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The 'other' method

Last updated 5 October 2009

This is the simplest of the 3 methods. You must use the 'other' method to calculate your capital gain if you have bought and sold your asset within 12 months or generally for CGT events that do not involve an asset. In these cases, the indexation and discount methods do not apply.

Start of example

Example: Calculating a capital gain using the 'other' method

Marie-Anne bought a property for $150,000 under a contract dated 24 June 2001. The contract provided for the payment of a deposit of $15,000 on that date, with the balance of $135,000 to be paid on settlement on 5 August 2001.

Marie-Anne paid stamp duty of $5,000 on 20 July 2001. On 5 August 2001, she received an account for solicitors fees of $2,000 which she paid as part of the settlement process.

She sold the property on 15 October 2001, the day the contracts were exchanged, for $215,000. Marie-Anne incurred costs of $1,500 in solicitors fees and $4,000 in agents commission.

As she bought and sold her property within 12 months, Marie-Anne used the 'other' method to calculate her capital gain.

Deposit

$15,000

Balance

$135,000

Stamp duty

$5,000

Solicitors fees for purchase of property

$2,000

Solicitors fees for sale of property

$1,500

Agents commission

$4,000

Cost base (total)

$162,500

Marie-Anne works out her capital gain as follows:

Capital proceeds

$215,000

less cost base

$162,500

Capital gain calculated using the 'other' method

$52,500

Assuming Marie-Anne has not made any other capital losses or capital gains in the 2001-02 income year and does not have any prior year net capital losses, the net capital gain to be included at item 17 on her tax return is $52,500.

End of example

Generally, to use the 'other' method, you simply subtract your cost base (what the asset cost you) from your capital proceeds (how much you sold it for). The amount of proceeds left is your capital gain. For some types of CGT event, a cost base is not relevant. In these cases, the particular CGT event explains the amounts to use.

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