Increase of Capital Gains Tax allowance

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, presented the 2020 Budget on 11 March 2020 and announced that the government will be increasing the Capital Gains Tax allowance for the 2020/2021 tax year.

What is Capital Gains Tax? 

Capital Gains Tax is the tax you pay on any profit that you make when you dispose of an asset that has increased in value.

For example, if you bought an antique for £10,000 and sold it later for £30,000, this means that you have a gain of £20,000 (sale price minus the bought price). 

What constitutes as disposing of an asset? 

Any of the following constitutes the disposal of an asset:

1. Selling an asset
2. Transferring an asset into someone else’s name
3. Gifting an asset away, or,
4. Swapping an asset for something else

What is an “asset”? 

An asset is one of the following:

1. Shares (not an ISA for PEP)
2. Business assets, or,
3. Any property that is not your main home

What is Capital Gains Tax exempt? 

The following are Capital Gains Tax exempt:

1. Premium bonds
2. ISAs
3. PEPS, and,
4. Betting or lottery winnings

Capital Gains Tax allowance for 2020/2021 

From the 2020/2021 tax year, the Capital Gains Tax allowance will increase from £12,000 to £12,300 for individuals (and personal representatives) and from £6,000 to £6,150 for trustees of settlements.

Whilst the increase is not a lot, any increase is beneficial. The allowance means that you can offset any capital gains you have made with the allowance, which ultimately means that you will pay less tax. 

For example, in the scenario above, an individual could offset their allowance of £12,300 against their gain of £20,000 for selling the antique. The individual would therefore only be taxed on £7,700 (the difference between the bought price and sale price, minus their individual allowance).

If you are a personal representative and would like advice regarding Capital Gains Tax and a deceased’s estate, then please do not hesitate to contact our Wills, Trust and Probate team.  

I based in our Colchester office and can be contacted on 01206 217609 or leah.woodnott@birkettlong.co.uk.