The Capital Gains Dilemma

Newsletter issue - January 2010.

The Government needs to raise more revenue to pay off the massive national debt, but it seems reluctant to announce higher tax rates. One tax that looks ripe for an increase is Capital Gains Tax (CGT). The current rate of CGT is just 18%, compared to a top rate of 40% for income tax.

An additional income tax rate of 50% will be imposed on income over £150,000 from 6 April 2010, and there are strong rumours that the rate of Capital Gains Tax (CGT) will also be increased from that date. Nothing has been announced on this issue yet. Some say this silence is deliberate to avoid people rushing to make gains that will be taxed in the current tax year at 18% (or 10% with tax reliefs), rather than pay CGT at a much higher rate in 2010/11.

If you have assets you are planning to dispose of, consider whether you should make that disposal before 6 April 2010 and pay CGT at 18%, or delay and risk paying tax at a potentially higher rate. Discuss this with us before you decide.