Personal investors guide to capital gains tax 2005

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Appendixes

Appendix 1 Some major share transactions

Company

Details of transaction

AMP Ltd

Demutualisation

The acquisition cost for AMP Ltd shares was $10.43 per share and the acquisition date was 20 November 1997.

Demerger

In December 2003 the UK operations of AMP (referred to as 'HHG') were demerged from AMP. There were tax consequences from the demerger for shareholders in 2003-04 which are set out in our fact sheet AMP Group demerger: How it affects Australian resident shareholders. You can also work out the cost base of AMP and HHG shares after the demerger using the fact sheet or the AMP LTD Demerger calculator on our website.

If you used the AMP demerger calculator before December 2004, your 'AMP shares - cost base report' may be incorrect if, in the calculation, your two largest share parcels appear one after the other in the report and the difference between the two share parcels is 10 shares or less. See AMP demerger .

2005 return of capital

On 16 June 2005, AMP made a return of capital to shareholders of $0.40 per share.

Shareholders needed to reduce the cost base and reduced cost base of each share by $0.40. For each share that had a cost base of less than $0.40, the difference was a capital gain in 2004-05.

See our fact sheet AMP 2005 return of capital .

Australian Co-operative Foods Ltd

Restructure

On 29 June 2004, Australian Co-operative Foods Ltd undertook a restructure which involved a number of steps, including its members receiving shares in Dairy Farmers Milk Co-operative Ltd.

The CGT consequences are set out in our fact sheet 2004 Australian Co-operative Foods Ltd restructure .

Australian Gas Light Company Ltd (AGL)

Return of capital

On 29 April 2005, AGL made a return of capital to shareholders of $0.50 per share.

Shareholders needed to reduce the cost base and reduced cost base of each share by $0.50. For each share that had a cost base of less than $0.50, the difference was a capital gain in 2004-05.

See our fact sheet Australian Gas Light Company (AGL) 2005 return of capital .

Bank of Western Australia

Takeover

During September 2003, HBOS plc acquired all shares in Bank of Western Australia. Minority shareholders received $4.25 per share.

The shares were disposed of on or about 11 September 2003.

If the capital proceeds of $4.25 were more than the cost base of the share, the difference was a capital gain in 2003-04. If $4.25 was less than the share's reduced cost base, the difference was a capital loss.

BHP Billiton Limited

Demerger

In July 2002 BHP shareholders received one BHP Steel Ltd share for every five BHP Billiton shares held. In November 2003 BHP Steel Limited changed its name to BlueScope Steel Limited.

BHP Billiton has advised that BHP Steel represented 5.063% of the market value of the group as a whole just after the demerger. Shareholders who received BHP Steel shares should use this percentage to apportion the sum of the cost bases of their post-CGT BHP Billiton shares between these shares and the BHP Steel shares they received in relation to those post-CGT BHP Billiton shares.

The fact sheet 2002 BHP Billiton Group demerger and the demergers calculator on our website will help you work out the cost bases of your BHP Billiton and BlueScope shares after the demerger.

2004 share buy-back

On 23 November 2004, BHP Billiton completed an off-market share buy-back. Shareholders who took part in the buy-back received $12.57 per share, which included a fully franked dividend of $10.47 per share.

For capital gains tax purposes, they are taken to have received $4.04 per share.

The date the shares were sold under the buy-back was 23 November 2004.

If the capital proceeds of $4.04 were more than the cost base of the share, the difference is a capital gain to the shareholder in 2004-05. If $4.04 was less than the share's reduced cost base, the difference is a capital loss.

See our fact sheet BHP Billiton 2004 off-market share buy-back .

BlueScope Steel Ltd

2005 share buy-back

In February 2005, BlueScope Steel Ltd (formerly BHP Steel Ltd) announced a share buy-back. Shareholders who took part in the buy-back received $7.75 per share, which included a fully franked dividend of $4.68 per share.

For capital gains tax purposes, they are taken to have received $4.79 per share.

The date the shares were sold under the buy-back was 12 April 2005.

If the capital proceeds of $4.79 was more than the cost base of the share, the difference was a capital gain to the shareholder in 2004-05. If $4.79 was less than the share's reduced cost base, the difference was a capital loss.

