£2m Gain Selling a Business: £419,280 Tax With BADR

By your other income this tax year

Your income matters for the part of the gain that doesn't qualify and for the comparison without relief, because gains are taxed at 18% only while they fit in your remaining basic rate band.

Other income	Tax with BADR	Without BADR	Saving	You keep
£0	£419,280	£477,018	£57,738	£1,580,720
£20,000	£419,280	£477,464	£58,184	£1,580,720
£40,000	£419,280	£478,664	£59,384	£1,580,720
£60,000	£419,280	£479,280	£60,000	£1,580,720
£150,000	£419,280	£479,280	£60,000	£1,580,720

If you've used some of your £1m lifetime limit

BADR already used	Qualifying at 18%	Taxed at normal rates	Total tax
£0	£1,000,000	£1,000,000	£419,280
£250,000	£750,000	£1,250,000	£434,280
£500,000	£500,000	£1,500,000	£449,280
£750,000	£250,000	£1,750,000	£464,280
£1,000,000	£0	£2,000,000	£479,280

2026/27 disposals; £60,000 of other income in the second table; annual exempt amount £3,000 set against the highest-rate gains first; BADR gains use the basic rate band before other gains (HMRC CG21000). Assumes the conditions for relief are met and no losses or other gains.

Above the lifetime limit

Only the first £1m of a £2,000,000 gain can qualify. That slice is taxed at 18%; the other £1,000,000 is taxed at 24% after the £3,000 annual exempt amount comes off it (HMRC sets the allowance against the highest-rate gains first). Total: £419,280, an effective rate of 21%.

At this size the relief is worth a fixed £60,000 - 6p in the pound on the £1m that qualifies - so most of the bill is ordinary capital gains tax.

Do you qualify?

For company shares, the company must be your personal company - at least 5% of the ordinary shares and voting rights, plus the profit or proceeds test - and you must be an officer or employee, all for the 2 years before the sale. Sole traders and partners must have owned the business for 2 years; assets can still qualify if they are sold within 3 years of the business stopping. The claim deadline for a 2026/27 sale is 31 January 2029.

Your own proceeds, base cost and income

Business Asset Disposal Relief calculator →

Frequently asked questions

How much tax do I pay selling a business for a £2,000,000 gain?

With Business Asset Disposal Relief, £419,280 in 2026/27 for a higher-rate taxpayer with no earlier claims (£1,000,000 at 18% and £997,000 at 24%). Without the relief it would be £479,280.

What rate is Business Asset Disposal Relief in 2026/27?

18% for disposals on or after 6 April 2026 (14% in 2025/26, 10% before 6 April 2025), on up to £1 million of qualifying gains over your lifetime.

Do I qualify?

For company shares: at least 5% of the ordinary shares and voting rights (plus the profit or proceeds test), and being an officer or employee, for the 2 years before the sale. Sole traders and partners: owned the business for 2 years. Assets can qualify within 3 years of the business ceasing.

When must I claim?

By the first anniversary of the 31 January after the tax year of the sale - for a sale in 2026/27, 31 January 2029.

Capital gains tax by amount £100,000 gain £250,000 gain £500,000 gain £750,000 gain £1,000,000 gain £1,500,000 gain Inheritance tax calculator

Tax on Selling a Business for a £2,000,000 Gain