How much can I make in capital gains before I have to pay any tax?
I'm planning to sell some shares and want to know if there's a tax-free amount I can use first.
Asked by Anonymous on 12 April 2026
1 Answer
Individuals get an annual exempt amount for Capital Gains Tax, currently £3,000 per tax year, meaning gains up to that level across all your assets in the year are tax-free. This allowance is 'use it or lose it' — it doesn't carry forward if unused — and it's much lower than it used to be after successive reductions in recent years. If you're married or in a civil partnership, each of you has your own allowance, and transfers between spouses are generally tax-free, so there can be planning opportunities worth discussing with an accountant before a sale.