If you’re an Aussie expat who’s a non-resident for Australian tax purposes, then investing in shares is what you need to consider deeply. You need to understand that this investment opportunity is only applicable to Australian expats that are non-resident for Australian tax purposes. The gains discussed do not take into consideration expats that remain Australian residents for tax purposes.
No tax on franked dividends
A franked dividend is simply accounting jargon meaning that the company paying the dividend has already paid tax on the profits from which the dividend was paid. Franked dividends paid to a shareholder also receive a tax credit (i.e. tax paid) equal to the tax that the company paid on those profits. This concept was introduced into Australia as a measure to eliminate double taxation. Explaining the concept further, a franked dividend is paid out to shareholders after the company decides to pay taxes on the dividend. A franking credit is attached to franked bonuses, and they represent the tax amount already paid by the company. The shareholder is therefore entitled to receive credit for the company’s tax compliance.
However, non-resident shareholders who are authorised to franked dividends will not be able to utilise franking credits. The profits, however, are usually not subject to any other tax in Australia.
Non-resident withholding tax
Unfranked dividends (i.e. profits upon which no tax has been paid by the company paying the dividends) paid out by your owned Australian shares are subject to a non-resident withholding tax of between 15% and 30%. This depends on the country in which you dwell.
No Australian tax return obligations
Another significant perk of investing in the Australian share market as a non-resident Australian Expat is that if you only receive franked dividends, then you you are not required to declare those dividends in an Australian tax return. Similarly, if you receive unfranked dividends and non-resident withholding tax has been withheld from those dividends, then you won’t be required to include those dividends in your Australian return either.
No capital gains tax
Another significant opportunity you can gain for being a non-resident of Australia is investing in the Australian share market. Majorly, this is because capital gains made through share investments in Australia are generally not subject to Australian capital gains tax while you remain a non-resident for tax purposes. Bear in mind that if the company that you’ve invested in principally invests in property, and if you own more than 10% of the company, then your investment will be subject to capital gains tax.
From the time you become a non-resident for tax purposes, you are considered to have traded at market value. Thus, you need to indicate the capital gain on your Australian tax return. From that date, till you become an Australian resident for tax purpose once again, all future capital profits from your existing and new share investments in Australia are not subject to capital earnings in Australia. On the day you acquire Australian residency for tax purposes anew, the shares you hold will be considered to have been obtained at the market on that date.
At Expat Tax Services, we understand the complex tax challenges expats face in Australia. If you are an expat who is considering making tax-free capital gains on Australian shares while working as a non-resident, contact us at Expat Tax Services today for professional advice and more information.
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Comments 88
Hi, thank you for this information.
I was wondering if ETFs (that invest only in Australian shares) would also be eligible for this tax treatment? Or is it only direct Australian shares? Thank you.
Author
Hi Nick,
Yes, the rules apply similarly to ASX-listed ETFs purchased and sold by non-residents (assuming that the non-resident taxpayer does not own more than 10% of the ETF, or that the ETF does not principally own any Taxable Australian Property).
Thanks
Shane
Hi Terryn
Could I kindly request further clarification in Peter’s case here?
If he was defined as a ‘trader’ and a non-resident, would he not be subject to paying tax in Australia on profit from trading shares on an Australian platform such as Commsec, despite undertaking the trading in a foreign country?
I refer to to this case in the ATO legal database, whereby a non-resident was required to pay tax for trading shares via an Australian broker:
https://www.ato.gov.au/law/view/document?src=hs&pit=99991231235958&arc=false&start=21&pageSize=10&total=101&num=5&docid=AID%2FAID2004904%2F00001&dc=false&stype=find&tm=phrase-basic-Income%20Tax%20Assessment%20Act%201997%20Subsection%206-5(3)
Thank you for your time and clarification.
Author
Hi Harry,
Thanks for your message. It’s true that some non-resident, share-traders/day-traders that trade on the ASX (as opposed to investing in ASX shares) MAY be required to pay tax on their profits to Australia at non-resident rates, BUT, not in every case!
In some cases, the non-resident’s trading profits are NOT taxed by Australia at all.
Ultimately, the outcome depends upon whether the person lives in a country with which Australia has concluded a tax-treaty, or not.
