Capital Gains Tax Accountants in London
Capital Gains Tax accountants calculate what you owe when you sell a property, shares, a business or cryptoassets, claim every relief you are entitled to, and file on time. For UK residential property the reporting window is only 60 days from completion, which is where most people get caught out.
GM Professional Accountants has advised London landlords, property investors and company directors on disposals since 2012. This page explains the 2026/27 rules, the deadlines that matter, and how we handle a disposal from first call to filing.
What Do Capital Gains Tax Accountants Do?
GM Professional Accountants is a London based firm that calculates Capital Gains Tax on property, share and business disposals, claims the available reliefs, and files 60 day property returns and Self Assessment pages for landlords, investors and directors across London and Essex.
In technical terms, a Capital Gains Tax accountant establishes the acquisition cost, allowable expenditure and disposal proceeds for each asset, applies the annual exempt amount and any reliefs, and reports the gain through the correct HMRC route. You can read HMRC’s own guidance on GOV.UK.
Capital Gains Tax Rates for 2026/27
From 6 April 2026 the rates are aligned across asset types. What you pay depends on where the gain sits against your income tax band.
| Item | 2026/27 position |
|---|---|
| Gains within the basic rate band | 18% |
| Gains above the basic rate band | 24% |
| Annual exempt amount (individuals) | £3,000 |
| Business Asset Disposal Relief | 18% on qualifying disposals from 6 April 2026 |
| UK residential property reporting | Within 60 days of completion |
Figures confirmed against HMRC guidance in September 2026. Rates and allowances can change at a Budget, so we check them on every disposal rather than relying on last year’s numbers.
The 60 Day Property Deadline
If you sell a UK residential property at a gain, you must report and pay the Capital Gains Tax within 60 days of completing the sale. HMRC charges interest and penalties if you miss it. This is separate from your Self Assessment return, and it catches out people who assume the gain can wait until January.
If you live overseas the rule is stricter. Non-residents must report every disposal of UK property or land within the deadline, even where there is no tax to pay. If that applies to you, see our page for non resident landlords.
UK Residents Selling Property Abroad
UK residents pay Capital Gains Tax on property sold anywhere in the world. Tax already paid in the country where the property sits can usually be credited against the UK bill, and the gain is reported on your Self Assessment return rather than a 60 day return.
If you are UK resident for tax purposes, HMRC taxes your worldwide gains. Selling a flat in Mumbai, family land in Kerala or a holiday home in Spain can therefore create a UK Capital Gains Tax liability as well as a tax bill in the country where the property is located.
The 60 day return only covers UK property. A gain on overseas property goes on the capital gains pages of your Self Assessment return for the tax year of the sale, with the tax due by 31 January after that tax year ends.
| Question | UK resident selling overseas property |
|---|---|
| Who can tax the gain? | The country where the property sits, and the UK |
| How is it reported in the UK? | On your Self Assessment return, not the 60 day return |
| Which values are used? | Sterling values at the purchase date and the sale date |
| What stops double tax? | Foreign tax is credited against UK tax on the same gain, up to the UK amount |
How the Gain Is Worked Out in Sterling
The purchase price is converted into pounds at the exchange rate on the day you bought, and the sale price at the rate on the day you sold. Currency movements alone can create a gain or reduce one, even where the local price barely changed. The remittance basis ended on 5 April 2025, so leaving the proceeds overseas no longer keeps the gain outside UK tax for most long term residents.
How Do You Avoid Paying Tax Twice?
Where the other country has already taxed the gain, the UK normally gives credit for that foreign tax, capped at the UK tax due on the same gain. India and the UK have a double taxation agreement, and both the order of claims and the evidence HMRC expects make a real difference to the final figure. We explain how this works in our guide to double taxation relief for UK residents selling land in India.
Selling Property in India
Indian sales carry extra steps. Where you are non-resident in India, the buyer must usually deduct Indian tax at source from the price, an Indian return may be needed to reclaim any excess, and moving the proceeds to the UK involves bank paperwork and annual limits. Our tips for selling your property in India and bringing the money to the UK cover the practical side, from documents to transferring funds.
