Calculate your Australian capital gains tax on shares, property, and crypto. See how the 50% CGT discount and other concessions apply.
Updated October 2026Built and checked by MaverickHow it's calculatedReport an error
Capital gain
$150,000
Sale − cost base
CGT payable
$22,500
15.0% effective
Net proceeds
$327,500
Sale − CGT
Discount savings
$22,500
50% CGT discount applied
Cost base = what you originally paid (+ improvements). The rest is your real profit, minus CGT.
Held 12+ months? Only half the gain is assessable. Selling at 11 months 29 days vs 12 months can mean a six-figure difference on big gains.
Capital gains tax (CGT) applies when you sell an asset for more than you paid for it. In Australia, capital gains are added to your taxable income and taxed at your marginal rate, but if you've held the asset for 12 months or more, you only pay tax on HALF the gain (the 50% CGT discount). From 1 July 2027 the discount is replaced by cost base indexation and a 30% minimum tax for gains accruing after that date (gains built up before then keep the 50% discount). This calculator works out the tax on a gain under the current rules, factoring in the discount, capital losses, cost base adjustments and your marginal rate.
Rachel bought $20,000 of ANZ shares and sold them 18 months later for $28,000. Her marginal rate is 30%.
Capital gain: $8,000. Less brokerage ($40): $7,960. 50% discount (held 12+ months): taxable gain = $3,980. CGT at 30% = $1,194. Without the discount, she'd pay $2,388: the 12-month rule saved her $1,194.
Mark bought an investment property for $500,000 and sold it after 5 years for $720,000. He spent $30,000 on renovations and $25,000 on selling costs.
Adjusted cost base: $555,000 ($500k + $30k renos + $25k selling). Capital gain: $165,000. 50% discount: $82,500 taxable. At 37% marginal rate: CGT = $30,525. Without those records, he'd have paid CGT on the full $220,000 gain ($110,000 taxable): $40,700. Keeping them saved Mark $10,175.