If the person lives in a non-treaty country, since Australian courts have confirmed that trading profits (made via trades placed with Australian brokers) are Australian sourced income, and since non-residents are taxed in Australia on Australian sourced income, their trading profits will be taxed fully in Australia at ridiculously high non-resident rates of tax starting at 32.5% from the very first dollar of profit earned to up to 45%! Crazy!
This should be of significant concern to ASX share-traders who reside in countries like Hong Kong, UAE, most Middle East countries, Portugal, Vanuatu etc just to name a few!
However, where the trader lives in a tax-treaty country (depending upon the specific construction and wording of the relevant tax treaty), the trader may be exempted from tax in Australia on their trading profits, notwithstanding that domestic Australian tax legislation, combined with the common-law position that profits from trades placed with Australian brokers is Australian sourced income, taxable in Australia!
Without going into too much detail here (particularly as I’ve recently written an article on this very topic which explains it in more detail), often, the application of the Residence article (Art. 4), the Business Profits article (Art. 7) and the Permanent Establishment article (Art. 5) in many of Australia’s tax treaties, will prevent Australia from taxing the business profits of an enterprise of that other treaty country.
And, as tax treaties almost always override domestic Australian tax provisions (except for the application of Australia’s Part IVA general anti-avoidance provision), although Australia seeks to tax non-resident traders on their share-trading profits, Australia is prevented from doing so!
It should be noted here though, that a very careful analysis of the person’s circumstances, both in reference to Australian tax legislation, foreign residency (relating to the other country’s domestic tax rules), and an even more careful analysis of the relevant Australian tax treaty MUST be undertaken before arriving at this conclusion, particularly because none of Australia’s tax treaties are identical, and so there may be variations in each treaty that modify the outcomes that I’ve outlined above.
Thanks again for your message Harry – hopefully my explanation makes sense for you.
Thanks
Shane
Hi, this thread has so much great information!
I have questions that I hope you can help me with.
I am an Australian citizen who has left Australia 9 years ago for work and then obtained Japanese Permanent Resident visa 5 years ago with a permanent address in Japan too. My last tax return done was in 2019 for the year 2013-14 and since then my ATO account shows “No Tax Return due this time”.
As I still have my address in Australia, I have recently used my commbank account to setup a commsec account and is CHESS sponsored. Since then, I have made purchase for some ETFs (VAS and VGS).
My questions are:
– My commsec & computershare account still register me as Australian Resident with my Australian postal address, and if I continue to do so then the dividend I get will require a Tax Return to ATO, is that correct?
– And then I can just let ATO know in my tax return that I’m non resident? Does it work like this?
– If I alter my tax resident status in Computershare to Non-resident, VAS (franked) and VGS (unfranked; non-Australian share?) then I do not need to lodge tax return for tax purpose?
– If I alter my tax resident status in Computershare, does this mean I will not be able to trade anymore since I’m non-resident?
Looking forward to get your insights if possible.
Thank you,
Sam
Hi Sam,
Thanks for your comments and question.
If you are a non-resident for tax purposes then you would need to lodge a tax return if you receive unfranked dividends. Fully franked dividends are excluded from the return. This really isn’t impacted by how you registered with the share registry.
If you update your tax residency with the share registry and they deduct the appropriate withholding tax from payments then you wouldn’t need to lodge a tax return.
Your tax residency with Computershare shouldn’t affect your ability to trade shares but you may find that Commsec stops you from trading because you are a non-resident. Unfortunately they only cater for customers who are resident.
One thing to note is that is important that you are consistent across different organisations/platforms regarding your tax residency. It seems that have told Commsec you are a resident but for the ATO you may have said you are a non-resident.
Thanks
Terryn
Thanks for this post! Very useful.
I am a UK citizen that has been living in Australia for 5 years. I plan to relocate back to UK in 2023. I’ve got investments in Index Funds that are domiciled in Australia (Vanguard -VGS) that I’ve purchased via CommSec. I was originally planning on selling up and transferring the AUD to sterling to invest in a similar fund on the LSE – but I’d rather not lock in a loss if the markets are down(!)
But from your post – I understand that when I depart Australia I will become a non-resident and therefore will trigger a CGE (whether I actually sell them or not) so I can record the gain in my next tax return and then I’ve settled what I owe to Australia? In the meantime I can maintain the fund whilst I am living in the UK – and sell when I am ready to (all without having to do ongoing tax returns for Australia?)
I know that UK and Australia have a double taxation agreement so (I assume) I won’t pay twice on this if I already paid the CGT when I departed Australia.