See our fact sheet BlueScope Steel: 2005 off-market share buy-back .

Coles Myer Ltd

Share sale facility

Between 15 March and 23 April 2004, Coles Myer made a share sale facility available to shareholders who had 800 shares or less.

If the capital proceeds were more than the cost base of the share, the difference was a capital gain to the shareholder in 2003-04. If the capital proceeds were less than the share's reduced cost base, the difference was a capital loss.

See our fact sheet Coles Myer Limited 2004 share sale facility .

2005 share buy-back

On 17 March 2005, Coles Myer announced a share buy-back. Shareholders who took part in the buy-back received $8.30 per share, which included a fully franked dividend of $5.30 per share.

For capital gains tax purposes, they are taken to have received $3.84 per share.

The date the shares were sold under the buy-back was 23 May 2005.

If the capital proceeds of $3.84 were more than the cost base of the share, the difference was a capital gain to the shareholder in 2004-05. If $3.84 was less than the share's reduced cost base, the difference was a capital loss.

See our fact sheet Coles Myer 2005 off-market share buy-back .

Commonwealth Bank of Australia Ltd

Public share offer

The Commonwealth Bank public shares were acquired on 13 July 1996. For shareholders who use the indexation method in calculating their capital gain, they index their first and final instalments from 13 July 1996.

2004 share buy-back

In March 2004, the Commonwealth Bank announced a general share buy-back. Shareholders who took part in the buy-back received $27.50 per share, which included a fully franked dividend of $16.50 per share.

For capital gains tax purposes, they are taken to have received $13.92 per share.

The date the shares were sold under the buy-back was 29 March 2004.

If the capital proceeds of $13.92 were more than the cost base of the share, the difference was a capital gain to the shareholder in 2003-04. If $13.92 was less than the share's reduced cost base, the difference was a capital loss.

See our fact sheet Commonwealth Bank of Australia Ltd: 2004 off-market share buy-back .

CSR Limited - Rinker Group Limited

Demerger

In April 2003 CSR shareholders received one Rinker share for every CSR share they held.

CSR has advised that Rinker represented 75% of the market value of the group as a whole just after the demerger. Shareholders who received Rinker shares should use this percentage to apportion the sum of the cost bases of their post-CGT CSR shares between these shares and the Rinker shares they received in relation to those post-CGT CSR shares.

The demergers calculator on our website will help you work out the cost bases of your Rinker and CSR shares after the demerger. Also see our fact sheet 2003 CSR demerger: impact on resident individual shareholders .

Fosters Group Ltd

2003 share buy-back

On 22 December 2003, Foster's announced that they had completed an off-market share buy-back.

Shareholders who took part in the buy-back received $4.00 per share, which included a fully franked dividend of $2.19 per share.

The date the shares were sold was 22 December 2003.

If the capital proceeds of $1.81 per share was more than the cost base of the share, the difference was a capital gain in 2003-04. If $1.81 was less than the share's reduced cost base, the difference was a capital loss.

See our fact sheet Foster's Group Ltd: 2003 off-market share buy-back .

Grainco Australia Ltd (GAL)

Takeover

On 1 October 2003, Grainco Australia Ltd (GAL) and Graincorp entered a scheme of arrangement under which Graincorp took control of GAL. GAL shareholders had a choice of receiving either cash or Graincorp reset preference shares (RPS) in exchange for their GAL shares.

In either case, the value received was $1.392 per GAL share they surrendered.

Scrip-for-scrip rollover was available on the exchange of Graincorp RPS for GAL shares but not to the extent cash was received. Note: Scrip-for-scrip rollover does not apply to a capital loss.

If scrip-for-scrip rollover does not apply and the cost base of the GAL share was more than $1.392, the difference was a capital gain in 2003-04. If $1.392 was less than the share's reduced cost base, the difference was a capital loss. The date the shares were disposed of under the takeover was 1 October 2003.

Henderson Group PLC (formerly HHG PLC)

Return of cash and reduction of investor base

In April 2005, HHG PLC undertook a capital reduction which included:

  • a return of cash to all shareholders, and
  • a reduction in investor base - which affected shareholders unless they chose not to participate.

There are capital gains tax consequences for shareholders. See our fact sheet HHG PLC capital reduction .

