Capital Gains Tax (CGT)

Capital Gains Tax (CGT) is the Irish tax on profit made when you dispose of an asset that has gone up in value. The current rate is 33%, applied to the gain — sale proceeds minus original cost minus allowable expenses — not the headline sale price.

The most common assets in scope are shares, investment property, second homes, business interests, and cryptocurrency. Your principal private residence is generally exempt from CGT, provided it was your home for the period you owned it. There’s also an annual personal exemption of €1,270 — the first €1,270 of gains each year is tax-free.

CGT operates on a self-assessment basis. Disposals made between January and November are paid by 15 December the same year; December disposals are paid by 31 January of the following year. The CG1 return is filed with the rest of your income tax filing the year after the disposal.

A few useful nuances: spousal transfers and transfers to a civil partner are exempt, losses can be carried forward to offset future gains, and Principal Private Residence Relief is apportioned if a property was rented out at any point. Use the income tax calculator for overall liability or the rental yield calculator when planning a buy-to-let sale.