Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. HMRC treats crypto as a capital asset, not a currency.

This means the following can all trigger Capital Gains Tax:

• Selling crypto for cash
• Swapping one cryptocurrency for another
• Using crypto to buy goods or services
• Gifting crypto (except to a spouse)

If your total gains in the year exceed the £3,000 annual exempt amount, you'll owe CGT at 18% or 24% depending on your income.

Some crypto activity — like staking rewards, mining income, and certain DeFi transactions — may be treated as income rather than capital gains and taxed differently.

HMRC requires you to keep records of every transaction. This falls under our £199 Advanced Tax Return.

If your side hustle income is over £1,000 in a tax year, yes — you'll need to declare it on a Self Assessment return.

The £1,000 Trading Allowance means you don't pay tax on the first £1,000 of self-employment or casual income, but once you exceed that you need to register and file.

It doesn't matter whether you're being paid in cash, through PayPal, via platforms like Etsy, Vinted, or Deliveroo, or in any other way — if it's income for a service or goods you're selling, it counts.

HMRC has been increasingly active in tracking income through digital platforms, so it's worth getting it right.

Yes, dividends are taxable above the annual Dividend Allowance, which is £500 for 2025/26.

Dividends within an ISA are always tax-free.

If your dividends exceed the allowance, the rate you pay depends on your income band:

• 8.75% for basic-rate taxpayers
• 33.75% for higher-rate taxpayers
• 39.35% for additional-rate taxpayers

Dividend income needs to be declared on your Self Assessment return. Your investment platform or company should provide a dividend certificate or statement showing what you received.

It depends on how much interest you received and what type of taxpayer you are.

For 2025/26, the Personal Savings Allowance is:

• £1,000 for basic-rate taxpayers
• £500 for higher-rate taxpayers
• Nothing for additional-rate taxpayers (income over £125,140)

Interest from ISAs is always tax-free and never needs to be declared.

If your savings interest exceeds your allowance, you'll need to declare the excess on your Self Assessment return. Banks report interest to HMRC automatically, so it's worth declaring it correctly even if you think the amount is small.

Several costs can be deducted from your gain, reducing the amount of CGT you pay. They fall into three categories.

Selling costs: estate agent fees, solicitor fees, and any costs directly related to the sale.

Buying costs: the original purchase price, solicitor and surveyor fees, and Stamp Duty Land Tax paid at purchase.

Improvement costs: the cost of capital improvements made to the property during your ownership — things like extensions, loft conversions, new kitchens or bathrooms that added value.

What you can't deduct: general maintenance and repairs (fixing a boiler, repainting, replacing like-for-like fittings), mortgage interest, or insurance costs.

The formula is: sale proceeds, minus allowable selling costs, minus original purchase price and buying costs, minus capital improvements.

Each of these deductions is applied as part of our CGT filing service — you don't need to calculate anything yourself. Just share the relevant receipts and documents and we'll handle the rest.

Yes. Estate agent fees are one of the allowable costs you can deduct when calculating your capital gain, which directly reduces the amount of tax you owe.

Here's what you can deduct from the sale price:

• Estate agent or auctioneer fees
• Solicitor or conveyancer fees on the sale
• Any advertising costs related to the sale

You can also deduct costs from the original purchase:

• The price you paid for the property
• Solicitor and surveyor fees at the time of purchase
• Stamp Duty Land Tax paid when you bought it
• The cost of any capital improvements made during your ownership, such as an extension or loft conversion

General maintenance and repairs don't count as improvements and can't be deducted.

Getting these deductions right can make a significant difference to your bill. If you're unsure what qualifies, message us on live chat.

Yes. Non-UK residents are required to report the sale of UK residential property to HMRC within 60 days of completion, regardless of whether any tax is owed.

This applies even if you made a loss or the gain is fully covered by Private Residence Relief. The reporting obligation still stands.

Non-residents may also be subject to Non-Resident Capital Gains Tax (NRCGT), which has applied to UK residential property sales since April 2015. The tax calculation for non-residents can be more complex, particularly around the rebasing rules that apply to property owned before April 2015.

We handle non-resident CGT returns regularly. Message us on live chat and we'll confirm what applies to your situation, or book a call with us if you'd prefer to talk it through.

Our CGT filing options are priced based on the number of owners on the property title.

Solo (£299): for a single owner. Covers the full gain calculation, all applicable reliefs, and filing with HMRC within the 60-day window.

Joint (£449): for two owners selling together — typically a couple, but also applies to friends or investors who co-own a property. We calculate and file for both owners in one service.

Trio (£598): for three owners on the same title — common with inherited properties where siblings jointly own the estate. Covers all three owners in one filing.

All options include the full gain calculation, relief checks (including Private Residence Relief and Lettings Relief where applicable), and submission to HMRC.

Not sure which applies to you? Check the property title or message us on live chat.