Capital Gains Tax Calculator
See roughly what you'd owe in tax when you sell an investment at a profit, based on how the ATO actually assesses it: added to your income, taxed at your marginal rate.
Your details
Estimated CGT payable
$2,400
Capital gain (before discount)
$15,000
Taxable gain
$7,500
Net proceeds after tax
$12,600
Held 12 months or more, so only 50% of the gain is added to your taxable income. Effective tax rate on the gross gain: 16.0%.
This calculator adds your taxable capital gain to your other income and taxes it at your marginal rate plus the Medicare levy, the way the ATO actually assesses it, there's no separate 'CGT rate'. It doesn't account for cost base adjustments beyond what you enter, CGT exemptions (like the main residence exemption), trust or company structures, or other tax offsets. This tool provides estimates only, is not financial or tax advice, and doesn't replace advice from a registered tax agent.
How to use this calculator
- 1. What you paid, what you sold for, and any other costs like brokerage or improvements that add to your cost base.
- 2. Held the asset for 12 months or more as an individual, and only half the gain is taxable.
- 3. Your taxable capital gain stacks on top of your other income for the year, which determines your marginal rate.
FAQ
Is there a separate capital gains tax rate in Australia?
No. Australia doesn't have a standalone CGT rate, your net capital gain (after any discount) is simply added to your other taxable income for the year and taxed at your normal marginal income tax rate, plus the Medicare levy.
How does the 50% CGT discount work?
If you're an individual (or a trust) and held the asset for 12 months or more before selling, only half of the capital gain is added to your taxable income. Companies don't get this discount, and assets held under 12 months don't qualify either.
What counts as my cost base?
Broadly, what you paid for the asset plus costs directly related to buying, holding and selling it, brokerage fees, stamp duty, legal fees, and capital improvements. A higher cost base means a smaller taxable gain.
What if I made a loss instead of a gain?
A capital loss isn't tax deductible against your other income, but you can carry it forward indefinitely to offset capital gains in future years. This calculator will flag it as a loss rather than showing a CGT figure.
Does this apply to my home?
Your main residence is usually exempt from CGT entirely under the main residence exemption, this calculator doesn't model that exemption, so don't use it for your own home unless you've rented it out or it doesn't qualify for the exemption.
Related reading
What Is a Dividend? A Beginner's Guide for Australian Investors
What a dividend actually is, how dividend yield and the ex-dividend date work, and how dividends connect to franking credits and dividend reinvestment plans in Australia.
Rentvesting: How It Works (and Whether It's Worth It)
How rentvesting actually works, real Australian uptake statistics, the tax side, the related six-year CGT rule, and the genuine risks worth weighing up.
Capital Gains Tax in Australia: How It Actually Works
How CGT is calculated, the 50% discount, capital losses, CGT on shares vs property, the main residence exemption, and the legislated 2027 reform, with worked examples.
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Disclaimer
This calculator estimates CGT by adding your taxable capital gain to your other annual income and applying current individual marginal tax rates plus the Medicare levy for the 2026-27 financial year. It doesn't account for the main residence exemption, small business CGT concessions, trust or company structures, other tax offsets, or cost base adjustments beyond what you enter. This tool provides estimates only, is not financial or tax advice, and doesn't replace advice from a registered tax agent.