Frequently Asked Questions

HMRC's flat rate (Approved Mileage Allowance Payments) for 2025/26 is 45p per mile for the first 10,000 business miles and 25p per mile after that.

To claim it:

• Keep a mileage log recording the date, destination, purpose, and miles for each business journey
• Multiply your total business miles by the appropriate rate
• Include the total in your Self Assessment return as a business expense

You can't claim mileage and actual vehicle running costs at the same time — it's one or the other. The flat rate is usually simpler and works well for most people.

Yes, if you work from home as part of running your business. There are two ways to claim.

The simplified flat rate: HMRC allows a fixed monthly amount based on the number of hours you work from home each month — £10 for 25 to 50 hours, £18 for 51 to 100 hours, and £26 for over 100 hours.

The actual cost method: you work out the business proportion of your household bills (mortgage interest or rent, utilities, broadband, council tax) based on the number of rooms and hours used for work.

The flat rate is simpler; the actual method tends to result in a higher deduction if your bills are significant.

The main things you can't claim are:

• Personal costs such as everyday clothing, even if you wear it for work (unless it's a uniform or protective gear)
• Entertaining clients — HMRC doesn't allow this as a deduction
• Fines and penalties such as parking tickets
• The cost of commuting from home to your regular workplace
• Training that helps you move into a new field rather than improving skills for your current one
• Any mixed-use costs where the personal element can't be separated

If you're unsure whether something qualifies, it's better to ask than to claim it incorrectly.

You can claim any cost that is wholly and exclusively for your business. Common examples include:

• Office supplies and equipment
• Business travel (excluding the commute to a regular workplace)
• Professional fees such as accountancy costs
• Stock and materials
• Software subscriptions used for work
• Marketing and advertising
• A proportion of your home costs if you work from home
• Training directly related to your current trade

The golden rule is that the expense must be genuinely for business use. If it has a personal element, you can only claim the business proportion.

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.