event. The same calculation applies: gain minus allowable costs and losses, minus the £3,000 allowance, then taxed at 18% or 24%. HMRC’s cryptoassets manual confirms this treatment and sets out the record-keeping requirements.
Crypto investors must track the cost basis of each token pool, including fees and transaction costs. Many use specialist software or CGT calculators to handle the complex pooling rules (same-day, bed-and-breakfast, section 104). Losses from crypto trades can offset gains from other assets, but must be reported within four years. HMRC does not provide a dedicated crypto calculator, so third-party tools or general CGT calculators are commonly used.
How to Use a Crypto CGT Calculator
General UK CGT calculators — such as those from Your Company Formations or Aviva — can be used for crypto by entering the total gain figure. However, because crypto trades generate many separate disposals, investors typically need a dedicated crypto tax tool to calculate the aggregate gain first. The £3,000 allowance and the 18%/24% rate structure apply in exactly the same way as for shares.
Capital Gains Tax Changes in the UK: Key Dates
- — Annual exempt amount reduced from £6,000 to £3,000 for individuals.
- — Property higher rate reduced from 28% to 24%, aligning with the general rate structure.
- — Post-30 October 2024 rate structure confirmed: most assets taxed at 18%/24%.
- — Further reduction of exempt amount to £1,500 is expected, though not yet confirmed as law.
- — Potential alignment of CGT rates with income tax rates remains speculative and has been discussed by various commentators.
What Is Certain and What Remains Unclear About UK Capital Gains Tax?
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Current 2024/25 rates and allowances are confirmed by HMRC. | The future of the annual exempt amount beyond 2025/26 (government signals but not yet law). |
| Property gains must be reported within 60 days of completion. | Whether CGT rates will increase in the next budget. |
| Cryptocurrency is subject to CGT as a chargeable asset. | How HMRC will treat NFTs and DeFi transactions in practice. |
Why Has the Capital Gains Tax Regime Become More Complex?
The CGT regime has become more complex as allowances have fallen sharply. With the annual exempt amount dropping from £6,000 to £3,000 in just one year, many more taxpayers are now drawn into the reporting system. Property investors face a dual burden: higher rates and a strict 60-day reporting window. Crypto investors often underestimate the record-keeping required, and many turn to specialist tools to stay compliant. Scotland’s divergence in income tax bands adds another layer of complexity for Scottish residents, who must use rest-of-UK thresholds to determine their CGT rate even though their earnings are taxed differently.
What Do Official Sources Say About Capital Gains Tax?
“You may have to pay Capital Gains Tax if you make a profit (gain) when you sell (or ‘dispose of’) something (an asset) that has increased in value.”
“If you sell a property that is not your home, you must report and pay any Capital Gains Tax within 60 days of completing the sale.”
“Cryptoassets are chargeable assets for Capital Gains Tax purposes.”
What Should You Do Next With Your Capital Gains Tax Planning?
Check the latest budget announcements for any CGT rate or allowance changes, use a real-time calculator to estimate your liability before year-end, consider tax-loss harvesting or using ISA and SIPP wrappers to shelter gains, and set aside funds for any potential tax bill if gains exceed the £3,000 allowance. For a broader look at UK tax tools, see also the Tax Free Childcare Calculator and coverage of the NS&I British Savings Bonds Relaunch.
Frequently Asked Questions About Capital Gains Tax
What happens if I exceed the capital gains tax allowance?
You must report the gain to HMRC via self-assessment (or property reporting service) and pay the tax due at your applicable rate.
Can I use losses to reduce my capital gains tax?
Yes. You can offset losses against gains in the same year or carry them forward to future years. Losses must be reported to HMRC.
Is there a capital gains tax calculator for Scotland?
Yes, general UK CGT calculators can be used, but you must correctly identify your Scottish income tax band as it affects the CGT rate applied.
Do I pay capital gains tax on gifts to family?
Gifting an asset is a disposal for CGT purposes unless it qualifies for hold-over relief (e.g., business assets).
How long do I have to pay capital gains tax after selling?
For assets reported on self-assessment, payment is due by 31 January after the tax year. For property, payment is due within 60 days of completion.
What is the annual exempt amount for trusts?
Most trusts have a £1,500 annual exempt amount for the 2024/25 tax year.
Do I pay CGT on my main home?
No. Your main home is normally covered by private residence relief and is exempt from CGT.
Can I carry forward unused CGT allowance?
No. The annual exempt amount cannot be carried forward or back to another tax year.
What is the CGT rate for carried interest?
Carried interest is taxed at 18% (basic rate) or 24% (higher rate) under the post-30 October 2024 structure.
How are jointly owned assets treated for CGT?
HMRC says to calculate gains for your share of jointly owned assets separately.
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