Hibernian Friendly Society (NSW) Limited (now Aevum Limited)

Demutualisation

The acquisition cost for Hibernian shares was $1.162 per share and the acquisition date was 2 September 2002. Hibernian changed its name to Aevum Ltd in May 2004.

See our fact sheet Hibernian demutualisation: impact on shareholders .

Insurance Australia Group (IAG) Limited

Share purchase plan

Offers opened on 4 November 2002 for shareholders to purchase shares from IAG (formerly NRMA) for $2.40 per share free of brokerage and transaction costs.

There are no CGT consequences at the time of purchase. However, there are tax consequences in relation to owning and disposing of the shares you purchase.

2004 share buy-back

In May 2004, IAG announced a share buy-back. Shareholders who took part in the buy-back received $4.40 per share, which included a fully franked dividend of $2.62 per share.

The date the shares were sold under the buy-back was 21 June 2004.

For capital gains tax purposes, they are taken to have received $2.16 per share.

If the capital proceeds of $2.16 were more than the cost base of the share, the difference was a capital gain in 2003-04. If $2.16 was less than the share's reduced cost base, the difference was a capital loss.

See our fact sheet Insurance Australia Group Limited 2004 off-market share buy-back .

IOOF Ltd

Demutualisation

The acquisition cost for IOOF shares was $2.53 per share and the acquisition date was 14 June 2002.

See fact sheet IOOF demutualisation: impact on individual shareholders .

Jupiters Limited (merger with TABCorp)

Merger

On 13 November 2003 Jupiters Limited merged with TABCorp. Jupiter's shareholders were offered a choice of cash or a combination of cash and TABCorp shares for their Jupiters shares.

Partial scrip-for-scrip rollover was available where TABCorp shares were acquired. Rollover is not available for the cash amounts received. Note: Scrip-for-scrip rollover does not apply to a capital loss.

If scrip-for-scrip rollover does not apply and the cost base of the Jupiter share was more than $11.28, the difference was a capital gain in 2003-04. If $11.28 was less than the share's reduced cost base, the difference was a capital loss.

See our fact sheet Jupiters Limited merger with TABCorp Holdings Limited .

Mayne Group Ltd

2004 share buy-back

In March 2004, Mayne conducted an off-market share buy-back. Shareholders who took part in the buy-back received $3.55 per share.

The date the shares were sold was 22 March 2004.

If the capital proceeds of $3.55 per share was more than the cost base of the share, the difference was a capital gain to the shareholder in 2003-04. If $3.55 was less than the share's reduced cost base, the difference was a capital loss.

See our fact sheet Mayne Group Ltd: 2004 off-market share buy-back .

Mincor Resources NL

Demerger

In October 2003 Mincor shareholders received one Tethyan Copper Company Ltd (TCC) share for every 3.37 Mincor shares they held.

Mincor has advised that TCC represented 9.582% of the market value of the group as a whole just after the demerger. Shareholders who received TCC shares should use this percentage to apportion the sum of the cost bases of their post-CGT Mincor shares between these shares and the TCC shares they received in relation to those post-CGT Mincor shares.

The demergers calculator on our website will help you work out the cost bases of your Mincor and TCC shares after the demerger.

See our fact sheet 2003 Mincor Resources NL demerger .

News Corporation Ltd

Reincorporation

In September 2004, News Corporation Ltd reincorporated in the US. Shareholders of News Corporation Ltd can choose scrip-for-scrip rollover on the receipt of News Corporation shares (including those represented by Chess Depository Instruments or CDIs) for the cancellation of their News Corporation Ltd shares. Note: Scrip-for-scrip rollover does not apply to a capital loss.

If rollover is chosen, the first element of the cost base of each News Corporation share (including those represented by CDIs) is the sum of the cost base of the two News Corporation Ltd shares they exchanged for it, and shareholders are taken to have acquired their News Corporation shares or CDIs at the time they acquired News Corporation Ltd shares they exchanged for them.

See our fact sheet Newscorp reincorporation .

NRMA Insurance Group Ltd (NIGL)

Demutualisatio n

The acquisition cost of NIGL shares allocated to shareholders was $1.78 per share.

The acquisition date was 19 June 2000.

For additional shares purchased through the facility, the acquisition cost was $2.75 and the acquisition date was 6 August 2000.

