Understanding Capital Gains Tax (CGT)

Expert Advice on Selling Assets, Paying Less Tax, and Planning Ahead

With tax rules tightening and allowances falling, CGT is becoming one of the most important considerations in personal and property tax planning. Whether you're selling shares, disposing of a second property, transferring business assets, or simply reorganising your portfolio, getting the right advice before a transaction can significantly reduce your tax bill.

What Is Capital Gains Tax?

Capital Gains Tax is a tax on the profit you make when you sell or give away certain types of assets. This includes:

Buy-to-let or second homes
Stocks and shares (outside of ISAs or pensions)
Business assets
Valuable personal possessions (worth over £6,000, such as art or antiques)

You don’t usually pay CGT on your main residence, but there are exceptions, particularly if you’ve let out part of the home or used it for business purposes.

Current CGT Rates and Allowances (As of 2024/25)

Recent changes to CGT have significantly reduced the tax-free allowances available, bringing more people into scope:

The annual CGT exemption is now just £3,000 per individual (down from £12,300 in 2022/23).
For higher-rate taxpayers, gains on property are taxed at 24%, and gains on other assets at 20%.
For basic-rate taxpayers, CGT applies at 10% or 18%, depending on the asset and total income level.

These lower allowances mean even relatively modest gains from property, shares, or business sales can trigger a tax liability, making professional advice more important than ever.

Example: Selling a buy-to-let property with a £100,000 gain could result in a CGT bill of £24,000 if you're a higher-rate taxpayer, even after deducting basic costs.

Capital Gains Tax for Landlords & Property Owners

One of the most common triggers for CGT is the sale of a rental property or second home. Our specialist landlord tax team helps clients structure their portfolio efficiently, time disposals for maximum tax savings, and claim all available reliefs.

We advise on:

Private Residence Relief (PRR)
Lettings Relief (where applicable)
Joint ownership and spousal transfers
Offset of costs (such as stamp duty, legal fees, and improvement works)
Timing sales across tax years to maximise allowance

CGT and Business Owners

If you’re selling or exiting a business, CGT may apply to shares, goodwill, or other company assets. In some cases, Business Asset Disposal Relief (formerly Entrepreneurs’ Relief) may reduce the CGT rate to just 10% on qualifying gains, up to a lifetime limit of £1 million.

At P10 Financial, we provide tax planning and structuring advice for:

Company directors selling shares
Sole traders and partnerships winding down
Family business succession planning
EMI share schemes and start-up exits

How to Reduce Your Capital Gains Tax Bill

Smart planning can often reduce or even eliminate CGT altogether. Here’s how our accountants can help:

Timing disposals to make use of allowances
Splitting assets with a spouse or civil partner
Transferring assets to children or trusts (in a tax-efficient way)
Offsetting losses from other asset disposals
Using pensions or ISAs to shelter gains
Reinvesting through SEIS/EIS or rollover relief, where eligible

Reporting Capital Gains

Most CGT events must now be reported and paid much faster than in the past. For residential property, the tax must usually be reported within 60 days of completion using HMRC’s online system. For other assets, CGT is typically included in your self-assessment tax return.

Our accountants ensure:

All calculations are accurate and fully compliant
Reliefs and costs are maximised
Deadlines are met to avoid penalties
HMRC reporting is handled on your behalf

Why Choose P10 Financial for Capital Gains Tax Advice?

We bring technical knowledge, proactive planning, and personal service to every client. Whether you're selling a rental flat in London, offloading shares, or preparing for a major liquidity event, we ensure you understand the tax consequences, and how to manage them.

Our CGT expertise covers: