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.

No longer. Since the October 2024 Budget, CGT rates were aligned across all asset types.

For 2025/26 the rates are 18% (basic rate) and 24% (higher rate) for property, shares, crypto, and other assets.

Previously, gains on shares attracted lower rates of 10% and 20%. This change means the tax treatment is now the same regardless of what you're selling.

Your CGT rate depends on your total income for the year, including the gain itself.

First, work out your total taxable income (salary, self-employment, rental, dividends) and subtract your Personal Allowance (£12,570 for most people). What's left is your taxable income.

Any remaining space in your basic-rate band (up to £37,700 of taxable income) gets taxed at 18%. Any gain that pushes you above that threshold is taxed at 24%.

For example: if your taxable income is £20,000 and you make a gain of £30,000, the first £17,700 of the gain falls in the basic-rate band at 18%, and the rest is taxed at 24%.

We calculate this precisely for every client.

For 2025/26, the CGT rates are:

• 18% on gains that fall within your basic-rate income tax band
• 24% on gains above it

These rates apply to all asset types including property, shares, and crypto — the previously lower rates for shares (10% and 20%) were aligned with property rates in the October 2024 Budget.

To work out your rate: add your total taxable gain to your total income for the year. The portion of the gain that falls within your remaining basic-rate band (up to £37,700 for most people) is taxed at 18%. Anything above that is taxed at 24%.

For 2025/26, the Annual Exempt Amount is £3,000 per person.

You can make gains up to this amount across all your assets in the tax year without paying any CGT.

If you own assets jointly, each person gets their own £3,000 allowance — so a couple selling a property together effectively has a combined £6,000 exempt amount.

Gains above the threshold are taxed at 18% (basic rate) or 24% (higher rate).

The allowance has fallen significantly in recent years (it was £12,300 in 2022/23), so even modest gains can now result in a tax liability.