A capital gain or loss determined in respect of the disposal of a personal-use asset of a natural person or a special trust must be disregarded.

A personal-use asset is defined as –

‘an asset of a natural person or a special trust that is used mainly for purposes other than the carrying on of a trade’.

Examples of personal-use assets include artwork, jewellery, household furniture and effects, a microlight aircraft or hang glider, veteran cars, private motor vehicles (including a vehicle used mainly for business purposes in respect of which a travel allowance is received), stamp or coin collections (but excluding gold or platinum coins whose value is mainly derived from the metal content). In order to qualify as a personal-use asset the asset must be used ‘mainly’ for non-trade purposes. The word ‘mainly’ has been held to mean more than 50%.

 

A capital gain arising on the disposal of an asset other than a financial instrument by operation of law (for example, expropriation), theft or destruction is held over until the disposal of its replacement asset.