Do I pay capital gains tax on shares in the UK?

Yes, if your total gains for the tax year exceed the annual exempt amount of GBP 3,000. Above that, gains on shares, ETFs and other chargeable assets are taxed at 18% to the extent they fall within your remaining basic-rate band and 24% above it, for disposals on or after 30 October 2024. Gains held inside a stocks and shares ISA or a pension are not chargeable at all. This is not tax advice.

What is the annual exempt amount?

It is the slice of total gains you can realise in a tax year without paying CGT: GBP 3,000. It applies once across all your disposals, it cannot be carried forward, and it is deducted before the 18% and 24% rates are applied.

How do the 18% and 24% rates interact with my income?

Your taxable gain is stacked on top of your income. The part that still fits inside your unused basic-rate band is taxed at 18%, and everything above the basic-rate threshold is taxed at 24%. The tool asks which band your gain falls into so you can model either case, or run it twice to see the effect of a gain that straddles the threshold.

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Capital Gains Tax Calculator 2026

Enter your purchase cost and sale proceeds to work out your UK CGT. We apply the GBP 3,000 annual exempt amount, then 18% within your basic-rate band and 24% above it. Gains inside an ISA or a pension are outside CGT entirely.

Total purchase cost (£)

Total sale proceeds (£)

Which band does the gain fall into?

Annual exempt amount still available (£)

This tool is for information and guidance only. It applies the statutory CGT treatment for individuals: the annual exempt amount of GBP 3,000, then 18% within the basic-rate band and 24% above it, for disposals on or after 30 October 2024. It ignores your wider tax position, share pooling and the 30-day rule, losses brought forward, dealing costs and stamp duty. Gains inside an ISA or a pension are not chargeable. This is not tax advice and does not replace a professional opinion. Rules can change. When in doubt, check GOV.UK or speak to a qualified adviser.

The principle: allowance first, then 18% or 24%

In the UK, a profit on a chargeable asset is not taxed pound for pound. You first deduct the annual exempt amount of GBP 3,000, which covers all your disposals in the tax year and cannot be carried forward. What remains is your taxable gain, and it is stacked on top of your income: the part that still fits inside your unused basic-rate band is taxed at 18%, and everything above the basic-rate threshold at 24%. These rates apply to disposals made on or after 30 October 2024.

Markets and firms are supervised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and tax is administered by HMRC.

Shares and ETFs

Shares held directly: CGT applies on disposal, after the annual exempt amount. Share pooling and the 30-day rule decide which cost you match against the sale, so a series of buys and sells rarely reduces to a single purchase price.

ETFs: a UK reporting-fund ETF held outside a wrapper is normally within CGT on disposal, while a non-reporting fund can produce an offshore income gain taxed as income instead. Check the fund's reporting status before you assume CGT treatment.

Wrappers change everything: gains inside a stocks and shares ISA or a pension are not chargeable to CGT and do not use up your annual exempt amount. Many international brokers do not offer an ISA, which is a real cost difference over time.

Dividends

Dividends are a separate matter from CGT. They are taxed under the dividend rules, above the dividend allowance, at rates that depend on your income tax band. Dividends received inside an ISA or pension are not taxed. Keep your annual consolidated tax certificate from your broker.

What about crypto?

HMRC treats cryptoassets held as investments as chargeable assets, so a disposal (selling, swapping one token for another, or spending it) falls within CGT at the same 18% and 24% rates after the annual exempt amount. Pooling and the 30-day rule apply here too. Crypto received from mining, staking or as payment for work is usually income rather than a capital gain.

What you need to report

Gains are reported through Self Assessment, or through the real-time Capital Gains Tax service. You generally need to report if your gains exceed the annual exempt amount, or if your total proceeds exceed GBP 50,000. Losses can be set against gains in the same year and carried forward if claimed in time. This content is for information only and is not investment or tax advice.

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Frequently asked questions

Do I pay capital gains tax on shares in the UK?: Yes, if your total gains for the tax year exceed the annual exempt amount of GBP 3,000. Above that, gains on shares, ETFs and other chargeable assets are taxed at 18% to the extent they fall within your remaining basic-rate band and 24% above it, for disposals on or after 30 October 2024. Gains held inside a stocks and shares ISA or a pension are not chargeable at all. This is not tax advice.
What is the annual exempt amount?: It is the slice of total gains you can realise in a tax year without paying CGT: GBP 3,000. It applies once across all your disposals, it cannot be carried forward, and it is deducted before the 18% and 24% rates are applied.
How do the 18% and 24% rates interact with my income?: Your taxable gain is stacked on top of your income. The part that still fits inside your unused basic-rate band is taxed at 18%, and everything above the basic-rate threshold is taxed at 24%. The tool asks which band your gain falls into so you can model either case, or run it twice to see the effect of a gain that straddles the threshold.
Is crypto taxed the same way as shares?: For most individuals, yes: HMRC treats cryptoassets held as investments as chargeable assets, so disposals fall under CGT at the same 18% and 24% rates after the annual exempt amount. Pooling rules and the 30-day rule apply, and crypto received from mining, staking or as payment can be income instead. This is not tax advice.
What do I need to report to HMRC?: Report gains through Self Assessment, or use the real-time Capital Gains Tax service. You generally need to report if your gains exceed the annual exempt amount or if your total proceeds exceed GBP 50,000. Losses can be set against gains in the same year and carried forward if claimed. Keep your broker statements and contract notes.