By Dubai Tax Resident Editorial Team · Last reviewed: October 2026
Once you are non-resident in the UK, you are generally not liable to UK capital gains tax on most assets, such as shares, funds and crypto. The main exceptions are UK land and property, which non-residents must report and pay tax on within 60 days of selling, interests in UK property-rich companies, and assets used in a UK business. If you return to the UK within five years, the temporary non-residence rules can also tax gains on assets you held before leaving.
Key facts
- Most assets: no UK CGT for non-residents on shares, funds or crypto
- UK property: taxable for non-residents, residential and commercial
- Property-rich companies: indirect disposals of a 25%+ interest can be taxed
- Reporting: UK property disposals must be reported within 60 days of completion
- Rates: 18% and 24% for individuals
- Rebasing: gains can be measured from April 2015 (residential) or April 2019 (other property)
- Temporary non-residence: return within five years can bring gains back into charge
What non-residents are not taxed on
When you are non-resident under the Statutory Residence Test, gains on most assets fall outside UK capital gains tax, including:
- shares in UK and foreign companies, unless the company is UK property-rich,
- investment funds and ETFs,
- cryptoassets held as personal investments, and
- foreign property.
In the UAE, individuals pay no capital gains tax on private investments, so these gains can be entirely tax-free if you are genuinely non-resident and do not return within five years.
UK property: still taxable
Since April 2015 for residential property and April 2019 for commercial property and land, non-residents pay UK capital gains tax on disposals of UK property. Since April 2019, this also covers indirect disposals: selling an interest of at least 25% in a company that holds mainly UK land, typically where at least 75% of its value comes from UK property.
Rebasing
Non-residents can usually choose to calculate the gain from the property’s market value on 5 April 2015 for residential property, or 5 April 2019 for commercial property and indirect disposals, so that gains before those dates are not taxed. You can also time-apportion or use the full gain if that is better.
Reporting within 60 days
Non-residents must report every disposal of UK property through HMRC’s online UK property reporting service within 60 days of completion, and pay any tax due, even if no tax is payable or a loss arises. Late reporting leads to penalties. See GOV.UK for the current process.
Rates and allowances
Individuals pay capital gains tax at 18% within the basic rate band and 24% above it. The annual exempt amount is GBP 3,000. Private residence relief can apply to your former home, but for non-residents it is restricted to tax years in which you spent at least 90 midnights in the property.
The temporary non-residence trap
If you were UK resident in at least four of the seven tax years before leaving and you return within five years, gains on assets you owned before departure and sold while abroad are taxed in the year you return. This includes shares in your own company. The safest approach for large disposals is either to sell after a full five years abroad or to be confident you will not return within that period.
Practical tips before you sell
- Confirm you are non-resident for the tax year of the sale, ideally with split-year treatment for the year you leave.
- Check whether a company you hold is UK property-rich.
- For UK property, get a valuation at the rebasing date and diarise the 60-day deadline.
- Consider your plans to return to the UK before selling assets you held when you left.
- Check how the UK-UAE double tax treaty applies if you could be resident in both countries.
Planning a sale after leaving the UK?
We help you confirm your non-resident status, time disposals and avoid UK capital gains tax traps.
Frequently asked questions
Generally not on shares, funds, crypto or foreign assets. Non-residents do pay UK capital gains tax on UK land and property, interests in UK property-rich companies and assets used in a UK business.
Not if you are non-resident under the Statutory Residence Test and the company is not UK property-rich. If you return to the UK within five years, gains on shares held before you left can be taxed on return.
Through HMRC’s online UK property reporting service within 60 days of completion, paying any tax due at the same time. You must report even if there is no tax to pay.
Rebasing lets non-residents calculate the gain from the property’s value on 5 April 2015 for residential property, or 5 April 2019 for other property, so earlier gains are not taxed.
Individuals pay 18% on gains within the basic rate band and 24% above it. The annual exempt amount is GBP 3,000.
Only for tax years in which you spent at least 90 midnights in the property, or periods when it was your home while you were UK resident.
If you were UK resident in four of the seven years before leaving and return within five years, gains on assets owned before departure and sold while abroad are taxed in the year you return.
No. Individuals in the UAE pay no tax on private capital gains. Gains made through a company or a business activity may fall under UAE corporate tax.
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Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and is not tax advice. UK capital gains tax rates and reliefs change; consult a qualified UK tax adviser before selling.