OPSM Group Ltd

Takeover

Between 16 June 2003 and 2 September 2003 Luxottica South Pacific Pty Limited made a successful takeover offer for OPSM. Shareholders who accepted the offer received $3.80 cash for each OPSM share they held.

The date the shares were disposed of under the takeover was:

  • 17 July 2003 if the shareholder accepted the offer on or before that date, or
  • the date the offer was accepted if the shareholder accepted the offer after 17 July 2003.

If the capital proceeds of $3.80 per share were more than the cost base of the share, the difference was a capital gain in 2003-04. If $3.80 was less than the share's reduced cost base, the difference was a capital loss.

Over 50s Mutual Friendly Society Limited (OFM Ltd)

Demutualisation

The acquisition cost of OFM Ltd shares was $1.65 per share and the acquisition date was 12 June 2001.

See fact sheet OFM Investment Group Limited (OFM) demutualisation: impact on individual shareholders .

Pasminco Limited

Declaration that shares are worthless made by administrators

Following the declaration by the administrators on 31 March 2005 that they consider that Pasminco shares are worthless, shareholders of Pasminco can choose to make a capital loss in the 2004-05 year equal to the reduced cost base of their shares at the time of the declaration.

See our fact sheet Capital losses on Pasminco Ltd shares .

Creation of a trust over shares

Shareholders may make a capital loss if they create a valid trust over shares they own in a company under administration - for example, Pasminco shareholders who agree to sell their shares but hold them on trust for the buyer until the sale can be completed. See our fact sheet Capital losses on Pasminco Ltd shares and Taxation Determination TD 2004/13: Capital gains: can CGT event E1 in section 104-55 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 happen to a shareholder in a company in voluntary administration under Part 5.3A of the Corporations Act 2001 who declares a trust over their shares?

Pivot Ltd

Merger

Pivot Ltd changed its name to Incitec-Pivot Ltd in April 2003 and then merged with Incitec Fertilizers Ltd (IFL) on 1 June 2003.

Shareholders of Pivot who acquired their shares before 20 September 1985 made a capital gain under CGT event K6 if their capital proceeds per share was more than $15.08 and they disposed of them after 28 July 2003.

The capital gain is equal to 70% of the difference between the capital proceeds and $15.08. (No capital loss is available under CGT event K6.)

See our fact sheet Pivot merger with Incitec - CGT on sale of pre-CGT shares .

Principal Office Fund (POF)

Takeover

Between 20 June 2003 and 1 September 2003 Investa Property Group (IPG) made a successful takeover offer for Principal Office Fund (POF). Unit holders who accepted the offer had a choice of receiving $19.13, or $5.70 plus seven IPG stapled securities, for every 12 POF units they held.

Unit holders who refused the offer had their POF units compulsorily acquired and received $5.70 plus seven IPG stapled securities for every 12 POF units they held.

Partial scrip-for-scrip rollover was available where IPG stapled securities were received. Rollover is not available for the cash amounts received. Note: Scrip-for-scrip rollover does not apply to a capital loss.

If scrip-for-scrip rollover does not apply, unit holders made a capital gain in 2002-03 or 2003-04 if the cost base of each of their POF units was less than the total value of IPG securities plus the cash they received. Unit holders made a capital loss if the reduced cost base of each of their POF unit was more than the value of IPG securities plus the cash they received for it.

The date the POF units were disposed of under the takeover was:

  • if the offer was accepted - the date the acceptance was posted (this may have been in 2002-03 or 2003-04) or
  • if the units were acquired compulsorily - 2 October 2003.

Promina Group Ltd

2005 return of capital

On 20 June 2005 Promina Group Ltd made a return of capital to shareholders of $0.23 per share.

Shareholders needed to reduce the cost base and reduced cost base of each share by $0.23. For each share that had a cost base of less than $0.23, the difference is a capital gain in 2004-05.

See our fact sheet Promina Group Ltd 2005 return of capital .

Rio Tinto Ltd

2005 share buy-back

On 3 February 2005, Rio Tinto announced a share buy-back. Shareholders who took part in the buy-back received $36.70 per share, which included a fully franked dividend of $32.70 per share.

For capital gains tax purposes, they are taken to have received $6.44 per share.

