Say you sell shares for 40,000 euro that originally cost 25,000 euro including fees. The gain is 15,000 euro. Every person has a 1,270 euro annual exemption, so the taxable gain falls to 13,730 euro. Capital Gains Tax at 33% on that figure is 4,530.90 euro. After paying the tax you keep 10,469.10 euro of the gain on top of your original 25,000. The exemption is per person and cannot be transferred to a spouse, so a couple selling a jointly held asset can shelter 2,540 euro between them where both hold a share.
How it is calculated
Capital Gains Tax is charged on the gain, not the sale price, so you first subtract the original cost and any allowable expenses such as buying and selling fees. From that gain you deduct the 1,270 euro annual personal exemption, then apply the flat 33% rate to what remains. The same rate covers shares, investment property, and crypto-assets, though a principal private residence is usually relieved. Timing matters for payment: gains realised between 1 January and 30 November are paid by 15 December, and December gains by 31 January of the following year. Losses in the same year, and unused losses carried forward, can be set against gains before the exemption is applied. This calculator assumes a single disposal with no losses brought forward.
Frequently asked questions
How much is CGT in Ireland?
Capital Gains Tax is charged at 33% on the gain (sale price less cost and allowable expenses). Each person has a 1,270 euro annual exemption that is not transferable between spouses. Gains made between 1 January and 30 November are paid by 15 December; December gains by 31 January. The same 33% applies to crypto-assets.
What is the CGT annual exemption and who can use it?
Revenue allows each individual to shelter the first 1,270 euro of net chargeable gains in every tax year. The exemption is personal: it cannot be transferred to a spouse or civil partner, and any unused portion is lost at year end. A couple who jointly own an asset can each apply their own 1,270 euro exemption to their respective share of the gain, giving a combined shelter of 2,540 euro on that disposal.
Does CGT apply to crypto-assets in Ireland?
Yes. Revenue treats crypto-assets as chargeable assets for CGT purposes. Each disposal, including trading one crypto for another, triggers a CGT event. You calculate the euro gain at the time of disposal using either the specific identification method or the first-in-first-out rule for fungible tokens. The 33% rate and the 1,270 euro annual exemption both apply in the same way as for shares or property.
Can CGT losses be carried forward in Ireland?
Yes. A net capital loss in one year cannot be set against income, but it can be carried forward indefinitely and offset against future chargeable gains. Losses must first be used against gains in the year they arise; only the balance carries forward. Losses from assets that qualify for exemption, such as personal use chattels or the principal private residence, cannot be claimed.