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In our CGT Report, Unclaimed CGD (Capital Gains Discount) appears when losses are used to offset your profits. In these cases, the capital gains discount can’t be applied, so the unclaimed amount is highlighted in red on the spreadsheet.

This acts as a visual reminder and can help you explore whether a different capital gains calculation method may produce a better outcome.

For example, in the attached case, there are over $26k of unclaimed CGD. Using the 50% discount rule, this could translate into more than $13k in potential tax savings.

For Investors with Losses

• If your portfolio includes capital losses, consider:
  • Non-CGD trades with highest profit first, or
  • Non-CGD trades with lowest profit first
• Why?
  • You cannot apply the Capital Gains Discount (CGD) to offset losses under Australian tax law.
  • By prioritising non-CGD trades first, you preserve CGD-eligible assets (held for more than 12 months) for future years when profits may be higher.
  • This approach helps maximise long-term tax efficiency.

Example:

• You sell shares with a $10,000 profit (held less than 12 months) and have $10,000 in capital losses.
• Losses cancel out the profit → no tax payable.
• If you had instead sold a CGD-eligible asset ($10,000 profit held over 12 months):
  • 50% discount applies → taxable profit is $5,000.
  • Your $10,000 loss offsets $5,000 profit → leaving $5,000 loss unused.
• Result: You “waste” the CGD benefit. That’s why non-CGD trades first is more efficient.

For Investors with Profits

• If you don’t have losses:
  • Keep your CGD-eligible trades.
  • These attract a 50% tax reduction on profits from assets held longer than 12 months.

Example:

• You sell shares held over 12 months for a $20,000 gain.
• CGD applies → only $10,000 is taxable.
• Compared to selling short-term shares with the same profit, you save tax on half the amount.

Tax-Free Threshold Considerations (2025)

• The Australian tax-free threshold is $18,200.
• If you have no other income, you can use this strategically:

1. Non-CGD method
   • Sell shares with a $18,200 profit (held under 12 months).
   • Entire amount is taxable → $18,200.
   • Falls within the threshold → no tax payable.
2. CGD method
   • Sell CGD-eligible shares with a $36,400 profit (held over 12 months).
   • CGD applies → 50% discount = $18,200 taxable.
   • Falls within the threshold → no tax payable.

👉 This way, you can choose the right method based on whether you have losses, profits, or low total income — maximising tax efficiency.

Yes you can! One of the strengths of Stock Profit is the ability to test multiple calculation methods before deciding which is the most tax-efficient for you.

How to Compare Methods in Stock Profit

1. Make a copy of your Stock Profit spreadsheet.

2. Run different CGT calculation methods, such as:

   • FIFO (First In, First Out)

   • LIFO (Last In, First Out)

   • Highest profit first

   • Biggest loss first

   • Non-CGD vs CGD trades

3. Compare the tax outcomes side-by-side to see which approach results in the lowest taxable gains.

4. Select the method that legally minimises your tax liability.

Example: Comparing FIFO vs Highest Profit First

• Portfolio:

  • 100 shares bought at $10 each (held < 12 months) → cost $1,000

  • 100 shares bought at $20 each (held > 12 months) → cost $2,000

  • Current price = $30 per share

• You sell 100 shares at $30 = $3,000 total proceeds.

Method 1 – FIFO (First In, First Out):

• Sell the $10 shares (cost $1,000).

• Profit = $3,000 – $1,000 = $2,000.

• Held < 12 months → no CGD.

• Taxable gain = $2,000.

Method 2 – Highest Profit First (CGD-eligible):

• Sell the $20 shares (cost $2,000).

• Profit = $3,000 – $2,000 = $1,000.

• Held > 12 months → CGD applies (50%).

• Taxable gain = $500.

👉 By choosing the right method, you reduce taxable gains from $2,000 to $500.

You need to be very careful here. The ATO specifically targets wash sales, which occur when you sell an asset purely to create a tax loss and then quickly repurchase the same (or substantially similar) asset.

What Happens if You Do This?

• The ATO may decide the transaction was done only for tax benefits.

• If so, they can:

  • Deny the capital loss claimed.

  • Impose penalties and interest.

What Counts as “Similar”?

• Rebuying the exact same shares soon after selling almost always raises red flags.

• Buying substantially identical investments (e.g. a different class of the same company’s shares, or an ETF tracking the same index) can also be caught.

Safer Alternatives

• If your goal is portfolio management, consider:

  • Switching into a different company in the same sector.

  • Using an ETF or managed fund with a broader mix of holdings.

• Make sure there is a genuine commercial reason for the sale, not just a tax benefit.

👉 In short: you can’t simply sell and rebuy the same stock to reduce tax: The ATO will likely treat this as a wash sale. But you can restructure your portfolio in ways that achieve both tax and investment goals, as long as it’s genuine.

Our calculations are extremely accurate, provided your data is entered correctly.

Stock Profit’s system is designed to be fully ATO-compliant and audit-ready. The formulas account for all Australian tax requirements, including cost-base adjustments, discount methods, and complex scenarios such as stock splits and bonus issues.

Yes! Stock Profit supports CSV imports from major Australian brokers including:

• Commsec
• Selfwealth
• Open Trader
• Stake Aus
• Stake US
• NabTrade
• IBKR
• Superhero
• Betashares

This eliminates manual data entry and reduces the risk of errors.

Absolutely. Stock Profit automatically converts foreign currencies using historical exchange rates, making it ideal for investors with international portfolios.

To give you the best outcome, our system applies the daily high rate for buys and the daily low rate for sells, ensuring your profit or loss isn’t overstated.

Prefer to use your own figures? No problem—you can enter your own currency conversion (including transfer fees) and add notes for tax purposes, which may be more beneficial depending on your situation.

All conversions are fully ATO-compliant for accurate tax reporting.