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The 'other' method

Last updated 30 August 2010

If you have bought and sold your asset within 12 months, you must use the 'other' method to calculate your capital gain as neither the indexation nor discount methods apply. This is the simplest of the three methods.

Generally, to use the 'other' method, you simply subtract your cost base (what the asset cost) from your capital proceeds (how much you sold it for). The amount 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.

If your asset cost you more than you sold it for, you may have made a capital loss and may have a reduced cost base (see How to calculate a capital loss).

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 2000. 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 2000.

Marie-Anne paid stamp duty of $5,000 on 20 July 2000. On 5 August 2000, she received an account for solicitors fees of $2000, which she paid as part of the settlement process.

She sold the property on 15 October 2000, the day the contracts were exchanged, for $215,000. Marie-Anne incurred costs of $1,500 in solicitors fees and $4,000 in real estate fees.

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

$2,000

Solicitors fees for sale of property

$1,500

Real estate fees

$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 using 'other' method

$52,500

Assuming Marie-Anne has not made any other capital losses or capital gains in the 2000-01 year and does not have any prior year net capital losses, the net capital gain to be included in item 17 in her tax return is $52,500.

End of example

QC16195