The date the shares were sold under the buy-back was 9 May 2005.

If the capital proceeds of $6.44 was more than the cost base of the share, the difference is a capital gain to the shareholder in 2004-05. If $6.44 was less than the share's reduced cost base, the difference is a capital loss.

See our fact sheet Rio Tinto Ltd 2005 share buy-back .

Seven Network Ltd

2004 share buy-back

On 14 December 2003, Seven Network Ltd announced a buy-back of ordinary shares.

Shareholders who took part in the buy-back received $5.80 per share, which included a fully franked dividend of $2.32 per share.

The date the shares were sold was 22 December 2003.

If the capital proceeds of $3.48 per share was more than the cost base of the share, the difference was a capital gain in 2003-04. If $3.48 was less than the share's reduced cost base, the difference was a capital loss.

See our fact sheet Seven Network Ltd: 2004 off-market share buy-back .

Telstra

Public share offer 1

The Telstra public shares were acquired on 15 November 1997. For shareholders who use the indexation method in calculating their capital gain, they index their first and final instalments from 15 November 1997.

Public share offer 2

The Telstra public shares were acquired on 22 October 1999 if the instalment receipts were purchased through the offer. Indexation does not apply as the shares were acquired after 11.45am (by legal time in the ACT) on 21 September 1999.

2003 share buy-back

In November 2003, Telstra undertook an off-market share buy-back. Shareholders who took part in the buy-back received $4.20 per share, which included a fully franked dividend of $2.70 per share.

If the capital proceeds of $1.50 were more than the cost base of the share, the difference was a capital gain in 2003-04. If $1.50 was less than the share's reduced cost base, the difference was a capital loss.

2004 share buy-back

On 15 November 2004, Telstra announced the results of an off-market share buy-back.

Shareholders who took part in the buy-back received $4.05 per share, which included a fully franked dividend of $2.55 per share. The shares sold under the buy-back were disposed of on 14 November 2004.

For capital gains tax purposes, they are taken to have received $2.25 per share.

If the capital proceeds of $2.25 were more than the cost base of the share, the difference is a capital gain to the shareholder in 2004-05. If $2.25 was less than the share's reduced cost base, the difference is a capital loss.

See our fact sheet Telstra 2004: Off-market share buy-back .

United Energy Ltd

Takeover

On 23 July 2003 Alinta Ltd and United Energy Ltd entered into a scheme of arrangement under which Alinta acquired all the United Energy shares it did not already own. Shareholders received $3.15 for each United Energy share they held.

The date the shares were disposed of under the takeover was 23 July 2003.

If the capital proceeds of $3.15 was more than the cost base of the share, the difference was a capital gain in 2003-04. If $3.15 was less than the share's reduced cost base, the difference was a capital loss.

Wesfarmers Group Ltd

Return of capital

On 18 December 2003, Wesfarmers Group Limited made a return of capital to shareholders of $2.50 per share.

Shareholders needed to reduce the cost base and reduced cost base of each share by $2.50. For each share that had a cost base of less than $2.50, the difference was a capital gain in 2003-04.

See our fact sheet Wesfarmers Group Ltd (Wesfarmers) return of capital .

Western Mining Corporation Limited - WMC Resources Limited

Demerger

In December 2002 WMC shareholders received one WMCR share for every WMC share held. Also WMC Limited changed its name to Alumina Ltd.

Alumina has advised that WMCR represented 46.30% of the market value of the group as a whole just after the demerger. Shareholders who received WMCR shares should use this percentage to apportion the sum of the cost bases of their post-CGT Alumina shares between these shares and the WMCR shares they received in relation to those post-CGT Alumina shares.

The demergers calculator on our website will help you work out the cost bases of your Alumina and WMCR shares after the demerger.

Takeover

In March 2005 BHP Billiton Ltd made a takeover offer for WMC Resources Ltd. Shareholders received $7.85 for each WMC share they held.

The date the shares were disposed of under the takeover offer was:

  • 3 June 2005 - if the shareholder accepted the offer on or before that date, or
  • the date the offer was accepted - if the shareholder accepted the offer between 4 June 2005 and 17 June 2005 and the acceptance was received by BHP by 7.30pm on 17 June 2005, or
  • for other WMC shareholders - in the 2005-06 income year, when BHP Billiton completed the compulsory acquisition.

