Last autumn, he announced the current complicated system was to be abolished and replaced by a flat-rate 18 per cent charge on investment profits from the start of the 2008-9 financial year.

At present, tax is usually levied at 40 per cent.

However, groups who qualify for lower rates said the new proposals would leave them at a disadvantage.

They include owners of small businesses who can sell their concerns with CGT of 10 per cent, provided they have been running them long enough, and participants in employee share schemes, who may enjoy a 5 per cent rate.

Although Darling agreed last month to allow entrepreneurs to pay 10 per cent tax on the first £1million of gains, the CBI and employee share scheme group ifs ProShare say the changes should be delayed 12 months to allow taxpayers to plan properly.

ProShare spokes-woman Fiona Downes said: “Many employee shareholders will now have to make very quick decisions about whether or not to sell or hold some of their shares.”


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