How Much Is the Capital Gains Tax Allowance This Year

The UK Capital Gains Tax allowance has fallen sharply in recent years, and many people are unaware of how little tax free allowance remains. This guide explains how much the allowance is this year, why it has dropped, how it affects your tax bill and in my opinion what you should do to protect yourself from paying more tax than necessary.

Capital Gains Tax applies when you sell, gift or dispose of an asset for more than you paid for it. The tax covers second homes, rental property, shares, crypto, business assets and even some valuable personal items. The annual CGT allowance acts as a tax free buffer. It gives you a certain amount of gains each year that you can realise without paying any tax. When this allowance was much higher, many small investors and landlords could avoid Capital Gains Tax entirely. Today the allowance is so low that more people than ever are being drawn into the tax net.

This article breaks down everything you need to know about the allowance, how it works, who it applies to and in my opinion why CGT planning has become essential rather than optional.

What Is the Capital Gains Tax Allowance This Year

For the current UK tax year, which runs from 6 April 2024 to 5 April 2025, the Capital Gains Tax annual exempt amount is £3,000 for individuals. This is the maximum amount of total gains you can make in the year before CGT becomes payable.

Trustees have a lower exemption of £1,500, unless the trust is specifically created for the benefit of a disabled person.

This £3,000 allowance applies across all taxable gains you make in that year. You do not get £3,000 per asset, and it does not reset each time you sell something. It is a single annual allowance.

In my opinion this allowance is now so low that many people will hit it without realising it, especially those with share portfolios, rental properties or occasional asset sales.

How the Allowance Has Changed Over Time

A few years ago, the CGT allowance was much more generous. This meant many people rarely paid CGT at all. The changes over recent years are significant.

  • In 2022 to 2023 the allowance was £12,300

  • In 2023 to 2024 it dropped to £6,000

  • In 2024 to 2025 it dropped again to £3,000

This is a 75 percent reduction in just two years.

In my opinion this is one of the biggest quiet tax rises in modern times. Reducing an allowance has the same effect as raising tax rates, because more of your gains become taxable. I expect many people to be caught off guard when they sell assets they have owned for years.

Who Gets the £3,000 CGT Allowance

The allowance applies to all UK resident individuals, including:

  • employees

  • self employed people

  • landlords

  • retirees

  • investors

  • directors

  • students

  • non workers with taxable gains

It does not matter whether your income is high or low. Everyone gets the same £3,000 exemption unless you are a trustee.

Couples each have their own allowance. This is very important for planning. A married couple or civil partners can access £6,000 combined, provided assets are structured correctly.

What Assets the Allowance Applies To

You can use the allowance against gains from:

  • second homes

  • rental properties

  • holiday lets

  • land

  • buy to let portfolios

  • crypto

  • stocks and shares

  • funds

  • ETFs

  • antiques

  • artwork

  • business disposals

  • company share sales

  • gifted assets

  • some personal possessions over £6,000

It does not apply to gains inside ISAs or pensions because they are tax free already.

How the CGT Allowance Works in Practice

To understand how the allowance applies, you need to understand two ideas:

  1. All gains in the tax year are added together

  2. The allowance is deducted from the total

  3. You only pay CGT on the amount above the allowance

Example

You sell:

  • shares for a £2,000 gain

  • crypto for a £1,500 gain

  • a piece of art for a £700 gain

Total gains = £4,200
Less allowance = £3,000
Taxable gain = £1,200

This £1,200 will be taxed at either:

  • 10 percent or 20 percent for most assets

  • 18 percent or 24 percent for residential property

The rate depends on your income tax band.

Why the Allowance Matters More Than Ever

In my opinion the new £3,000 allowance places many ordinary people into the Capital Gains Tax system for the first time. In the past, someone selling a small portfolio of shares or making occasional gains rarely paid tax. Today even modest gains exceed the limit.

Examples of situations where people now accidentally fall into CGT:

  • selling crypto bought cheaply during earlier years

  • offloading shares after a long hold

  • selling a rental property

  • selling a holiday home

  • cashing in a small business

  • selling inherited assets

If you do not monitor your gains throughout the year, you may not realise you have exceeded the allowance until the tax bill arrives.

Does the £3,000 Allowance Apply Automatically

Yes. You always receive the allowance, even if:

  • you do not fill in a tax return

  • you are not registered for Self Assessment

  • you do not make any gains

However if your total gains exceed £3,000 or your total disposals exceed £50,000 in the year, you may need to complete a Self Assessment return to declare them, even if no tax is due.

How CGT Is Calculated Once You Exceed the Allowance

If your gains exceed the allowance, your CGT rate depends on:

  • whether the asset is residential property

  • whether you are a basic rate or higher rate taxpayer

  • the size of the gain

  • your income for the year

For most assets:

  • basic rate taxpayers pay 10 percent

  • higher and additional rate taxpayers pay 20 percent

For residential property (not your main home):

  • basic rate taxpayers pay 18 percent

  • higher and additional rate taxpayers pay 24 percent

This means that even small gains can result in noticeable tax bills now the allowance is so low.