If the capital proceeds of $7.85 per share was more than the cost base of the share, the difference was a capital gain. If $7.85 was less than the share's reduced cost base, the difference was a capital loss.

See our fact sheet WMC resources Ltd takeover by BHP Billiton Ltd .

Westfield

Capital restructure

In July 2004, Westfield Group restructured by issuing holders of Westfield Ltd shares, Westfield Trust units, and Westfield America Trust units with stapled securities.

Participants received Westfield Group stapled securities through either a stapling arrangement or a sale facility. They also had the option of receiving cash under the sale facility.

The tax consequences of these transactions vary depending on whether the shareholder or unitholder chose the 'cash alternative' or 'exchange by sale alternative' or did nothing.

See our fact sheets Westfield Group restructure 2005: Tax consequences for Westfield Limited shareholders; Westfield Group restructure 2005: Tax consequences for Westfield Trust unitholders; Westfield Group restructure 2005: Tax consequences for Westfield America Trust unitholders .

Westpac Banking Corporation

Share buy-back

In June 2004, Westpac conducted a share buy-back. Shareholders who took part in the buy-back received $14.50 per share, which included a fully franked dividend of $10.50 per share.

For capital gains tax purposes, they are taken to have received $7.21 per share. The date the shares were sold under the buy-back was 21 June 2004.

If the capital proceeds of $7.21 were more than the cost base of the share, the difference was a capital gain to the shareholder in 2003-04. If $7.21 was less than the share's reduced cost base, the difference was a capital loss.

See our fact sheet Westpac Banking Corporation Ltd 2004 off-market share buy-back .

To obtain a copy of a fact sheet referred to in this appendix, visit our website at www.ato.gov.au or, if you do not have internet access, phone our Publications Distribution Service on 1300 720 092 .

Further fact sheets may be on our website which do not appear in this Appendix.

For more information about share transactions in earlier years, visit our website.

Appendix 2 Consumer price index (CPI)

All groups - weighted average of eight capital cities

Year

Quarter ending

31 Mar

30 June

30 Sept

31 Dec

1985

-

-

71.3

72.7

1986

74.4

75.6

77.6

79.8

1987

81.4

82.6

84.0

85.5

1988

87.0

88.5

90.2

92.0

1989

92.9

95.2

97.4

99.2

1990

100.9

102.5

103.3

106.0

1991

105.8

106.0

106.6

107.6

1992

107.6

107.3

107.4

107.9

1993

108.9

109.3

109.8

110.0

1994

110.4

111.2

111.9

112.8

1995

114.7

116.2

117.6

118.5

1996

119.0

119.8

120.1

120.3

1997

120.5

120.2

119.7

120.0

1998

120.3

121.0

121.3

121.9

1999

121.8

122.3

123.4

N/A*

* If you use the indexation method to calculate your capital gain, the indexation factor is based on increases in the CPI up to September 1999 only.

Definitions

Capital gain

You may make a capital gain from a CGT event such as the sale of an asset. Generally, your capital gain is the difference between your asset's cost base (what you paid for it) and your capital proceeds (what you received for it). You can also make a capital gain if a managed fund or other unit trust distributes a capital gain to you.

Capital gains tax

Capital gains tax (CGT) refers to the income tax you pay on any net capital gain you make and include on your annual income tax return. For example, when you sell (or otherwise dispose of) an asset as part of a CGT event, you are subject to CGT.

Capital loss

Generally, you may make a capital loss as a result of a CGT event if you received less capital proceeds for an asset than its reduced cost base (what you paid for it). Your capital loss is your reduced cost base less your capital proceeds.

Capital proceeds

Capital proceeds is the term used to describe the amount of money or the value of any property you receive or are entitled to receive as a result of a CGT event. For shares or units, capital proceeds may be:

  • the amount you receive from the purchaser
  • the value of shares (or units) you receive on a demerger
  • the value of shares (or units) and the amount of cash you receive on a merger/takeover, or
  • the market value if you give them away.

CGT asset

The CGT assets covered by this guide are shares and units.

However, CGT assets also include collectables (such as jewellery), assets for personal use (such as furniture or a boat) and other assets (such as an investment property, vacant land or a holiday home). If you have made a capital gain from the sale of one or more of these assets, you may need to read the Guide to capital gains tax 2004-05 .

