Australian Capital Gains Tax Calculator 2026
Last verified · Methodology
Enter your purchase price, sale price, and holding period to calculate your capital gain and CGT liability. The 50% CGT discount is automatically applied for individual taxpayers holding assets for more than 12 months.
Capital Gains Details
CGT is included in your annual income tax return. Capital losses must be applied to capital gains before the 50% discount is calculated. Main residence exemption applies to most family homes. This calculator provides an estimate only. For complex CGT events (property, crypto, shares) consult a registered tax agent. Does not constitute tax advice.
| Capital Gain | Held under 12 months | Held over 12 months (50% discount) |
|---|---|---|
| A$10,000 | A$3,000 | A$1,500 |
| A$25,000 | A$7,500 | A$3,750 |
| A$50,000 | A$15,000 | A$7,500 |
| A$100,000 | A$30,000 | A$15,000 |
| A$200,000 | A$60,000 | A$30,000 |
| A$500,000 | A$150,000 | A$75,000 |
Australian resident individuals and some trusts are entitled to a 50% capital gains tax (CGT) discount on assets held for more than 12 months before disposal. Only half the net capital gain (after applying any capital losses) is included in your taxable income. The discount does not reduce the gain to zero; it halves the taxable portion which is then taxed at your marginal rate. Superannuation funds receive a 33.3% discount. Companies and other entities do not receive the CGT discount. The 12-month holding period is calculated from the date of acquisition to the date of disposal.
The cost base of a CGT asset generally includes the original purchase price, stamp duty paid on acquisition, legal fees for the purchase and sale transaction, brokerage fees or agent commissions, and the cost of capital improvements to the asset. For investment properties, depreciation previously claimed reduces the cost base. The cost base is subtracted from the sale proceeds to calculate the capital gain. A reduced cost base applies when calculating a capital loss and excludes some elements.
Your primary home (main residence) is generally fully exempt from CGT. If you have lived in the property for the entire period you owned it, you will not pay CGT when you sell. If the property was used for income purposes (for example, rented out for part of the ownership period or used for business), a partial exemption applies based on the proportion of time and floor area used privately. You can only have one main residence at a time for CGT purposes, though there are limited overlap provisions when moving between homes.
Capital losses (where you sell an asset for less than its cost base) can only be used to reduce capital gains, not other income. Capital losses must first be applied against all capital gains (both discountable and non-discount) in the same financial year before the 50% discount is applied. Any unused capital losses are carried forward to future years and applied against future capital gains. You cannot choose to carry forward a capital loss if you have capital gains available in the same year.
Yes. The ATO treats cryptocurrency as a CGT asset, not as currency. Disposal events that trigger CGT include selling crypto for AUD, exchanging one cryptocurrency for another, using crypto to purchase goods or services, and gifting crypto. The 50% CGT discount applies to crypto held as an investment for more than 12 months by individuals. Personal use assets (under $10,000 acquired for personal use and promptly used) may be exempt. Record-keeping is essential as the ATO has data-matching capabilities with Australian exchanges.
Capital gains and losses are reported in your individual tax return in the capital gains section. You calculate the net capital gain (or loss) for the year by totalling all capital events. Apply capital losses, then the CGT discount if eligible. The net capital gain is included in your taxable income at the grossed-up amount (pre-discount). If you have complex CGT events, a registered tax agent or the ATO's CGT worksheets can help. Record-keeping obligations require you to keep records for all CGT assets for at least 5 years after the CGT event.