Simple assessment and real-time reporting for capital gains tax (CGT) are two ways for HMRC and taxpayers to sidestep self assessment for income and gains.

HMRC sent out a record number of simple assessments for 2023/24. We explain what they are and explore some of the problem areas. We also explain how the often overlooked real-time reporting for CGT works and look at current issues with CGT reporting more generally.

Links

• TAXguide 09/18: simple assessment - https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxguides/2018/taxguide-0918-simple-assessment 
• Simple Assessment guide for pensioners - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pensioners-and-tax-communications-materials/simple-assessment-guide-for-pensioners 
• Agent Update: issue 131 - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/agent-update-issue-131/issue-131-of-agent-update#simple 
• Consider using the real-time CGT service to report gains - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2024/apr-2024/consider-using-the-real-time-cgt-service-to-report-gains 
• TAXguide 15/20: Capital gains tax UK property disposal reporting - https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-faculty/taxguides/2020/taxguide-1520-capital-gains-tax-uk-property-disposal-reporting 

Panellists

• Stephen Relf, Technical Manager, Tax, ICAEW
• Caroline Miskin, Senior Technical Manager, Digital Tax, ICAEW 
• Katherine Ford, Technical Manager, Personal Taxes, ICAEW

Producer

Ed Adams

Episode first published: 2 July 2025
Podcast recorded: 24 June 2025