Hi Jas
Thanks for your questions.
Yes you are correct you will be able retain that investment and include the deemed capital gain in your return in the year that you cease your Australian tax residency.
You would also need to let the trustee of the fund know that you are a non-resident for tax purposes so that they withhold the appropriate non-resident withholding tax from any distributions. Assuming you have no other Australian income you should be able to advise the ATO you have no requirement to lodge further returns.
There are some other considerations with your shares and the application of the tax treaty between Australian and the UK in relation to those investments which we’d be happy to discuss further with you.
Please feel free to get in contact with us!
Hi! I am planning to move from Australia to UK permanently in early July and will have capital loss from the sale of an investment property. I currently hold some shares with some capital gains – can the capital loss from the property be used to offset the ‘deemed disposal’ for my shares when I cease to be an Australian resident for tax purposes? Thank you for the fab article and for responding to all the comments. Cheers
Hi
Yes a capital loss will offset any gain from the ‘deemed disposal’.
As you are moving to the UK you need to consider the tax agreement between Australia and the UK as this could give other options that you might be able to take advantage of rather than including a deemed capital gain. But that would require a review of the assets and your plans in the UK.
Regards,
Terryn
Thank you for the terrific article.
I am a non-resident of Australia for tax purposes and new to share investment.
My question is related to Tony Mahony’s query, regarding the ATO’s differential treatment of share investors and share traders and its bearing on CGT.
My understanding is as follows, using the assumption that I’m a non-resident for tax purposes living overseas and I am trading through an Australian broker linked to an Australian bank account:
If I purchased Australian shares, held them for 12 months or longer, then sold them, then this would be considered an ‘investment’. If I made a gain, then no CGT would be payable in Australia.
On the other hand, if I purchased Australian shares and sold them less than 12 months later, making a capital gain, this would be considered ‘trading’, and I would then be taxed at a marginal rate. In this case, I would also have to lodge a return in Australia.
Is my understanding of this correct? I have read through the ATO document about treatment of share investing and trading, but I couldn’t find anything specifically relating to non-residents.
Thank you in advance.
Hi Peter,
Share investment versus share trading is not as simple as solely how long you own the shares for. The ATO have their view on what should be considered on their website.
Despite this categorisation issue, if a taxpayer is a non-resident and is a share trader the income will be considered sourced in the country where the trading is taking place. So as a non-resident, a share trader will not be subject to tax on the trading of Australian shares because it is not Australian sourced income.
Thanks
Terryn
Thanks very much for sharing this informative blog. I have a question regarding ‘Temporary Resident’ as defined in 995-1 of ITAA 1997. Unfortunately, there is a lot of conflicting information out there on the internet. Do ‘Temporary Resident’ CGT exemptions only apply if you intend to live in Australia temporarily and then leave the country?
For a taxpayer who lives and works in Australia on a temporary work visa (i.e. ‘Australian resident for tax purposes’) AND meet all the criteria for being ‘Temporary Resident’, who intends to stay on and apply for permanent residency (PR) – prior to being granted PR, will the CGT exemptions still apply as long as they meet the criteria for Temporary Resident? In such a scenario, if my understanding is right, capital gain from sales of non-property-focused ETFs on the ASX including Australian-domiciled ETFs will be disregarded since these are not taxable Australian property, but should this still be entered under Code E in ‘Question 18 Capital Gains’ – is this correct?
Hi
Thanks for your question.
If a taxpayer meets the requirements of a ‘temporary resident’ then they will not be subject to capital gains tax on the sale of any assets which are non-taxable Australian property. In this tax matter the taxpayers intention will not change the tax treatment of the assets.
Even though the gain is not taxed, there is still a CGT event and an exemption will be applied to indicate that it was exempt. So question 18 should be answered yes and the code E for ‘Foreign resident CGT exemption (Division 855)’.
Regards,
Terryn
Could I please ask a question about the double taxation agreement between Australia and UK and specifically the paragraph at Article 13(5)
5 An individual who elects, under the taxation law of a Contracting State, to defer taxation on income or gains relating to property which would otherwise be taxed in that State upon the individual ceasing to be a resident of that State for the purposes of its tax, shall, if the individual is a resident of the other State, be taxable on income or gains from the subsequent alienation of that property only in that other State.
Would this relate to shares that are non taxable australian property at the date the person ceased to be an Australian resident but turn into TAP because the person elected to defer the gain until disposal. But on disposal, they would only have to pay tax in UK because of double taxation agreement clause and would not have to pay tax in Australia.
