Negligible value claims and agreements

For tax purposes there is no accepted definition of ‘negligible value’. It usually applies to assets that have become worth almost nothing while someone has owned them.

Assets cannot have been of negligible value when you acquired them. They must have become of negligible value while you owned them.

If you have evidence to show that your assets no longer have any value since you acquired them, you may be able to make a negligible value claim to HMRC. You can use this to realise a loss to reduce your Capital Gains Tax liability.

Your tax office may ask the Shares and Assets Valuation team to consider your claim.

Negligible value claims for company shares and securities

If the company is in liquidation or receivership

You’ll need to give the following information:

If the company is not in liquidation or receivership

You’ll need to give full and comprehensive information that shows the shares or securities have become of negligible value.

Negligible value agreements and claims for previously quoted companies

HMRC publishes a list of shares and securities in companies that:

You can use it to find shares which have been declared as being worth negligible value up to and including 31 August 2026.

You’ll still have to submit your claim to HMRC if you own shares or securities for a company shown on the list.

How to use the Negligible Value Agreement list