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Our purpose is to help you on your journey as you grow. Learn more about our history, partners and purpose.

Our purpose is to help you on your journey as you grow. Learn more about our history, partners and purpose.

Your partners for Business Service and Advisory, Taxation, Audit, Fraud and Risk.

Whatever your business, industry or family office, from local or international institutions we bring extensive expertise.

We're one team with a purpose and passion for what we do. Learn about our culture and career opportunities available to you.

Uncovering insights, trends and inspiration to help business grow in an ever-changing world.

We are always looking for ways to engage and give back to our community.

Telephone: +612 9283 1666
Email: admin@esvgroup.com.au

Level 13, 68 York Street,
Sydney NSW 2000

Why us

Our purpose is to help you on your journey as you grow. Learn more about our history, partners and purpose.

What we do

Your partners for Business Service and Advisory, Taxation, Audit, Fraud and Risk.

Who do we help

Whatever your business, industry or family office, from local or international institutions we bring extensive expertise.

Work with us

We're one team with a purpose and passion for what we do. Learn about our culture and career opportunities available to you.

What we think

Uncovering insights, trends and inspiration to help business grow in an ever-changing world.

Working to give back

We are always looking for ways to engage and give back to our community.

Contact us

Telephone: +612 9283 1666
Email: admin@esvgroup.com.au

Level 13, 68 York Street,
Sydney NSW 2000

CGT for foreign residents

11 October 2019

by David Prichard and Emma Bryant

The controversial proposal to remove the entitlement to the Capital Gains Tax main residence exemption for foreign residents has been reignited with the Treasurer confirming that the proposed change “remains our Government’s policy”.

The change originally announced in the 2017-18 Federal Budget was originally introduced on 8 February 2018, however, the bill introducing the law lapsed when Federal Parliament was prorogued for the 2019 Federal election.

Broadly, the change in law proposed to remove the entitlement to the CGT main residence exemption for foreign residents, with the main points being:

  • Individuals who are foreign residents at the time a CGT event occurs to a dwelling would not be entitled to the CGT main residence exemption;
  • A trustee of a deceased estate would not be entitled to the CGT main residence exemption if the deceased was a foreign resident at the time of death. A beneficiary will not be entitled to the CGT main residence exemption if the deceased was a foreign resident at the time of death; and
  • A beneficiary of a deceased estate would be entitled to the portion of the CGT main residence exemption if the deceased was a resident at the time of death even if the beneficiary is a foreign resident at the time a CGT event occurs to the dwelling.

It had been proposed that the changes would apply to CGT events for foreign residents that happen on or after 9 May 2017, subject to a 30 June 2019 transitional rule.  Presumably the relevant time frame for introduction would be rescheduled following the reintroduction of the changes.

There were significant concerns in relation to the original bill including but not limited to:

  • Retrospective removal of the exemption from the time the property became the taxpayer’s main residence instead of from the time they became a non-resident; and
  • The denial of the exemption for non-residents is based on their tax residency status at the time of the CGT event irrespective of the use of the dwelling or the taxpayer’s residency status during the ownership period of the dwelling.

These concerns and others will no doubt be raised again, however, it is clearly the intent of the Government is to introduce this policy and therefore, non residents should consider the potential impact of the removal of the exemption on property held in Australia.

Should you have any questions regarding these changes, please contact your ESV engagement partner on 02 9283 1666.