UK Tax Calculator — FAQ

Getting Started

Which brokers are supported?

This tool currently supports the following brokers:

  • Interactive Brokers (IBKR) - Activity Statement CSV exports
  • Charles Schwab - Transaction History CSV exports
  • Trading 212 - Transaction CSV exports (Invest/GIA accounts only)
  • Vanguard UK - Transaction History XLSX exports
  • CGTCalculator format - Simple text/CSV files with buy/sell trades (compatible with cgtcalculator.com)

For Trading 212 and Vanguard, only General Investment Account (GIA) transactions are relevant for Capital Gains Tax. ISA transactions are tax-free and excluded from calculations.

If your broker is not listed above, you can prepare a simple text file in CGTCalculator format (see below) to import your trades.

How do I download my activity files?

Interactive Brokers (IBKR):

  1. Log in to the IBKR website
  2. Go to Performance & ReportsStatements
  3. Select Activity Statement
  4. Choose a date range from when you opened your account to at least 30 days after 5 April of your tax year
  5. Select CSV format and download

Charles Schwab:

  1. Log in to the Schwab website
  2. Go to AccountsTransaction History
  3. Select a date range from when you opened your account to at least 30 days after 5 April of your tax year
  4. Click the Download icon (top right)

Trading 212:

  1. Log in to the Trading 212 app or website
  2. Go to MenuHistory
  3. Tap/click the Export icon (top right)
  4. Choose a date range from when you opened your account to at least 30 days after 5 April of your tax year
  5. Select CSV format and download

Make sure you export from your Invest or GIA account, not your ISA account.

Vanguard UK:

  1. Log in to the Vanguard website
  2. Go to DocumentsReport Generator
  3. Select Client Transaction Listing (Excel)
  4. Choose a date range from when you opened your account to at least 30 days after 5 April of your tax year
  5. Download the XLSX file

CGTCalculator format (any broker):

If your broker isn't directly supported, you can create a simple text or CSV file with one trade per line in the following format:

B  06/04/2024  AAPL  100  150.00  10.00
S  15/04/2024  AAPL   50  160.00   8.50

Fields (whitespace-separated):

  1. Side - B or S (or BUY/SELL)
  2. Date - dd/mm/yyyy (UK format)
  3. Symbol - Ticker symbol
  4. Quantity - Number of shares
  5. Price - Price per share in GBP
  6. Charges - Broker fees in GBP (optional)

All prices must be in GBP. Save the file as .csv or .txt and upload it like any other activity file. This format is compatible with cgtcalculator.com.

Important: Capital Gains Tax calculations need your full transaction history to accurately compute cost basis, and transactions up to 30 days after the tax year end for bed & breakfast matching. We recommend exporting from when you first opened your account to at least 5 May (30 days after 5 April). Interest and dividend reports only require the current tax year's data.

Can I upload multiple CSV files?

Yes, you can upload multiple files at once. This is useful when:

  • You have accounts with multiple brokers (e.g., IBKR and Trading 212)
  • Your broker provides separate exports for different time periods
  • You have multiple accounts with the same broker

The tool will automatically detect each file's format and combine all transactions for a unified tax calculation. All files should cover the same tax year for accurate results.

What tax year does this cover?

The UK tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April the following year. For example:

  • 2024-25 covers 6 April 2024 to 5 April 2025
  • 2023-24 covers 6 April 2023 to 5 April 2024

Enter the tax year in the format shown (e.g., "2024-25"). Your exported files should include all transactions from when you first opened your account up to 30 days after 5 April. The tool uses historical transactions to calculate cost basis and the 30-day window after the tax year for bed & breakfast matching.

Tax Rules & Compliance

Does this include ISA transactions?

No. Transactions within an Individual Savings Account (ISA) are completely tax-free under UK law. You do not need to report ISA gains, losses, dividends, or interest to HMRC.

This tool is designed for General Investment Accounts (GIA) and other taxable accounts only. If you upload a file containing ISA transactions, they will be excluded from the calculations.

Is this suitable for HMRC Self Assessment?