How We Handle a Disposal, Step by Step
- We establish the base cost. Purchase price, stamp duty, legal fees and capital improvements, evidenced rather than estimated.
- We check the ownership history. Periods of occupation, letting, and any spousal transfers that affect the calculation.
- We apply every relief you qualify for. Set out in the section below.
- A second accountant reviews it. Every return is prepared by one accountant and checked by another before filing. We call it the Four-Eye Method.
- We file and tell you the number early. You know what is payable before the completion money is spent.
Reliefs We Check on Every Disposal
- Private Residence Relief where the property has been your main home for any part of the ownership period.
- Transfers between spouses and civil partners, which are tax free and can make use of both annual exempt amounts.
- Business Asset Disposal Relief at 18% from 6 April 2026, where you have held at least 5% of the shares and voting rights for at least two years.
- Capital losses, including losses brought forward from earlier years.
- The annual exempt amount and the timing of disposals across tax years.
Client Scenario
Situation
A London property investor came to us after agreeing the sale of a second property. Their previous accountant had been slow to respond and had not mentioned the 60 day reporting deadline.
What we did
We rebuilt the base cost from the original purchase file, separated capital improvements from repairs, confirmed the periods of occupation and letting, and applied the annual exempt amount. A second accountant reviewed the computation before submission.
Result
The 60 day property return was filed inside the window, and the client knew the amount payable before the completion funds were committed elsewhere.
Illustrative scenario based on the type of work described in our client reviews. Figures are not shown because every disposal differs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Capital Gains Tax always charged at 20%?
No. For 2026/27, the rate is 18% or 24% on all asset types, depending on your total taxable income for the year.
Do I pay Capital Gains Tax on my main home?
Usually not, thanks to Private Residence Relief, unless part of the home was let out or used exclusively for business.
What happens if I miss the 60 day property deadline?
HMRC issues an immediate £100 penalty, followed by further penalties and interest the longer the report remains outstanding.
Do UK residents pay Capital Gains Tax on property sold abroad?
Yes. UK residents are taxed on worldwide gains, but tax paid in the country where the property sits can usually be credited against the UK bill through double taxation relief.
Can married couples reduce their Capital Gains Tax together?
Yes. Transfers between spouses are tax free, so assets can be split before a sale to use two £3,000 allowances and two sets of tax bands.
Does Capital Gains Tax apply to cryptoassets?
Yes, disposals of cryptoassets are treated in the same way as shares, using the same 18% and 24% rates and the same £3,000 allowance.
Can I use Business Asset Disposal Relief when selling my company?
Possibly, if you hold at least 5% of the shares, have been an officer or employee for two years, and the company is trading. This reduces the rate to 18% on qualifying gains up to £1 million.
Key Takeaways
- From 6 April 2026, gains are taxed at 18% within the basic rate band and 24% above it.
- The annual exempt amount is £3,000 for individuals.
- UK residential property disposals must be reported and paid within 60 days of completion.
- Non-residents must report every UK property disposal, even with no tax to pay.
- Reliefs are where the money is. Base cost, occupation history and spousal transfers all change the result.
GM Professional Accountants is a London based accountancy firm with experience since 2012 helping landlords, property investors, limited company directors and self employed professionals across London and Essex. Trusted by clients with 150 plus five star reviews across multiple directories.
Every return is prepared by one accountant and checked by a second before it is filed, so your work does not depend on one person being at their desk. Clients living overseas are routine for us, not an exception.
Contact us on 0208 396 6128, email Info@gmpa.co.uk, or see our Self Assessment services.
Selling a Property, Shares or a Business?
Book a free consultation and we will tell you what the gain looks like and what the deadline is, before you commit the proceeds.
Disclaimer: This page is for general guidance only and does not constitute financial or tax advice. Capital Gains Tax depends on your personal circumstances. Please speak to a qualified accountant before acting.
