CGT and non-residents

In general, capital gains made by a non-resident are assessable only in relation to taxable Australian property, including real property and land-rich Australian companies. A land-rich company has more than 50% of its asset value in land.

Comparable treatment is available for interests held through a fixed trust.

CGT withholding measures – non-resident vendors

For sale contracts from 1 July 2016, purchasers of Australian real property interests from foreign residents need to withhold a percentage from the purchase price and send it to the Tax Office.

The measures apply to direct and indirect property interests.

The percentage withholding rate was 10% until 30 June 2017, and 12.5% thereafter.

[Update: MYEFO 2023] From 1 January 2025 the withholding rate will be 15%, and transaction threshold set to zero (previously $750,000).

Detailed procedures and forms are set out here.

See also:

Extension of foreign resident CGT measures

[update 9 May 2017

The Government will extend Australia’s foreign resident capital gains tax (CGT) regime by:

  • denying foreign and temporary tax residents access to the CGT main residence exemption from 7:30PM (AEST) on 9 May 2017, however existing properties held prior to this date are grandfathered until 30 June 2020. See further on this here.
  • increasing the CGT withholding rate for foreign tax residents from 10 % to 12.5%, from 1 July 2017; and
  • reducing the CGT withholding threshold for foreign tax residents from $2 million to $750,000, from 1 July 2017.

In other measures, the government proposes:

  • Foreign investor levy: An annual foreign investment levy of at least $5,000 on all future foreign investors who fail to either occupy or lease their property for at least six months each year.
  • The Government will introduce a 50 per cent cap on foreign ownership in new developments through a condition on New Dwelling Exemption Certificates. The cap will be included as a condition on New Dwelling Exemption Certificates where the application was made from 7:30PM (AEST) on 9 May 2017.
  • Foreign and temporary tax residents will be denied access to the CGT main residence exemption from 7:30PM (AEST) on 9 May 2017, however existing properties held prior to this date will be grandfathered until 30 June 2019 (later amended to 30 June 2020).

Withholding tax on sale of property

The Federal Budget 2013 introduced the 10% non-final withholding tax on the proceeds of the sale of ‘taxable’ Australian property by non-residents. Amending legislation was passed by the parliament on 22 February 2016, and took effect from 1 July 2016.

The measures require the payer (i.e. purchaser) in a property sale transaction to withhold 10% of the property sale proceeds unless an exemption or exception applies.

An Australian resident vendor selling real property over the value threshold, needs to obtain a clearance certificate from the ATO prior to settlement to ensure they don’t incur 10% withholding.

‘Non-final withholding tax’ means that the tax withheld from a transaction can be included as a credit or offset against an income tax assessment arising from the lodgment of a tax return by the vendor.

The withholding regime applies to direct and certain indirect interests in

  • Real property in Australia – land, buildings, residential and commercial property
  • Mining, quarrying or prospecting rights

Exemptions/exclusions include

  • value threshold: property transactions valued at under $750,000 from 1 July 2017 (the threshold was $2 million up to 30 June 2017)
  • stock exchange transactions
  • foreign resident vendor under external administration or in bankruptcy
  • securities lending arrangements which are eligible for CGT roll-over relief
  • transactions for which ATO-issued clearance certificate is obtained

Mortgagee sale where there’s no residue

A legislative instrument was introduced to exempt mortgagees exercising a power of sale in defined circumstances, including where the net sales proceeds are insufficient to pay the mortgage debt.

See

Removal of capital gains tax discount for non-residents

The 50% capital gains tax discount for foreign and temporary resident individuals on taxable Australian real property or mining assets capital gains accrued after 7.30 pm (AEST) on 8 May 2012 is no longer available.

Non-residents will be subjected to tax on 100% of such gains, apportioned where necessary to the attributable periods (number of days) of non-residence.

In anticipation of this legislation, a market valuation of affected assets as at the date of commencement, 8 May 2012, will enable that gains accrued before that date to be identified, and still be eligible for the discount.

See further here: CGT discount for foreign resident individuals and here: Resident V Non-Resident Tax Status – Why Should I Care?

Non Resident Capital Gains Tax on Shares

A non-resident taxpayer only pays CGT on shares in a public company if they hold more than 10 per cent of the total value of the company.

CGT and Temporary residents

Temporary residents are in general treated in the same way as non-residents for CGT purposes, but there are exceptions.

To be treated as a temporary resident, a person must hold a temporary resident visa (not having previously been resident) and not be a resident or have spouse who is a resident within the meaning of the Social Security Act 1991. See Temporary residents.

Under temporary tax resident rules, a temporary resident is not liable to capital gains tax on non-Australian property. Special rules apply to capital gains on shares and rights acquired under employee share schemes.

See separate (proposed continuation) of capital gains exemption on sale of main residence by a temporary resident (referred to above).

Becoming resident, and cessation of temporary residence

On becoming resident, taxable Australian property is deemed to have been acquired at market value from that date. (This does not apply property acquired before the introduction of capital gains tax in 1985).

The main residence exemptions and extensions can apply to a foreign residence, and within the limitations of the main residence exemption rules, can apply to exempt gains which accrued from the date of becoming tax resident.

Becoming non-resident

The effect of becoming non-resident can trigger a capital gain, without an actual disposal of the asset having taken place, however the CGT impact can be deferred.

In general, assets which are not taxable Australian property are deemed to have been disposed of at market value on the date a person ceases to be an Australian resident.   However the taxpayer can choose to defer the CGT effect of such gains (and losses) on the basis that henceforth:

  • all assets are deemed to be taxable Australian property
  • CGT will be accounted for whenever an asset is disposed of in future

(Election under section 104-165)

Double tax treaties

Domestic tax rules in general give way to tax treaties. A capital gains deferral obtained on becoming non-resident (referred to in the previous paragraph), may eventually be disregarded in Australia on subsequent disposal of the asset if the foreign country has taxing rights under a treaty.

In other cases the Australian tax will generally only apply as a top-up to tax paid in the foreign jurisdiction.

Further information:

See also:

Foreign Investment In Australia Policies

This page was last modified 2021-08-09