Australia Capital gains tax calculator

Short and long-term capital gains tax estimates by region.

By Mitch Duncan Last reviewed 8 July 2026 Methodology

Your gain

Capital gain (AUD)Holding period

Marginal income tax rate (%)

Est. tax owed

$4,625.00

Net gain

$20,375.00

Effective rate

18.5%

50% CGT discount applied (asset held >12 months).

Estimates only

Capital gains tax depends on your full tax picture, allowable losses, deferrals, and local rules not modelled here. Consult a tax professional before filing.

Next step

Income taxAnnual tax — US, UK, CA, AU Read the guideHow to Reduce Capital Gains Tax: 9 Legal Strategies

Want the full picture? How to Reduce Capital Gains Tax: 9 Legal Strategies →

How Australian Capital Gains Tax is calculated

CGT in Australia is part of income tax, not a separate tax. The net capital gain is added to your assessable income — but assets held over 12 months get a 50% discount:

Assessable gain = (gain − costs) × (50% discount if held > 12 months)

Worked example

Buy shares for $20,000, sell 18 months later for $30,000; marginal rate 32% (incl. Medicare).

Gross gain: $10,000
Held > 12 months → 50% discount → $5,000 assessable
Tax: $5,000 × 32% = $1,600

Sold within 12 months, the full $10,000 is assessable — double the taxable amount, so the discount is worth waiting for.

The 12-month discount and super

Individuals and trusts get the 50% discount; companies don't. Complying super funds get a one-third (33.3%) discount, and assets held in pension-phase super can be CGT-free — a major reason long-term investors hold growth assets inside super.

Main residence

Your main residence is generally CGT-exempt, with a 6-year rule allowing temporary absences (e.g. renting it out) while keeping the exemption.

Common mistakes

Selling at 11 months and losing the 50% discount.
Not keeping records of cost base, including brokerage and improvements.
Forgetting to offset capital losses before applying the discount.

What this doesn't cover

Small-business CGT concessions
The 6-year main-residence absence rule detail
Crypto-specific record-keeping

Related calculators

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Annual tax — US, UK, CA, AU

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Compound interest

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Sales tax / VAT / GST

Add or remove tax from a price

Current tax brackets across four countries, side by side.

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Key terms

Cost Basis Capital Gains Tax-Loss Harvesting Capital Loss Full glossary →

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between short-term and long-term capital gains?

Short-term gains (assets held one year or less in the US) are taxed as ordinary income at your marginal rate — up to 37%. Long-term gains (held over one year) get preferential rates of 0%, 15%, or 20% depending on income. The UK, Canada, and Australia have different rules — Australia gives a 50% discount on assets held over 12 months, for example.

How is capital gains tax calculated?

Gain = sale price − cost basis − selling expenses. The gain is then taxed at the applicable rate (short- or long-term in the US; ordinary income with a 50% inclusion in Canada; 50% discount in Australia; flat 10/18/20/24% bands in the UK after the annual exempt amount). The calculator above handles each market's rules.

Do I owe capital gains tax on my primary residence?

US: usually no, up to $250,000 of gain ($500,000 married filing jointly) if you've lived there 2 of the last 5 years. UK: principal residence is generally exempt under Private Residence Relief. Canada: principal residence is fully exempt. Australia: main residence is generally exempt with caveats around use and ownership period.

Can I offset capital gains with losses?

Yes — capital losses offset capital gains, and excess losses can offset some ordinary income ($3,000/year in the US; £0 — UK losses carry forward indefinitely against gains; Canada and Australia carry forward losses indefinitely). 'Tax-loss harvesting' — deliberately realising losses to offset gains — is a common end-of-year strategy.

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