Posted September 10, 2026

I’ve Sold a Property. Worried You Need to Tell HMRC Now?

Sold a Property in the UK? The Short Answer

Maybe.

If you’ve sold a UK residential property and Capital Gains Tax is due, you’ll normally need to report the sale to HMRC and pay any tax due within 60 days of completion. Waiting until you submit your next Self Assessment tax return will be too late and could result in costly penalties.

Will Private Residence Relief Apply?

If the property was your only or main home throughout your period of ownership, Private Residence Relief (PPR) may mean there’s no Capital Gains Tax to pay. However, if the property was a buy-to-let, holiday home, second home, or was your main residence for only part of the time you’ve owned it, you could owe tax.

Married couples and civil partners should be particularly careful, if you own more than one property between you, usually only one property can qualify as your main residence for Capital Gains Tax purposes at any one time.

How Do I Report the Sale?

HMRC requires you to submit a Capital Gains Tax on UK Property return.

Before you start, you’ll need details such as:

• The property’s purchase price and sale price
• The dates of purchase and sale
• Any buying and selling costs
• Details of any capital improvements made to the property
• Information about any reliefs being claimed

Don’t Miss the Deadline

Many property owners are unaware of the 60-day reporting requirement until after the deadline has passed, and HMRC will charge interest and penalties for late submissions. In some cases, these additional costs can quickly mount up, making it even more important to understand your obligations as early as possible.

If you’ve sold a property and aren’t sure whether Capital Gains Tax applies, we’d be happy to help calculate the gain, check whether any reliefs are available and submit the disclosure on your behalf.