The meaning of goodwill for a business and CGT purposes is complex.
The term 'goodwill' is rarely mentioned in legislation and there is no definition of 'goodwill' for the purposes of Capital Gains legislation. In fact, most definitions of goodwill are derived from case law.
At its simplest you could describe goodwill as the 'extra' value of a business over and above its tangible assets. In the vast majority of cases when a business is sold a significant proportion of the sale price will be for the intangible assets or goodwill of the company. This is essentially a way of putting a monetary value on the business's reputation and customer relationships.
Valuing goodwill is complex and there are many different methods which are used and that vary from industry to industry.
HMRC’s internal manual states that:
'Most businesses can be expected to have goodwill even though its value is likely to fluctuate from time to time. The fact that goodwill may not be reflected in the balance sheet of a business does not mean that it does not exist. In the same way, the writing off of purchased goodwill in the accounts of a business does not mean that its value has decreased or that it has ceased to exist.' Please contact us for further information.
Disclaimer:  This App and its contents have been produced as a helpful reference point.  The information should be used as a guide only and your specific circumstances are best discussed directly with us.
No reliance should be placed on this material and no action should be taken without seeking the appropriate professional or legal advice. Although the authors make reasonable efforts to ensure the content of this App is accurate and up-to-date, the authors make no representations, warranties or guarantees that the content is accurate, complete or up-to-date and accept no responsibility whatsoever for any loss occasioned by anyone acting on information within this App.