Learn everything your business needs to know about capital gains tax, including how it is calculated, when to pay, and what it means when you sell a business.
When you sell an asset, you may have to pay taxes. As a private individual, this tax is known as Capital Gains Tax (CGT).
What Is Capital Gains Tax For Businesses?
CGT is the UK tax levied on the profit you make on the sale of assets. The self-employed and persons in partnerships pay capital gains tax, which is levied at rates other than income tax. Limited partnerships have won, but they pay corporation tax.
Many common assets may be subject to capital gains tax on disposals, such as stocks, bonds, and real estate. The sale of a company, be it a sole proprietorship, a partnership or shares in a company, may be subject to the CGT.
What Goods Can I Have To Pay For CGT?
Business assets that may be eligible for capital gains tax include land and buildings, fixtures and fittings, equipment and machinery, stocks, brands, and your own business.
When Do I Pay Capital Gains Tax?
You pay CGT when you sell and rebuild an asset. Profit is calculated by subtracting the proceeds from the sale of the asset and subtracting the cost of the asset. You can also pay costs associated with buying and selling, such as Legal fees, deductions.
There is also a tax-free allowance, currently £ 12,300, similar to the personal income tax allowance.
Not all assets are subject to the CGT and some exceptions can eliminate, defer or minimize the tax burden. You pay CGT equal to 10% of your income (or 18% on homeownership) if you are in the property tax bracket and 20% on your income (or 28% on homeownership) if you are in a higher or additional tier. Taxpayer rate.
What If I Have A Loss?
You should also report losses on the assets in question to HMRC as this will reduce your profits and therefore the taxes you have to pay.
If your total taxable profit is still above the tax exemption of € 12,300, you can deduct unused losses from previous tax years. If you reduce your profit to the tax exemption, you can carry forward the remaining losses to a future tax year.
You can claim losses on your tax return up to four years after the end of the tax year in which you sold the asset.
Do You Pay Capital Gains Tax On Goodwill?
The sale of goodwill is treated as an asset and, therefore, is subject to the CGT. Special rules apply to the sale of goodwill to an affiliated company, for example when you found your company. You must seek advice when considering a sale.
How is Capital Gains Tax Calculated?
The rules for calculating your profit (profit from the sale of the asset) are complex. Some many exemptions and exemptions can generate significant savings if used. Proper planning is essential when disposing of any asset to ensure you minimize your CGT liability.
Indexing Allowance
If you sell an asset, you can also get a deduction from the earnings for the indexing allowance. This is a number that you will multiply your cost by including inflation in your calculation. You must have owned the asset before December 2017 and the multiplier can be found in the HMRC's December 2017 Indexing Allocation Manual.
Capital Losses
If you sell an asset, you may be at a loss. It is important to calculate the loss on the sale of assets to ensure that you offset that loss with all the gains for the same year. If you've had a general loss, you need to make sure that loss is recorded so that it can be carried over to any profit you may make in future years.
You must still notify HMRC of any asset sales if the proceeds are four times the tax-free allowance and you are recorded for self-assessment in the future.
Calculation of Capital Gains Tax When Selling a Company
As with any other asset, the basics of selling a business are the same; the sales proceeds less the acquisition costs and the associated expenses. These principles apply regardless of whether you are selling a company as a sole trader, as a partnership, or as a limited partner.
However, in many cases, identifying the various items can be complex, and very few sales are straightforward. The sale of your business may include deferred consideration, conditional items, or benefits in kind. Selling or giving away at a lower value can also have an impact.
There are also exceptions you can make to minimize your CGT liability. Entrepreneur discharge, rollover discharge, or retention discharge may be available, but there are certain rules and criteria that you should be aware of. In some cases, it may be possible to arrange the sale in such a way that the overall tax obligations are minimized.
How to Lower Capital Gains Tax When Selling a Company
It is always important to plan a business sale to ensure you are taking advantage of the benefits available and making the sale tax efficient. In addition, you should also make sure that you can maximize your likely sales value. To achieve this, early advice is essential.
Protax Accountant Can Help You with Your Capital Gains Tax
If you are considering selling all or part of a private or business asset, we will advise you on the tax planning options available to reduce or reduce potential tax liabilities prior to the sale.
If you need help, please contact us on 02085718826 or use our free online advice service.