Capital gains tax (or CGT) is the tax levied by the government on the profits made from financial asset sales. CGT regulations and levels vary from country to country.
When you buy most financial assets like shares or commodities, you are doing so in the hope that you will later be able to sell them on at a profit. When that profit is incurred it is usually subject to capital gains tax.
Some financial products and markets do not incur capital gains tax. In the UK, for example, the derivative trading product spread betting is exempt from CGT, as is share dealing when you use an ISA.* CGT regulations change over time though, so that might not always be the case.