CGT-concession amounts

These amounts are the CGT discount component of any actual distribution from a managed fund.

CGT event

A CGT event happens when a transaction takes place such as the sale of a CGT asset. The result is usually a capital gain or capital loss.

Cost base

The cost base of an asset is generally what it costs you. It is made up of five elements:

  • money you paid or property you gave for the asset
  • certain incidental costs of acquiring or selling it - brokerage, stamp duty, investment consultants fees and legal fees
  • non-capital costs associated with owning it (generally this will not apply to shares or units because you will usually have claimed or be entitled to claim these costs as tax deductions)
  • costs associated with increasing its value (for example, if you paid a call on shares), and
  • what it has cost you to establish, preserve or defend your ownership or rights to it.

The cost base for a share or unit may need to be reduced by the amount of any non-assessable payment you receive from the company or fund.

Demerger rollover

This may apply to CGT events that happen on or after 1 July 2002 to interests that you own in the head entity of a demerger group where a company or fixed trust is demerged from the group. Generally, the head entity undertaking the demerger will advise owners whether demerger rollover is available but you should seek our advice if you are in any doubt. The Tax Office may have provided advice in the form of a class ruling on a specific demerger, confirming that the rollover is available.

This rollover allows you to defer your CGT obligation until a later CGT event happens to your original or your new shares or units.

Demutualisation

A company demutualises when it changes its membership interests to shares. If you received shares as part of a demutualisation of an Australian insurance company (for example, AMP, IOOF or NRMA), you are not subject to CGT until you sell the shares or another CGT event happens.

Usually the company will advise you of your cost base for the shares you received. The company may give you the choice of keeping the shares they have given you or of selling them and giving you the capital proceeds.

If you hold a policy in an overseas insurance company that demutualises, you may be subject to CGT at the time of the demutualisation.

Discount method

The discount method is one of the ways to calculate your capital gain if:

  • the CGT event happened after 11.45am (by legal time in the ACT) on 21 September 1999, and
  • you acquired the asset at least 12 months before the CGT event.

If you use the discount method, you do not index the cost base but you can reduce your capital gain by the CGT discount of 50%. However, you must first reduce your capital gains by the amount of any capital losses made in the year and any unapplied net capital losses from earlier years. You discount any remaining capital gain.

If you acquired the asset before 11.45am (by legal time in the ACT) on 21 September 1999, you can choose either the discount method or the indexation method, whichever gives you the better result.

The examples in Part B of this guide show you how the discount method works.

Discounted capital gain

A discounted capital gain is a capital gain that has been reduced by the CGT discount. If the discounted capital gain has been received from a managed fund, you will need to gross up the amount before you apply any capital losses and the CGT discount.

Dividend reinvestment plans

Under these plans, shareholders can choose to use their dividend to acquire additional shares in the company instead of receiving a cash payment. For CGT purposes, you are treated as if you received a cash dividend and then used it to buy additional shares. Each share (or parcel of shares) received in this way is treated as a separate asset when the shares are issued to you.

Gross up

Grossing up applies to unit holders who are entitled to a share of the fund's income that includes a capital gain reduced by the CGT discount. In this case, you 'gross up' your capital gain by multiplying by two your share of any discounted capital gain you have received from the fund.

Income year

The income year is the financial year relating to your current income tax return.

Indexation factor

The indexation factor is worked out based on the consumer price index (CPI) in appendix 2 .

The indexation of the cost base of an asset is frozen as at 30 September 1999. For CGT events after that time the indexation factor is the CPI for the September 1999 quarter (123.4) divided by the CPI for the quarter in which you incurred costs relating to the asset. The result is rounded to three decimal places. You may have different indexation factors for different amounts included in your cost base.

Indexation method

The indexation method is one of the ways to calculate your capital gain if you bought a CGT asset before 11.45am (by legal time in the ACT) on 21 September 1999. This method allows you to increase the cost base by applying an indexation factor to each item of expenditure in your cost base (based on increases in the CPI up to September 1999).

Some examples in Part B of this guide show you how the indexation method works.

You may prefer to use the discount method for CGT events after 11.45am (by legal time in the ACT) on 21 September 1999 if that method gives you a better result.