Yes. The output is structured to match the HMRC Self Assessment forms:

  • SA100 (Main Tax Return) - Interest income and dividend income boxes
  • SA108 (Capital Gains Summary) - Disposal proceeds, allowable costs, gains and losses

Each box is labelled with its HMRC reference number. You can use the "Copy" button next to each value to copy it directly and paste into your online Self Assessment form or paper return.

What is the 2024-25 CGT rate change?

On 30 October 2024, the UK Government changed Capital Gains Tax rates with immediate effect:

  • Before 30 October 2024: 10% (basic rate) / 20% (higher rate)
  • From 30 October 2024: 18% (basic rate) / 24% (higher rate)

Because the rates changed mid-year, your gains need to be split into two periods. HMRC's Self Assessment system does not automatically calculate the correct tax, so you must:

  1. Report your total gains in the normal SA108 boxes
  2. Use HMRC's online calculator to compute an adjustment
  3. Enter the adjustment amount in Box 51 ("Adjustment to Capital Gains Tax")

This tool automatically splits your gains into pre- and post-30 October periods to help you with this calculation.

Why might my numbers differ from my broker's summary?

HMRC has specific rules for calculating Capital Gains Tax that may differ from how your broker reports performance. Key differences include:

  • Share matching rules: HMRC requires same-day matching, then bed-and-breakfast matching (30 days), then Section 104 pooling. Your broker may use simpler FIFO (first-in, first-out).
  • Foreign exchange rates: HMRC requires gains to be calculated in GBP using the exchange rate on the date of each transaction, not the rate at year-end.
  • Fees and commissions: These are allowable costs that reduce your gain, but brokers may display them separately.
  • Corporate actions: Stock splits are handled automatically. Mergers and other events may require manual adjustment.

This tool applies HMRC's rules, which is why results may differ from your broker's dashboard.

Tax Loss Harvesting

What is Tax Loss Harvesting?

Tax loss harvesting is the practice of selling investments at a loss to offset capital gains and reduce your tax bill. Under HMRC rules, capital losses can be set against gains in the same tax year. The Tax Loss Harvesting tab analyses your current holdings and identifies securities trading below your cost basis that you could sell to offset your realized gains.

What is the 30-day rule for repurchasing?

Under HMRC's "Bed and Breakfast" rule, if you sell a security at a loss and repurchase the same security within 30 days, the loss is not allowable — instead, the new purchase is matched with the sale. To ensure your harvested loss counts, you must wait at least 30 days before repurchasing. The "Safe to Repurchase" date shown in the suggestions accounts for this rule.

How accurate are the harvest price estimates?

The tool uses the previous trading day's closing prices to estimate unrealized gains and losses. Actual proceeds will depend on the price at which you execute the trade, which may differ due to market movements and bid-ask spread. Dealing costs (commissions, stamp duty) are not included. Use the estimates as a guide for decision-making, not as exact figures.

Privacy & Support

Is this tax advice?

No. This tool is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, legal, or financial advice.

While we strive for accuracy, tax rules are complex and individual circumstances vary. You are responsible for ensuring your Self Assessment is correct and complete.

If you are unsure about your tax obligations, please consult a qualified tax adviser or accountant, or contact HMRC directly.

Is my data stored?

No. Your files are processed entirely in memory and are not stored on any server. Once your calculation is complete and the results are displayed, the uploaded data is discarded.

No account registration is required, and no personal or financial data is retained. Your transaction history remains private.

What if I see an error or missing transaction?

If something doesn't look right, here are common causes and solutions:

  • Missing transactions: Your export should cover all transactions from when you first opened your account up to 30 days after 5 April of your tax year (e.g. 5 May 2025 for tax year 2024-25). Historical trades are needed for cost basis, and the 30-day window after the tax year is needed for bed & breakfast matching.
  • Unrecognised file format: Check that you've exported in the correct format (CSV for most brokers, XLSX for Vanguard). Some brokers offer multiple export options.
  • Unexpected values: Review the "Show details" section to see the underlying transaction data. This can help identify data issues.
  • Corporate actions: Stock splits are handled automatically. Mergers or spin-offs may require manual adjustment if not fully captured in your export.

If you believe there's an issue with the tool itself, please re-export your data to ensure you have the latest version, or contact support with details of the problem.

No matching questions found. Try a different search term.