CGT on joint shares

CGT on joint shares

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Discussion

Jonboy_t

Original Poster:

5,038 posts

183 months

Thursday 28th November 2013
quotequote all
I've absolutely no idea how CGT really works, it's never been an issue as none of my investments have ever been of a size enough to worry about it!! However, I've been a lucky boy recently and bought some shares which have taken me over £10k profit (woohoo!) so I need to think about CGT.

The shares are in joint names between me and my good lady, so how would CGT work?! Does our 'allowance' effectively double or does it just increase slightly/not at all? Also, am I correct in my understanding that CGT is only payable on the profit and doesn't take the initial capital investment into account (i.e. £1k investment, £15k overall sale value, CGT on the £14k profit)?

Any help would be greatly received! Thanks in advance.

Slowped

184 posts

146 months

Thursday 28th November 2013
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You and your wife own 50% of the profit each.
You each have a limit of £10,900 for this year, so you're good! Unless the profit exceeds £21,800.

p.s. The profit is the 'gain', so don't worry about the capital consideration. Don't forget, you can offset against any losses in recent years too.

Jonboy_t

Original Poster:

5,038 posts

183 months

Thursday 28th November 2013
quotequote all
Thanks gents! I was hoping that was the answer!

Say, for example, if the shares were at £21,799 on the last day of tax year, if I sold them all, then bought them back the next day, that £21,799 is effectively capital investment, so I could (not that it would ever happen to me!) make another £21,799 next year without paying CGT?

Sonuds like a plan!

ellroy

7,030 posts

225 months

Thursday 28th November 2013
quotequote all
If you're buying back the same shares you need to be out of them for 30 days to avoid the bed & breakfasting issue. Unless you can buy back with other funds in which case you should be fine.

Edited by ellroy on Thursday 28th November 22:27

Eric Mc

122,032 posts

265 months

Thursday 28th November 2013
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Yes - HMRC don't like that particular trick and have had measures in place to stop it for many years now.

megaphone

10,725 posts

251 months

Thursday 28th November 2013
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OP are you making full use of your ISA allowance?

Jonboy_t

Original Poster:

5,038 posts

183 months

Thursday 28th November 2013
quotequote all
I'm not making the most of the isa at the moment because of the volume of shares I hold in this company. It's about 50,000 shares and I am holding out for a significant piece of news that will mean they should hopefully pay a dividend per share. If I put them into an isa, I'll have to sell and buy back (unless I've missed a trick with that?) and would have almost a quarter of the shares I have now and a mahoosive chunk of divi!

megaphone

10,725 posts

251 months

Friday 29th November 2013
quotequote all
Yes you would have to sell and buy back the shares within an ISA wrapper, so there would be stamp duty to pay and a small loss on the spread. Some ISA providers will not charge a dealing fee.

It's always advisable to use all of your ISA allowance (and your wife's) to avoid CGT issues. £11.5K each.

Edited by megaphone on Friday 29th November 09:21