FAMILY HOME – CGT – TAMPERING WITH THE SACRED COW

Back to News
ATO mattersEstate Planning

cow n house

 – FAMILY HOME – Capital Gains Tax (CGT) – 

TAMPERING WITH THE SACRED COW

“Moo!”

Or more like “Mooving house might be about to become more expensive”

700cowThat’s the sentiment surrounding the recent announcement by independent think-tank the Australia Institute, which recommends scrapping the capital gains tax exemption on the family home. Home ownership is often regarded as the sacred cow of Australian Taxonomy, ‘Surely they can’t tax the roof over my head’ being the mantra.

Don’t go panicking just yet though, because the exemption would only be scrapped for residences worth $2 million or more. That’s not too bad as most people wouldn’t have a home with that sort of market value (yet), but how would a change like this affect Australia’s economy and tax landscape?

Below is a list of tax issues that may arise due to such a change:

If the family home becomes taxable, would the interest on the mortgage, repairs & maintenance and running costs then be deductible?

Will the $2 million threshold ever be indexed upwards in future? What if the average family home today is valued at $2 million in 20 years from now?

Will this discourage people from overcapitalizing their main residence, leading to lower spec, cheaper homes?

Would family homes purchased before September 1985 retain their pre-CGT status?

house iconSo would the government seriously consider “tampering with the sacred cow”? According to the Australia Institute, the policy change would raise $11.8 billion revenue over the next four years. Not too bad while only affecting less than 1% of home sales. On the other hand, raising taxes (or cutting spending) in a weak economic environment is political suicide.

My feeling is that neither side of politics would be game enough to take it to an election!

ant

 

 

 

 

 

ANTONY MONALDI

SNR ACCOUNTANT -OPTIMA PARTNERS

Optima Partners offers support to all businesses. Whatever your requirements

For more information on how Optima Partners’ services can help your business, contact the team at info@optimapartners.com.au for a consultation.

Latest News

SMSF property investment: A comprehensive guide
For many investors, a popular way to invest directly in residential or commercial property is...
Super tax still on the table after first parliament session
The first sitting fortnight of the 48th Federal Parliament shed little light on the fate...
Capital gains tax in Australia: what you need to know before you sell assets
Capital gains tax (CGT) in Australia applies when you sell certain assets. Understanding the consequence...
Key Dates – August 2025
August 11: Q4 (April–June) activity statements lodged electronically – final date for lodgement and payment....
Small business tax deductions in Australia: what you can and can’t claim
The small business sector is the backbone of the Australian economy, representing over 95% of...
Important changes for FY 2025-26
Recent tax changes will affect how businesses manage cash flow, debt and compliance obligations. In...
Key Dates – July 2025
July 1: Beginning of 2025-26 financial year. July 21: Lodgement and payment of June 2025...
ATO third-party data collection: implications for taxpayers
As the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) expands its use of data-matching technology, businesses and individuals...
Succession planning in ATO spotlight
Wealthy privately-owned groups have seen an increase in unexpected tax consequences as the ATO firms...
Tax misinformation: CPA warns against AI and influencers
Taxpayers are increasingly turning to unreliable sources for tax advice as the 2024-25 financial year...