Capital gains tax changes

A summary of the key changes, including new rates from October 2024, April 2025 and April 2026

Guide to... capital gains tax for individuals, sole traders and partnerships

Personal and business capital gains are treated differently, depending on whether you are self-employed (as a sole trader or in a partnership) or trade as a limited company

Ten common tax elections and claims

We look at some of the more common elections and claims that are useful tax planning or compliance tools

Budget 2020

ACCA has a host of webinars and support available to help you and your practice understand Budget 2020

Frequently asked questions on residential buy to let property

Our handy guide will keep you informed on BTL taxation rules

Maximising entrepreneurs’ relief for directors and shareholders

How to maximise entrepreneurs’ relief and reduce your tax bill when establishing a personal company

Part disposal of land and capital gains tax

An overview with examples together with consideration of when an s242 can apply

Changes to the capital gains tax on disposals of UK land and property

Be aware of CGT when disposing of land and property

Could your client be due an SDLT surcharge refund?

A recent tribunal case could open up challenges over other SDLT bills

Tricks and traps of associated disposals

Examining the application of entrepreneurs’ relief to associated disposals

Update on entrepreneurs' relief charges

Alphabet shareholders may benefit from new amendments to the Finance Act

Capital gains and chattels

A refresher on CGT and chattels

CGT loss relief when a taxpayer dies

What to consider when it comes to CGT losses, including worked example

Rollover relief

A 60-second refresher and worked examples

Tax changes affecting buy-to-let properties

Tax changes for holding a rental property as an individual, or in a limited company, will need to be carefully considered by landlords

Finance Bill 2016: Company Distributions Consultation (Comments from ACCA to HMRC)

ACCA is concerned that changes proposed under Finance Bill 2016 could have undesirable consequences on entrepreneurial companies

Tax penalty regime, mitigation, suspension and current developments

HMRC is examining its tax penalty regime. Learn how and have your say.

Finance Bill 2015

A summary of the key provisions included in the Finance Bill 2015 and measures that have an immediate effect.

Double taxation

This page brings together information on double tax treaties in force, along with details of recent changes.

What is FATCA?

FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) is an American provision enacted in March 2010 and aimed at foreign financial institutions. It is part of a larger piece of legislation: Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act, designed to ensure that American citizens are fully disclosing their worldwide income to the US Internal Revenue Service.

Clamping down on tax avoidance

The Finance Act 2014 contains a number of measures to minimise tax avoidance.

Tax return white space

The tax return white space is the innocuous looking ‘any other information’ space at box 19 of the main SA100 tax return. It is more important than it looks, as the case of Charlton and Others v HMRC illustrates.

Accrued income scheme

Understanding the accrued income scheme.

Ten common tax elections and claims

How to make claims under common tax elections.

Changes to rollover relief on incorporation from 3 December 2014

Until recently, it has been common for an individual incorporating his business to revalue the goodwill and hold over the relief. Finance Bill 2015 sets out to alter this.

Self-assessment tax return – HMRC useful links.

A list of most relevant HMRC links that includes:How to fill in your tax return, residence, remittance basis etc. notes,Capital gains summary notes, UK property notes, Additional information notes, and many more

Changes to private residence nomination rules.

Finance Bill 2015 will introduce changes in the rules on the nomination of an individual's private residence; the practice commonly known as "flipping".

Tax inquiry closure: HMRC consultation

HMRC consultation Tax enquiries: closure rules proposes a change from the current joint taxpayer/HMRC referral to first tier tribunal by allowing HMRC a right of sole referral.

Draft Finance Bill 2015 published

The government has published the draft 2015 Finance Bill.

Autumn statement highlights

A collection of snippets from the Autumn Statement.

Share matching rules

This worked example looks at the share identification rules that should be followed when there is a disposal of shares in a company, for capital gains tax purposes.

Offshore tax evasion

The government continues its crackdown on those seeking to illegally evade their UK tax liability by using offshore tax shelters.

HMRC withdraws concession on remittance basis

In August changes took effect around how money brought into the UK or used in the UK under a loan facility secured by foreign income or gains is treated.

Jointly owned property and form 17

Guidance on how and when to use form 17 with regards to jointly owned property.

Tax Evasion and Avoidance

Three new consultations have been launched on the subject of tax evasion.

Consultation: Tackling offshore tax evasion

HMRC's Offshore Evasion and Strategy Team has initiated its first consultation documents on tackling offshore tax evasion, which are open for comment until 31 October 2014.