I was unsure when it referred in Article 13(5) to GAINS RELATING TO PROPERTY and what comes under the definition of property.
Hi Maeve,
Property isn’t specifically defined in the double taxation treaty between Australia and the UK.
Article 13(5) would apply to shares that are non-taxable Australian property.
You have done well to identify this clause in the treaty it is something that is overlooked by many people.
Regards,
Terryn
hi
Can l please ask about shares and trading share. I am a non resident for ato tax purposes and own Australian shares while living abroad. I believe that once l start trading share l will then be required to pay tax and lodge my income with the ato. At what point will l be considered a trader as l don’t wish. Like how long can l hold my investment shares before l sell will they classify me as a trader?
Hi Tony,
The ATO have this publication which explains what they look at when distinguishing between a share investor and share trader.
If you are a share trader then the main issue or questions is whether that share trading is Australian or foreign sourced income as this will determine whether it is taxable in Australia.
If you have any further questions get in contact with one of out team.
Regards
Terryn
Hi, what a great informative thread. I have a question that I hope you can help me with. I’ve been a non-resident for quite a few year, living overseas. Just over a year ago I used an old Australian bank account to buy shares. The bank uses CHESS. I wish to sell my shares. The ATO considers me a non-resident however because my bank account has not been updated, I guess that CHESS views me as a resident and will notify the ATO of the sale. I’m wondering if you would know whether or not the ATO will treat the capital gains as that of a resident or non-resident? Thank you I’m advance for you answer.
Author
Hi Peter,
Whether you are a resident or a non-resident is dependent upon the facts and circumstances of your life, and although a factor, the residency status that the bank has listed down for you, alone does not determine your residency status. It simply means that the bank may not be correct. You should however update you bank as to your non-residency status, and similarly you should update the share registry (for each share that you own) of your non-residency status.
As for the capital gains that you make, if the Australian Taxation Office believe you to be a tax resident (they may do if you have not been keeping your Australian returns up to date, as this would mean that they do not have up to date information about your circumstances), then they may question you as to why you have not declared the capital gains that you have made. Rest assured however, that if you are able to demonstrate to the ATO that you are indeed a non-resident, and that the gains that you have made were from shares that you purchased and subsequently whilst you were a non-resident, then no CGT will be payable.
Regards
Shane
Hi Shane,
Enjoyed your article greatly.
I would like to ask, if you are a non resident for Australian Tax purposes, are you required to declare your CGT (from shares – non property related) in your tax return even though you may not be liable to for any CGT?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Cheers,
Ben
Author
Hi Ben,
Thanks for your question. If we work on the assumption that you are not liable for any capital gains tax payable, then you would not be required to declare your capital gains in your return.
To be clear, if not liable, then you can safely exclude the gain from your return. Just be sure that you are not liable, as that’s critical.
Thanks
Shane
Hi there and thank you for the insightful article and comments.
I have a question relating to non-residents not being subject to capital gains tax on investments (unless that company invests in property). Does this apply to Australian nationals/expats only, or do non-Australians benefit from this rule as well?
I am not an Australian citizen (but do hold an Australian PR), and a non-resident for tax purposes; my big question – when I sell my Australian shares for a profit, will that profit be subject to capital gain tax in Australia?
Thank you and best regards,
Jort
Author
Hi Jort,
Thanks for your question.
It is true that non-residents are not generally subject to capital gains tax on any investments purchased whilst non-resident, unless those assets are Taxable Australian Property.
I can confirm that this concept also applies to Australian citizens/permanent residents who are non-residents. You see, it’s not the citizenship status, but rather the taxpayer’s residency status that’s important here.
It should be noted however, that if a taxpayer owned, say Australian shares prior to becoming a non-resident, if they did not declare a deemed gain/loss on the deemed disposal of those shares as at the date that they ceased Australian tax residency, then that parcel of shares will continue to remain as “Taxable Australian Property” notwithstanding that they person is a non-resident, and notwithstanding that other shares purchased AFTER the person ceased Australian tax residency would not be Taxable Australian Property.
In that instance, those shares (owned prior to ceasing residency, where no gain/loss was declared) would continue to remain subject to Australian capital gains tax even when sold as a non-resident!
