I've sold a rental property — how quickly do I need to report and pay the Capital Gains Tax?
I recently completed the sale of a buy-to-let and someone mentioned there's a tight deadline to tell HMRC.
Asked by Anonymous on 5 February 2026
1 Answer
UK residents who make a taxable gain on selling UK residential property must report it and pay the estimated Capital Gains Tax to HMRC within 60 days of completion, using HMRC's dedicated CGT UK Property Account — this is separate from and usually well ahead of your normal Self Assessment deadline. Missing the 60-day window can trigger penalties and interest even if you go on to report the same gain correctly on your tax return later. Because the gain calculation involves purchase costs, improvement costs and any reliefs, it's sensible to get an accountant involved as soon as the sale completes rather than trying to hit the deadline yourself.