Reasonable excuse

Generally, a 'reasonable excuse' is when some unforeseeable or unusual event beyond somebody's control has prevented that person from filing the return on time. For example: a failure in the HMRC computer system,a serious illness, disability or serious mental health condition has made the taxpayer incapable of filing the tax return etc.

Capital gains tax on property held by non-UK residents

The UK government issued a consultation document in March 2014 on implementing a capital gains tax charge on gains made on UK residential property disposals by non-residents. The charge is expected to take effect from April 2015.

Social investment tax relief

Following a consultation last year, Finance Act 2014 introduces a new form of tax relief onto the statute books, called social investment tax relief.

HMRC’s alternative dispute resolution

HMRC's Alternative Dispute Resolution Service has now been made nationwide and permanent and offers a simpler way of resolving tax disputes.

All change for NNPs and high-value residential property

Taxation of high-value residential property held by non-natural persons extends to properties between £500,000 and £2m.

Budget 2014 and capital gains tax

The main CGT changes arising from the Budget 2014.

Farmers: capital gains tax roll-over relief

New EU legislation was implemented in December 2013 to introduce a new agricultural subsidy, the Basic Payment Scheme.

Venture capital trusts: anti-avoidance

New legislation around VCTs will counter particular forms of share buy-back arrangements.

Residence, domicile and the remittance basis

As business becomes ever more global and the workforce more mobile, accountants will often need to consider issues such as residence, domicile and the remittance basis: issues that would have been much rarer just a generation ago.

Compensation and damages 

HMRC have introduced changes to Extra Statutory Concession D33 (Capital Gains Tax on compensation and damages).

Private residence relief - Reduction of relief

The final period of private residence relief will be reduced from 6 April 2014.

Trading losses and how to utilise them

A review of how trading losses may be utilised for tax purposes.

Capital gains tax on property leases

[29/10/2013] The income and capital gains tax treatment for property leases can be complex and it is worth while considering the basic rules.

Applying capital gains tax in divorce cases

[12/09/2013] Divorce often results in the transfer of assets between spouses. Understand how and when CGT applies.

Disincorporation relief

[12/09/2013] Disincorporation Relief is available to small businesses looking to convert from being a corporation subject to the regulations of the Companies Acts to the flexibility of being unincorporated.

Withholding tax rates

Maximum rates of tax those countries with a Double Taxation Agreement with the UK can charge a UK resident on payments of dividends, interest, royalties and management/technical fees.

HMRC campaign targets tax return catch-ups

HMRC has launched its latest campaign entitled 'My Tax Return Catch-Up'

Remittance basis 2011-12: HMRC exercise

HMRC announce an "educational exercise" aimed at taxpayers taxed on the remittance basis due to a perceived lack of understanding of what constitutes a remittance.

Seed enterprise investment scheme - HMRC guidance

Several changes to the SEIS were announced in this year’s Budget.

Disclosure facilities and campaigns

A summary of the current HMRC campaigns and disclosure facilities that are currently running

Statutory Residence Test: Overview of the legislative changes

ACCA UK have produces a series of articles on residence and domicile, following the introduction of the statutory residence test from 6 April 2013.

Temporary periods of non-residence

ACCA UK have produces a series of articles on residence and domicile, following the introduction of the statutory residence test from 6 April 2013.

Residence and Domicile

Visit our dedicated section on Residence and Domicile following the introduction of the statutory residence test with effect from 6 April 2013.

General anti-abuse rule

After much speculation a general anti-avoidance rule – the General Anti-Abuse Rule (GAAR) – has emerged within the Finance Bill 2013

HMRC Isle of Man disclosure facility

Details of the recently agreed Isle of Man disclosure facility

Capital gains tax and property: common pitfalls

To coincide with the launch of HMRC's property sales campaign, we take a look at capital gains tax and property.

Changes to the taxation of UK property

A round-up of recent changes to the taxation of UK property.

Property sales campaign

HMRC campaign looking into the sale of property

Special relief (formerly equitable liability)

Understand the concept of ‘special relief’, formerly known as ‘equitable liability’.

Shares of negligible value

HMRC provides a list of shares or securities formerly quoted on the London Stock Exchange, which have been officially declared of negligible value for the purposes of a claim under S24(2) Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 by the Shares and Assets Valuation Office.

Rupert Kimber v HMRC

Resumption of UK residence in the UK; Capital gains tax - whether the Appellant was resident in the UK when a particular disposal of shares was made.