So, to answer your last question, whether your shares will be subject to capital gains tax in Australia or not, it depends, so let me answer this way:
Assuming that you do not hold greater than 10% of the company in question, for those shares purchased after ceasing residency, these should not be subject to capital gains tax in Australia. They may be taxable in your country of residence however, so you should check that.
For shares owned prior to cessation of your residency status (where the gain/loss was not declared to the date of your change of residency), these shares will generally remain subject to Australian capital gains tax.
Regards
Shane
Hi.
I have just returned to Australia after an expat life in the Middle East for the last seven years. During that time I purchased some unlisted Australian shares which have increased in value according to the latest BDO valuation. I understand that there is a tax rule where the value of the Australian shares purchased while a non tax resident, upon their return to Australia, will be deemed to be the new cost base. My question is does this rule apply to unlisted shares. Additional info: I own less than 10% of the company and it is not involved in property investment.
Thanks
Author
Hi Arthur,
Thanks for your question.
Yes, it does also apply to unlisted shares, and shares in private companies.
Thanks
Shane
How are returns from Australian managed funds taxed for non-residents?
Author
Hi Chris,
Thanks for your question. Although a short question, the answer requires a much longer explanation, too long in fact to write here. Accordingly, we’d recommend booking some time to chat with our team via https://www.expattaxes.com.au/appointments/ to discuss how this works.
Having said that, generally speaking managed funds generate different classes of income (that are distributed regularly to you) that needs to be declared annually as income in your Australian return. If some elements to those income distributions have the correct amount of withholding tax withheld, that element of income can be omitted from your return.
Above and beyond that, your managed funds will also potentially be subject to capital gains tax in Australia depending on the nature of your holding, when you acquired it, whether you declared a deemed disposal (and resultant deemed gain/loss) upon ceasing Australian tax residency, and when the asset is sold.
The takeaway from all this I guess, is that it’s more complicated than it appears, and so we definitely recommend that you seek some assistance, or engage us to prepare your returns for you.
Regards
Shane
Hello,
I previously cancelled my temporary resident visa application (which has been paid but never been granted ie. it ceased during the process) as my circumstances have changed.
I’d like to ask regarding the following point which I saw in one of the replies:
‘The way you prepare your return in the year you cease is important as if you do not include the gain then the ATO will view this as you electing to defer the gain until you dispose of the shares.
If you included the gain when you ceased residency then the gain while you are a non-resident is not subject to Australian CGT.’
May I ask regarding including the gain in the return of the year one ceases residency, does it only apply to people who did in fact sell all shares during the year they ceased being an Australian resident? Or does it simply mean I include the market price on the tax return as a gain and then I can still sell the shares later in the future (sorry I’m slightly confused and would like to confirm what ‘including the gain’ means).
If I do not plan to sell my shares during the year I cease my residency (which in my case would be no PR/citizenship from the very beginning, just an application which was paid and never granted), am I subject to capital gains tax when I sell the shares in the future, meaning I would need to lodge a tax return every year (thus I cannot inform the ATO that this year would be my last tax return?) Or do I only need to lodge a return in the year(s) which I have sold shares?
Looking forward to hearing from you and thank you for your help.
Hi Soph,
Thanks for your questions.
Firstly, there are some unique rules for taxpayers who are temporary tax residents, which may be applicable to you based on what you said. Those Capital Gains tax rules and deemed disposal’s do no apply for a temporary tax resident. Capital gains tax does not apply to assets unless they ‘taxable Australian property’, which most shares will not be.
Those rules are a deemed disposal at market value on the date a taxpayer ceases residency, so an actual sale in the same year does not need to take place. Yes the shares can be sold in the future, if the deemed disposal was included then there is not capital gain/loss to report when they are actually sold or alternatively if the an election to defer the gain was made then the actual gain is included in the year the shares are sold.
You may not need to lodge a return each year but you’d need to advise the ATO that no return is required each year and then in the year of the gain you would be required to prepare a return.
This is a complicated area of law involving tax residency and capital gains so feel free to contact one of our team to discuss further.
Regards
Terryn
In your reply to nicky 15/04 21 you stated that cryptocurrency are not taxable Australian property.I have read a ruling that it certainly is for CGT purposes.Could you please clarify this (recent?) ruling, Regards, Paul
Hi Paul,
My comment was specific to if the cryptocurrency is purchased by a non-resident taxpayer. Non-residents are subject to Australian capital gains tax on ‘Taxable Australian property’ which includes the following:
Crypto would not meet any of the above so therefore is ‘non taxable Australian property’.
