Capital Gains Tax
Rates
The annual exempt amount rises from £11,300 to £11,700 for 2018/19. The rates of tax are unchanged at 10% (total income and gains within the taxpayer’s basic rate limit) or 20% (gains above the basic rate limit) on assets in general, but 18% or 28% on residential property that is not eligible for the main residence exemption, and also on ‘carried interest’ of investment fund managers.
Most trusts enjoy half the annual exempt amount (£5,850) and pay tax at 20% or 28% on chargeable gains.
Non-resident charge
Non-UK residents used to pay no tax on gains on UK property. A charge was introduced for gains on residential property situated in the UK with effect from 6 April 2015. It is now proposed to extend this to non-residential property with effect from 1 April 2019 (companies) or 6 April 2019 (individuals and trusts). Only the gain accruing after that date will be charged.
Payment of tax on residential property
In the Autumn Statement 2015, George Osborne announced an intention to advance the due date for CGT on the sale of residential property to 30 days after the completion of a sale. This would only apply if a chargeable gain arose, so it would not affect the sale of an exempt main residence; but on the sale of a buy-to-let or furnished holiday letting property, it would very significantly advance the payment of the tax from 31 January following the end of the tax year. The measure was to be introduced with effect from 6 April 2019, but the current Budget delays this until April 2020.