Mr J R Hanson v The Commissioners of HMRC

The First Tier Tribunal case overturned a penalty for a "careless error" where the accountant was blamed.

Reasonable excuse - September 2012 update

An update on some recent reasonable excuse tribunal cases.

Proposed changes to ESC A19

Following a tribunal decision, HMRC issued a consultation on the removal of taxpayer protection from ESC A19.

Michael J Harte and Brenda A Harte v HMRC

This case was based on whether a property was eligible for main residence relief during a very short period of occupancy.

Anthony Metcalfe v RCC

Private residence relief; multiple properties; house that taxpayer claimed for was not connected to the electricity supply.

Malcolm Springthorpe tax case

This case was based on whether a property was eligible for main residence relief during a short period of occupancy while it was being refurbished.

HMRC pilot to improve post response times

HMRC pilots a "signpost" scheme in an attempt to improve response times for incoming mail.

Purchasing a company from an unconnected party

A look at the considerations in buying a company from an unconnected party.

EIS/SEIS - Advance Assurance Application

Details on obtaining advance qualification assurance for investments under the EIS and SEIS schemes.

HMRC toolkits

The Expenses and Benefits from Employment Toolkit and the National Insurance Contributions and Statutory Payments Toolkit have been updated and can be used for 2011/12 tax returns. Access the HMRC toolkits via the link on this page.

Small Business Tax Dispute Service

HMRC have announced an extension to its Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Scheme, following a successful initial trial period. The essence of the scheme is to offer an is for an "independent HMRC facilitator" to offer a mediation-based approach to resolving a tax disputes which arise during the course of a compliance check, before an assessment or appealable decision is issued. Its aim is to reach a quick and fair conclusion the dispute and to avoid the need for either party to take the case to Tax Tribunal.

HMRC Agent Account Managers

If HMRC's normal communication channels have left you frustrated and still needing an answer, the Agent Account Manager service may help.

HMRC's Litigation and Settlement Strategy (LSS)

Details of HMRC's litigation and settlement strategy (LSS), which is their internal guidance to staff on dealing with tax disputes.

Saying Goodbye to ESC C16

From 1 March statutory instrument 2012 number 266 The enactment of extra-statutory concessions order 2012 comes into force. On the same date extra statutory concession (ESC) C16 is effectively withdrawn.

Seed enterprise investment scheme (SEIS))

Draft guidance has been made available that is intended to apply from 6 April regarding the transfers of pension savings to qualifying recognised overseas pension schemes (QROPS).

HMRC Clearances and Approvals

Details of business and non-business clearance procedures.

Capital gains tax from 2010/11

A summary of the capital gains tax rates applicable for 2010/11 and 2011/12 with some practical tips.

Enterprise investment scheme (EIS)

Comprehensive guidance on the EIS scheme.

Furnished holiday lettings changes from April 2011 and 2012

A review of the FHL regime together with details of changes from April 2011 and April 2012.

Bona Vacantia Guidelines Withdrawn

Ensure you are familiar with the latest practices on how to distribute companies on winding up.

Substantial shareholdings

Guidance on defining groups and trading groups.

Penalties - offshore income and gains

Brief 14/11 explains the higher level of penalties in respect of undeclared offshore income and gains.

Simplification review: capital gains rules for groups of companies

Comments from ACCA to the Office of Tax Simplification, June 2012.

Guidance from HMRC on record-keeping

HMRC has issued guidance on record-keeping in light of the requirements under Finance Act 2008, Schedule 37.

Goodwill on incorporation

The Finance Act 2002 changed the treatment of goodwill amortised by companies. It does not apply to goodwill acquired prior to 1 April 2002 which continues to be treated within the capital gains regime, neither does it apply to internally-generated goodwill.

Income Tax self-assessment payments on account

An overview of payments on account.

Non-resident trustees

Non-resident trustees - Capital Gains Tax rebasing election.

Capital Gains Tax and partnerships

The treatment of partnerships in relation to capital gains tax has changed.

Cir v Scottish & Newcastle Breweries Ltd

This case tested whether an expense can be classed as plant and qualify for capital allowances.

Goodwin v Curtis

This case looked at the principle of Private Residence relief, short occupation and the intention to occupy as a main residence.

Technical factsheet 129 - Settlement Provisions and Disclosure Issues - A Guidance Note on Disclosure for Self Assessment for the Year Ended 5 April 2005

Settlement Provisions and Disclosure Issues - A Guidance Note on Disclosure for Self Assessment for the Year Ended 5 April 2005