Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, and we'd encourage it. You can file any time after 5 April when the tax year ends.

Filing early doesn't mean paying early — any tax you owe is still due on 31 January regardless of when you file. But filing early means you know your bill months in advance, can budget for it, avoid the January rush, and skip the risk of missing the deadline.

If you're due a refund, filing early also means you get it sooner.

We're available to file your return from April onwards — no need to wait until autumn.

For the 2025/26 tax year (6 April 2025 to 5 April 2026):

• Register for Self Assessment (if first time): 5 October 2026
• File a paper return: 31 October 2026
• File online and pay any tax owed: 31 January 2027
• Second payment on account for 2024/25: 31 July 2026

Missing any of these deadlines can result in penalties and interest, so it's worth getting your return filed well in advance.

We can file as soon as the tax year ends on 5 April, so there's no need to leave it to January.

One amendment is included at no extra cost within 12 months of the original filing date.

If something changes after we've filed — a P60 arrives with different figures, you realise you forgot to include some income, or HMRC queries something — just let us know via live chat and we'll sort it out.

HMRC allows amendments to be made up to 12 months after the filing deadline for that tax year.

Yes. Before we file, we check for any reliefs and allowances you're entitled to — including the personal allowance, trading allowance, property allowance, pension contributions, Gift Aid, Marriage Allowance, and any allowable business expenses.

We won't file until we're confident your return is accurate and as tax-efficient as possible.

If we spot something that could reduce your bill, we'll flag it.

When you inherit a property, you don't pay Capital Gains Tax at the point of inheritance — that's when Inheritance Tax may apply instead.

CGT only comes into play if you later sell the inherited property and it has increased in value since you inherited it.

The gain is calculated from the probate value — the market value of the property at the date of death — not from what the original owner paid for it. So if the property was valued at £300,000 on probate and you sell it for £340,000, your gain is £40,000, not the full increase from the original purchase price.

A few things worth knowing:

If the property was the deceased's main home and you sell it within a certain period, some Private Residence Relief may be available.

If you rent the property out before selling, CGT applies in the normal way from the date of inheritance.

If there are multiple beneficiaries, each person is taxed on their own share of the gain. Our Joint (£449) or Trio (£598) filing options cover all owners in one service.

You must report and pay any CGT within 60 days of completion.

Message us on live chat and we'll talk through what applies to your situation, or book a call with us if you'd prefer.

Yes. Selling a rental property that was never your main home will trigger Capital Gains Tax on any gain you make.

The gain is calculated as: sale price, minus estate agent and solicitor fees, minus the original purchase price and buying costs, minus any capital improvements made during your ownership.

The first £3,000 of your gain is tax-free (the 2025/26 annual exempt amount). The rest is taxed at 18% if you're a basic-rate taxpayer, or 24% if you're a higher-rate taxpayer.

If the property was at some point your main home before you rented it out, part of the gain may be covered by Private Residence Relief, which could reduce your bill. This is one of the most commonly missed reliefs on rental property sales.

You must report the sale and pay the tax within 60 days of completion. This is a legal requirement and missing the deadline results in automatic HMRC penalties.

We handle rental property CGT returns regularly. Fill in our CGT form to get started, or message us on live chat.

Yes, but only genuine capital improvements — not general maintenance or repairs.

Capital improvements are works that added value to the property or adapted it for a new use. These include: extensions and loft conversions; a new kitchen or bathroom (if it's an upgrade, not a like-for-like replacement); structural alterations; and building a garage or outbuilding.

What doesn't count: repainting, replacing a broken boiler with the same type, routine repairs, or general upkeep. These are maintenance costs and HMRC doesn't allow them as deductions.

To claim improvements, you need receipts or invoices for the work. If you no longer have all the paperwork, we can work with what's available — but the more evidence you have, the better.

The cost of improvements is deducted from your gain, which can reduce your CGT bill significantly on a property you've invested in over the years.

Include any improvement costs when you fill in our CGT form and we'll apply them in the calculation.

If you own a property jointly, each owner is taxed on their share of the gain individually.

Each owner gets their own annual CGT exempt amount (£3,000 for 2025/26), so between two owners you effectively have £6,000 of gains that are tax-free before any CGT is due.

Each owner's gain is also taxed at a rate based on their own income — so if one owner is a basic-rate taxpayer and the other is a higher-rate taxpayer, they'll each pay a different rate on their share. This can work in your favour if the owners are in different income bands.

Ownership is usually split equally (50/50 for married couples), but if you own the property in unequal shares these should be formally documented to ensure HMRC taxes each person on the correct proportion.

For jointly owned property sales, we offer our Joint filing at £449 (two owners) or Trio at £598 (three owners), which covers the full gain calculation and filing for all owners in one service.

If you're unsure how your ownership is split or how the gain should be divided, message us on live chat or book a call with us.