Harcourts Wellington Point
CAPITAL Gains Tax is one of those things many property investors don’t fully think about until it’s time to sell.
I’m having more conversations about it right now than I have in a long time, and for good reason.
Between strong price growth over the past few years and the possibility of changes in the upcoming Federal Budget, it’s something every investor should have on their radar.
The first thing to understand is that in Australia, Capital Gains Tax (CGT) isn’t a separate tax rate.
It’s simply added to your income and taxed at your normal marginal rate.
So how much you pay really depends on your overall income in that financial year.
Where it gets interesting – and where many people get confused – is the 50 per cent discount.
If you’ve held an investment property for more than 12 months, you only pay tax on half the profit.
So, for example, if you make a $100,000 gain, only $50,000 is added to your taxable income.
From there, it’s taxed at whatever bracket you fall into.
That’s why CGT can look very different from one seller to the next.
If you sell within 12 months, there’s no discount at all – the full gain is taxed – which is why property has always been considered a long-term investment.
And that’s something I say to all investors: Property is a long game.
The real gains are typically seen by those who hold for 10 years or more.
We’ve been lucky in recent years with strong growth, but historically, it’s time in the market that delivers the best results.
Another key point is your family home.
In most cases, your principal place of residence is exempt from CGT altogether, which is why some investors consider moving into a property before selling. It’s not always straightforward, and it’s something to speak to your accountant about, but it’s one of the strategies people look at.
From my perspective as an agent, I’m always very careful not to give financial advice.
That’s the role of a good accountant, and I can’t stress enough how important that is.
The right advice can make a significant difference not just to how much tax you pay, but also to when you should sell.
That timing question is becoming more important right now.
There’s growing discussion that the Government may reduce the 50 per cent discount – potentially to 25 per cent – or move to an inflation-based system.
While it’s likely any changes would mainly apply to future investments, there is still a lot of uncertainty.
What I am seeing on the ground is some investors starting to think about bringing properties to market sooner rather than later.
My advice is simple. If you’ve already been considering selling, don’t wait for a major announcement and then react at the same time as everyone else.
When too many investors hit the market at once, competition increases and prices can soften.
Acting earlier can mean less competition and potentially a better result.
At the same time, we’re still seeing a shortage of stock in many areas, including locally, which continues to support prices.
It’s not a case of panic selling; it’s about being strategic.
For first-time investors, my advice is to plan for CGT from the start.
Make sure you’re buying a quality asset with strong growth potential and that you’re able to hold it long term.
And most importantly, build a good team around you, especially a trusted accountant, because when it comes time to sell, CGT can have a big impact on results.
It’s not something to fear, but it is something to understand.
