Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on the sale, gift or exchange of an asset

How to calculate CGT

You must file a return if you have disposed of an asset, even if there is no tax due. Further information can be found on the previous page.

CGT is only applied to the ‘chargeable gain’, not the whole amount you receive. The chargeable gain of an asset is the difference between:

• the amount you received for it (the sale price)
• and
• the amount you paid for it (the purchase price) and any ‘allowable expenses’.

You must calculate your chargeable gain for the whole tax year.

If you have more than one gain, you must add them together. You will also need to deduct any losses. All of this information will need to be detailed on your return.

If you owned the asset before 2003, you may claim indexation relief.

You might need to use the ‘market value’ instead of the sale price or purchase price. For example, if you gift an asset to someone instead of selling it. The market value of an asset is the best price you would get if you sold the asset on the open market.

Note

If you are an individual, you have a personal exemption of €1,270 each year. If your chargeable gain is less than this, you will not have to pay any CGT.

Rate of CGT

The rate of CGT is 33% for most gains. There are other rates for specific types of gains. These rates are:

• 40% for gains from foreign life policies and foreign investment products
• 15% for gains from venture capital funds for individuals and partnerships
• and
• 12.5% for gains from venture capital funds for companies.

Venture capital is money that is invested in a start-up company or a small business.

What are ‘allowable expenses’?

These are costs that you can deduct from the sale price to work out your chargeable gain. They can be:

• any money spent by you which adds value to the asset (known as ‘enhancement expenditure’)
• and 
• costs (for example, fees paid by you to a solicitor or auctioneer) when you acquired and disposed of the asset.

When do you use market value?

You will need to use the market value of the asset to work out your chargeable gain if:

• it was a gift to someone other than your spouse or civil partner
• you sold it for less than it was worth to help the buyer
• you inherited it and are now disposing of it
• or
• you bought it before 06 April 1974.

How to calculate how much CGT to pay

When you have worked out your chargeable gain, you must work out your taxable gain by deducting:

• your personal exemption (if you are an individual)
• any other exemptions or reliefs due
• and
• allowable losses.

When you know what your total taxable gain for a tax year is, you must multiply it by the rate of CGT. The responsibility remains with you to make an accurate assessment of your liability, if any.

You might be able to claim a credit for foreign CGT you have paid. This can be claimed on your return.

Historical CGT rates

Rates for most gains changed on 06 December 2013 to 33%.

Next: If you make a loss