LIC capital gain amount

This is an amount notionally included in a dividend from a listed investment company (LIC) which represents a capital gain made by that company. The amount is not included as a capital gain at item 17 on the tax return, or item 9 if you use the tax return for retirees. (See the instructions for dividend income at question 11 in TaxPack 2005 or question 8 in Retirees TaxPack 2005 and this example .)

Net capital gain

A net capital gain is the difference between your total capital gains for the year and the total of your capital losses for the year and unapplied net capital losses from earlier years, less any CGT discount and small business CGT concession to which you are entitled.

You show the result at A item 17 on your tax return (supplementary section), or item 9 if you use the tax return for retirees.

Net capital loss

If your total capital losses for the year are more than your total capital gains, the difference is your net capital loss for the year. This loss can be carried forward and deducted from capital gains you make in later years. There is no time limit on how long you can carry forward a net capital loss.

You can only use capital losses from collectables to reduce capital gains from collectables. If your total capital losses from collectables for the year are more than your total capital gains from collectables, you have a net capital loss from collectables for the year. This loss is carried forward and deducted from capital gains from collectables in later years. There is no time limit on how long you can carry forward a net capital loss from collectables.

Non-assessable payment

A non-assessable payment is a payment received from a company or fund that is not assessed as part of your income on your income tax return. This includes some distributions from unit trusts and managed funds and, less commonly, from companies.

'Other' method

To calculate your capital gain using the 'other' method, you subtract your cost base from your capital proceeds. You must use this method for any shares or units you have bought and sold within 12 months (that is, when the indexation and discount methods do not apply).

Reduced cost base

The reduced cost base is the amount you take into account when you are working out whether you have made a capital loss when a CGT event happens. The reduced cost base may need to have amounts deducted from it such as non-assessable payments. The reduced cost base does not include indexation or non-capital costs of ownership such as interest on monies borrowed to buy the asset.

Rollover

Rollover allows a capital gain to be deferred or disregarded until a later CGT event happens.

Scrip-for-scrip rollover

This can apply to CGT events that happen on or after 10 December 1999 in the case of a takeover or merger of a company or fund in which you have holdings. The company or fund would usually advise you if the rollover conditions have been satisfied. This rollover allows you to defer your CGT obligation until a later CGT event happens to your shares or units.

You may only be eligible for partial rollover if you received shares (or units) plus cash for your original shares. In that case, if the information provided by the company or fund is not sufficient for you to calculate your capital gain, you may need to seek advice from the Tax Office.

Share buy-backs

If you disposed of shares back to a company under a buy-back arrangement, you may have made a capital gain or capital loss.

Some of the buy-back price may have been treated as a dividend for tax purposes. The time you make the capital gain or capital loss will depend on the conditions of the particular buy-back offer.

Takeovers and mergers

If a company in which you held shares was taken over and you received new shares in the takeover company, you may be entitled to scrip-for-scrip rollover.

If the scrip-for-scrip conditions were not satisfied, your capital proceeds for your original shares will be the total of any cash and the market value of the new shares you received.

Tax-deferred amounts

These amounts include indexation received by a managed fund on its capital gains and accounting differences in income. Tax-deferred amounts reduce both the cost base and reduced cost base of your units in a managed fund.

Tax-exempted amounts

These amounts are generally made up of exempt income of the managed fund - such as amounts on which the fund has already paid tax or income you had to repay to the fund. Tax-exempted amounts do not affect the cost base and reduced cost base of your units in a managed fund.

Tax-free amounts

These amounts allow the managed fund to pay a greater distribution to its unit holders. This is due to certain tax concessions funds can receive. Tax-free amounts affect the reduced cost base but not the cost base of your units in a managed fund.

Unapplied net capital losses from earlier years

This is the amount of net capital losses from earlier years remaining after you have deducted any capital gains made between the year(s) when the losses were made and the current year.

You use unapplied net capital losses from earlier years to reduce capital gains in the current year (after those capital gains have been reduced by any capital losses in the current year).

You can only use unapplied net capital losses from collectables from earlier years to reduce capital gains from collectables in the current and future years.

ATO references:
NO NAT 4152

Personal investors guide to capital gains tax 2005
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