Rachel Reeves considers raising capital gains tax to 39%

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/oct/10/rachel-reeves-capital-gains-tax-rise-budget?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

Posted by AdaptableBeef

25 Comments

  1. corbynista2029 on

    >Whitehall sources say there is growing concern about the limited options for tax rises to fill a hole the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) thinktank says is as big as £25bn, ahead of the budget on 30 October.

    Well well well, it’s not like [_anyone_](https://news.sky.com/story/general-election-2024-conspiracy-of-silence-from-tories-and-labour-over-tax-plans-in-manifestos-thinktank-ifs-says-13157900) warned Rachel Reeves about the danger of ruling out raising the four largest tax revenues. Looks like she has made her own bed.

  2. ratttertintattertins on

    … Googles to check it doesn’t affect S+S ISAs or pensions…. It does not. Phew.

  3. If we do need to find 20 odd billion from somewhere, all these people against x tax rise, whats your alternative suggestion? All well being against them but that doesnt reduce the black hole in the finances

    This is politics all over – whether its MPs or the voters. Quick to criticise without offering an alternative solution

  4. ArtistEngineer on

    CGT freebies were already being scaled back under the Tories, none of this should come as any surprise.

    I think it’s fair that CGT should just be part of normal income. e.g. Australia has simple rules for Capital Gains, and you get discounts for holding an asset for longer, and primary residence is exempt.

    >If you have a net capital gain you pay tax on the gain at your marginal income tax rate.

    >If you have a net capital loss you cannot deduct it from your other income but you can carry it forward to reduce capital gains you make in future years.

    There is a capital gains tax (CGT) [discount](https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/investments-and-assets/capital-gains-tax/cgt-discount) of 50% for Australian resident individuals who own an asset for 12 months or more. This means you pay tax on only half the net capital gain on that asset.

    Some assets are [exempt from CGT](https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/investments-and-assets/capital-gains-tax/list-of-cgt-assets-and-exemptions), such as your home.

    [https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/investments-and-assets/capital-gains-tax/calculating-your-cgt](https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/investments-and-assets/capital-gains-tax/calculating-your-cgt)

  5. Careful-Swimmer-2658 on

    Workers are taxed at 40% on their wages, why shouldn’t capital gains be taxed at the same rate. Sounds suspiciously like rich people getting a better deal as usual.

  6. I am just quietly hoping that all these stupid tax rises that keep being leaked are done deliberately so whatever she actually does appears quite moderate.

  7. grapplinggigahertz on

    Raise CGT to 39% and the evidence from the past is that tax take goes down and not up.

    If the tax is increased then those with assets with capital gains, such as property or shares, simply don’t sell them in the expectation that a future Conservative government will reduce the rate.

    And no sale means no taxable gain which means no tax.

  8. I hope Reeves takes looks back of Truss’ tenure and makes smart policy choices detached from ideology.

    I know its almost Halloween but the markets don’t appreciate being spooked.

    Mortgage swap rates have already started rising and lets hope mortgage rates don’t jump back to 6% the day after the budget.

  9. Stop giving money to India and Pakistan they are nuclear powers, and African countries that spend it on weapons rather than people.

  10. Meet-me-behind-bins on

    Labour expands the state, raises taxes, spends money for a decade until they lose power. Tories shirk the state, cut taxes(usually), cuts spending until they lose power. This is the way of things. Hopefully one balances out the other over long term. So long as the individuals making and delivering the policies don’t do anything stupid. Which is where the dialectic falls apart.

  11. I keep hearing about capital gains tax recently. Can someone explain in absolute laymen terms what it is?

  12. thebuttonmonkey on

    If only there were some recently occurred enormous black hole in the economy we could do something about instead.

  13. I’ve spent 10 years trying to get on the property ladder by investing in crypto. I feel like I’m about to get absolutely shafted on the year it comes good.

    I can speak personally to the not selling thing. I’m either gunna not invest the cash stack I have and just use that for a property. And then just leave the crypto because it’s not worth selling.

    I’m really distressed about this potential cap gains rise tbh. Half considering leaving the county.

  14. I think my honeymoon period is over with labour. We can’t keep taxing people for everything.

  15. It feels like a Student Union debating society have magically got into power and get to run the show. I’m not at all hating on their good intent or wanting society to be a better and balanced place but jeez… if you want to be too ideological, look what happened to the last Lettuce that tried it.

    No pressure Rachel, you get paid enough to make the right decisions.

    You’ll have your name in history for being famous or infamous.

  16. Careful-Work-8209 on

    Ok, if they do that then I will leave the UK. CGT this high makes it impossible to FIRE in the UK.

  17. It’s mostly a tax on money that has already been taxed (savings invested into stocks/property), it isn’t indexed for inflation and is a gain from taking a risk on an investment.

    This would result in a drop in tax revenue and investment into this country drying up, which we desperately need in businesses/housing to keep our economy alive.

    Most would prefer to invest their money abroad, in pensions or hold onto their assets until a new government realises the error and reduces the rate.

  18. Or just accept that governments aren’t households and debt and deficit is necessary for growth? Generally because you get more back in GDP for the economy for every pound of debt spent on things like infrastructure. You just need to be sensible in what infrastructure…

    Oh now I see the problem with that. You actually need the government to pick sensible infrastructure projects and finish them

    My bad

  19. Hmm, should be a minimum turnover for this to apply, otherwise it may discourage small businesses from opening up and thriving.