{
  "id": 10177638,
  "title": "UK has ‘low capital gains tax rates’, Healey says",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/uk-has-low-capital-gains-tax-rates-healey-says",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-27T08:37:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "City AM",
    "slug": "city-am",
    "url": "https://www.cityam.com/uk-has-low-capital-gains-tax-rates-healey-says/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Chancellor John Healey has claimed the UK has the lowest capital gains tax rate among major European economies, suggesting a potential hike in the Budget to boost economic performance. Healey emphasized the UK's competitiveness in capital taxes during discussions about business confidence. He stated that the UK boasts \"the lowest capital gains tax (CGT) of any European G7 nation\", a point that carries weight considering the speculation around potential tax reforms and revenue generation.\n\nDefence Secretary Wes Streeting and First Secretary of State Louise Haigh have voiced support for a rise in capital gains tax rates, arguing it would promote fairness and increase revenue. The Centre for Analysis of Taxation argued that targeted reforms to capital gains taxes could generate £20bn in additional revenue by 2030. Notably, economists such as former Institute for Fiscal Studies boss Paul Johnson have criticized these proposals, suggesting that they could result in lost revenue.\n\nHowever, the unpredictability of capital gains tax receipts due to the difficulty in forecasting investment behaviors has been highlighted. The Office for Budget Responsibility noted last year that forecasts of capital gains tax income were \"very high\" due to these uncertainties. Analysts at Blick Rothenberg have warned that clients might delay asset sales or alter their plans if capital gains tax rates were increased.\n\nHealey chose to refrain from providing any leads or signals that might fuel Budget speculation in his interview with The Sunday Times. He warned that tax rumors have \"real-world effects\", particularly after a series of news stories preceding last year's budget led to criticism from top economists, including the former Bank of England deputy governor Andy Haldane. Healey stressed that he wanted to maintain a tight grip on rumors, saying they have \"real-world effects\". He also expressed concern over top UK taxpayers, like Chris Rokos, leaving the country and urged them to \"stay here\" to create wealth for the nation.\n\nHealey aimed to boost business investment, confidence, and profit in the UK, stating his goal to raise levels of economic activity. He also revealed that Gordon Brown, who serves as an envoy for \"global finance\" within the government, had been sending him advice on managing the UK economy in the middle of the night. Healey referred to Brown as a \"mentor\". Healey further denied that there was any flexibility within the fiscal rules to relax borrowing limits, stating that the UK will \"meet the fiscal rules. We’ll meet them with a buffer against uncertainty.\"",
  "summary": "The UK enjoys the lowest capital gains tax rate of any major European economy, Chancellor John Healey has said, raising the prospect of another hike at the Budget. Healey has said he wanted to improve the UK’s economic fortunes yet pointed to the UK’s competitiveness on capital taxes when speaking about business confidence. He told [...]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}