How Married Couples and Civil Partners Can Use the Allowance

One of the best planning strategies is to use both partners’ allowances.

You can transfer assets between spouses or civil partners with no Capital Gains Tax. This means:

  • one partner can transfer half of an asset

  • both partners then sell their share

  • both use their £3,000 allowance

  • combined exemption = £6,000

This is fully legal and encouraged by HMRC.

Example

A couple sells shares for a £10,000 gain.

  • Individually, one person has £3,000 allowance

  • Together, they have £6,000 allowance

If they split ownership before selling, they pay CGT only on £4,000 rather than £7,000.

In my opinion couples who do not use this rule are missing the simplest CGT saving available.

Why You Cannot Carry Forward the Allowance

The CGT allowance is strictly use it or lose it.

You cannot:

  • carry it forward

  • carry it backward

  • save it for future years

  • apply it to past disposals

This is why planning across tax years matters. In my opinion if you know you will make multiple gains, splitting them across different tax years is one of the most powerful ways to use the allowance effectively.

The Allowance for Trustees

Most trusts receive a CGT exemption of £1,500 for the tax year.

The £3,000 full allowance applies only to:

  • individuals

  • personal representatives

  • trusts for vulnerable or disabled beneficiaries

All other trusts receive half the individual exemption.

This is another reason why holding assets inside a trust needs careful planning.

Are There Plans to Change the Allowance Again

The government has already cut the allowance dramatically. There is always a possibility that:

  • it remains at £3,000

  • it is reduced further

  • it is frozen for several years

In my opinion the direction of travel suggests that allowances may not rise anytime soon. This makes good CGT planning more important.

When You Must Report CGT to HMRC

CGT has reporting deadlines that many people miss.

If you sell residential property

You must file a 60 day CGT return and pay the tax within 60 days of completion.

If you sell any other assets

You report the gains on your Self Assessment return by 31 January following the end of the tax year.

You must report gains if:

  • they exceed £3,000
    or

  • the total sales proceeds exceed £50,000
    even if the gain is within the allowance.

How To Use the Allowance Strategically

In my opinion the allowance is small but incredibly important. Here are some ways an accountant would help you maximise it.

1. Spread asset sales across tax years

Selling before 5 April and after 6 April could double your tax free gains.

2. Transfer assets to your spouse

This doubles the allowance instantly.

3. Offset losses against gains

Losses must be reported within four years to be used in future years.

4. Consider small disposals annually

Use your allowance each year rather than letting gains grow into a large taxable event.

5. Use ISAs to shelter gains

Selling investments inside an ISA has no CGT at all.

6. Use pension contributions to lower CGT rates

Pension contributions reduce your income, which could move more gains into the 10 percent band.

Real World Examples of How the Allowance Affects Tax

Example 1: Shareholder sells investments

Lucy sells shares for a £5,000 gain.
First £3,000 is tax free.
She pays CGT on £2,000 at 10 percent.
Tax bill = £200.

Example 2: Landlord sells a rental property

Tom sells a rental property with a £40,000 gain.
After allowance, taxable gain = £37,000.
As a higher rate taxpayer, he pays CGT at 24 percent.
Tax bill = £8,880.

Example 3: Couple splitting gains

A married couple sells an asset with a £10,000 gain.
By transferring half the asset beforehand, they use £6,000 allowance between them.
Taxable gain reduces to £4,000.

Example 4: Using two tax years

A crypto investor sells half her holdings in March and half in April.
She uses two allowances totalling £6,000.
This reduces her taxable gains significantly.

What Happens If Your Gain Is Below the Allowance

If your total gains are below £3,000 and your total sales proceeds are below £50,000 then:

  • you pay no CGT

  • you do not need to file a tax return

  • you do not need to notify HMRC

However if your disposals exceed £50,000, even if your gain is below the allowance, you must still report.

In My Opinion: Why Everyone Should Be Thinking About CGT Now

In my opinion the fall in the CGT allowance is one of the most important changes affecting personal finance in the UK. Most people did not feel CGT in the past because the allowance was generous. Today, with only £3,000 tax free, more people will pay CGT without realising they are close to the threshold.

CGT is not just a tax for wealthy investors or landlords. Ordinary savers, casual crypto traders and people selling inherited assets can all be affected. The only way to avoid surprise tax bills is by planning early, keeping good records and understanding how the allowance works.

For many people working with an accountant is the simplest way to stay compliant and use every legal tax saving opportunity.

Conclusion

The Capital Gains Tax allowance for the 2024 to 2025 tax year is £3,000 for individuals and £1,500 for most trustees. This allowance applies across all gains you make in the year. You cannot carry it forward, so planning around tax years is essential. Because the allowance is now so low, more people than ever must report gains and pay CGT, especially when selling property, shares or crypto.

In my opinion this small allowance means CGT planning has become an essential part of personal finance. By using spouse exemptions, splitting disposals across tax years, offsetting losses and using tax efficient accounts, you can reduce your tax bill significantly.