capital gains tax: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Technical, Business/Finance
Quick answer
What does “capital gains tax” mean?
A tax on the profit made from selling an asset for more than its purchase price.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A tax on the profit made from selling an asset for more than its purchase price.
A direct tax levied on the positive difference between the sale price of a capital asset and its original purchase price (or adjusted basis). It is typically triggered upon the sale or disposal of the asset.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Concept and term are identical. Differences lie in specific rates, allowances (e.g., UK's Annual Exempt Amount vs. US tax brackets), and rules for asset types. The abbreviation 'CGT' is common in both, but more prevalent in UK official documents.
Connotations
Neutral technical term in both. In political discourse, it can carry connotations related to wealth, investment incentives, and economic fairness.
Frequency
High frequency in financial news, personal finance, and policy discussions in both regions. Slightly more everyday exposure in the US due to common investment in taxable brokerage accounts.
Grammar
How to Use “capital gains tax” in a Sentence
[Subject] pays capital gains tax on [Asset].Capital gains tax is levied on [Gain].[Government] increased the capital gains tax rate.You must declare capital gains tax.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “capital gains tax” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The transaction was designed to capital-gains-tax the profit efficiently.
- He was busy capital gains taxing his portfolio.
American English
- They strategized to capital-gains-tax the sale over two fiscal years.
adjective
British English
- The capital-gains-tax implications were severe.
- He sought capital-gains-tax advice.
American English
- We reviewed the capital-gains-tax liability before proceeding.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The merger was structured to help shareholders defer capital gains tax.
Academic
The paper analyses the impact of progressive capital gains tax on entrepreneurial investment.
Everyday
Before you sell the flat, talk to an accountant about the capital gains tax you might owe.
Technical
The taxpayer's net capital gain is calculated after applying the relevant discount percentage for assets held longer than 12 months.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “capital gains tax”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “capital gains tax”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “capital gains tax”
- Incorrect pluralisation: 'capital gains taxes' (generally uncountable, though possible when comparing different countries' systems).
- Misspelling: 'capital gain tax' (missing the 's' on 'gains').
- Confusing it with corporate tax or sales tax.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. While often reported on income tax returns, CGT is a separate tax applied specifically to profits from the sale of capital assets, typically at different rates than ordinary income (like salary).
Often, no. Many jurisdictions (like the US and UK) offer significant exemptions or reliefs for a primary residence, provided certain conditions (like length of occupancy) are met.
Short-term gains (on assets held for a short period, e.g., under one year) are usually taxed at higher, ordinary income tax rates. Long-term gains (on assets held longer) benefit from preferential, lower tax rates.
Common strategies include holding assets long-term to qualify for lower rates, using annual tax-free allowances, offsetting gains with capital losses ('tax-loss harvesting'), and investing through tax-advantaged accounts like ISAs (UK) or 401(k)s (US).
A tax on the profit made from selling an asset for more than its purchase price.
Capital gains tax is usually formal, technical, business/finance in register.
Capital gains tax: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkæp.ɪ.t̬əl ˈɡeɪnz ˌtæks/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkæp.ə.t̬əl ˈɡeɪnz ˌtæks/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: When your CAPITAL (money/assets) GAINS (increases in value), the TAX man wants a share.
Conceptual Metaphor
TAX AS A SHARE / TOLL: The government takes a share of your financial gain as a toll for the economic system that enabled it.
Practice
Quiz
Capital gains tax is primarily levied on: