Freedom Isn’t Free UK Personal Finance
Tax Planning
Capital Gains Tax UK: Complete 2026/27 Guide
Your CGT allowance used to be £12,300. It's now £3,000. That's a 76% cut in three years and the clearest stealth tax on the books.
The CGT annual exempt amount has collapsed
2022/23£12,300
2023/24£6,000
2024/25£3,000
2025/26£3,000
2026/27£3,000
A 76% cut in three years. Source: HMRC.
Key takeaways
1
The 2026/27 Capital Gains Tax annual exempt amount is just £3,000, down from £12,300 three years ago.
2
CGT rates are 18% within your basic-rate band and 24% above it, applied uniformly to shares, crypto, and property.
3
ISAs, pensions, your main home, gilts, and Premium Bonds are CGT-exempt, so most retail investors should never pay CGT if they plan ahead.
4
Bed-and-ISA, spousal transfers, and harvesting gains within the £3,000 allowance each tax year are the three highest-impact ways to legitimately cut your bill.