For an Australian tax resident acquiring crypto it will subject to capital gains tax. The ATO has TR2014/26 which explains if Bitcoin is a CGT asset.
Please contact me via our contact us page if you’d like to discuss or would like to share the ruling that you have read as I would be interested to read it.
Terryn
Author
Hi Paul,
Firstly, thanks for your comment and for your question? We would be grateful if you could let us know the details of that tax ruling because we are not aware of any such ruling stating that cryptocurrency meets the definition of “Taxable Australian Property” when held by non-residents.
What I suspect you may be confused about is that cryptocurrency is definitely a CGT asset and thus subject to capital gains tax (in Australia) when held (and disposed) as an investment by a resident taxpayer in Australia. As a non-resident however, cryptocurrency does not meet the definition of taxable Australian property and thus, is NOT subject to Australian capital gains tax when purchased and sold by a non-resident taxpayer!
In fact the ATO themselves concurred with our opinion in their answer to a community question relating to the deemed disposal of Non-Taxable Australian Property assets. In short, they explained that when a person ceases their Australian tax residency status, they must declare a gain/loss on the deemed disposal of their cryptocurrency assets, and that any subsequent gain made when the person is a non-resident, would NOT be subject to Australian tax (essentially this is because cryptocurrency does not meet the definition of “Taxable Australian Property”).
Here’s the link to that question and the ATO’s answer: Cryptocurrency – Dual citizen ceasing to be an Australian resident.
Thanks again for your message.
Regards
Shane
Short version: Through which platform can I purchase Australian ETF’s from overseas?
Long version: I am an Australian citizen but non-resident for tax purposes. I work in Malaysia. Several years ago I set up a CommSec account with Commonwealth Bank Australia for the purpose of buying shares. I never did so. Today I reset some of my details and I was informed by the CommSec operator that I was not allowed to buy Australian shares as I am a non-resident for tax purposes living in Malaysia. She said my settings have been updated to “sell only” and that I will only be able to purchase Australian shares when I return to Australia as a tax resident. Please help me understand how I can purchase Aussie ETFs from overseas.
Hi Monica,
Thanks for your question.
Firstly there is no laws preventing you from buying the ETF’s as a non-resident buy Commsec and many major platforms do not allow it.
There are some online brokers, who allow non-resident accounts and will allow you to set up an account. One that I saw that appears to allow accounts to be setup for Malaysian tax residents is CMC Markets, however this is in no way a recommendation to use them. You could also try seeing if any Malaysian brokers deal with Australian ETF’s.
Alternatively you could try with an Australian broker or financial advisor who may be able to assist you.
I hope that helps get you started.
Thanks
Terryn
I’ve got a bunch of Australian shares with an online broker that were purchased overseas
I’m about to return to Australia and my online broker also operates in Australia and can transfer my account from overseas to Australia without any exit or transfer fees.
I am wondering though what the effect of this is on capital gains tax? Will I then pay capital gains on the shares from when I brought them overseas or only from the day I transfer the account to Australia or become an Australian tax resident again?
Should I just sell everything now (which has high exit fees) and start over instead?
Hi Mike,
Thanks for your question.
As long as you acquired the shares while you were a non-resident for Australian tax purposes it won’t matter if you leave them with the overseas broker or transfer to their Australian service.
Generally the shares acquired whilst a non-resident will not be subject to Australian capital gains tax, unless the company that you’ve invested in principally invests in property, and if you own more than 10% of the company, then your investment will be subject to capital gains tax.
For your investments the cost base (for when you do eventually sell them) will be the market value on the date you become an Australian tax resident.
Based on what you have said the transfer of the shares to the Australian broker will not trigger any capital gains tax and will have the lowest costs for you.
Regards
Terryn
Hi, just wondering does the same apply to cryptocurrency trades? i.e. as an Aussie expat living overseas, if I trade cryptocurrency on an Australian based platform, are there no capital gains tax if I buy and sell crypto while being a non-resident for tax purposes? Thanks!
Hi Nicky,
Yes the same would apply to cryptocurrency for a non-resident taxpayer of Australia as they are not taxable Australian property.
In isolation using an Australian platform shouldn’t change this but may require an Australian residential address which is not likely to be possible if you are not living in Australia.
Thanks
Hi team,
Just discovered you exist – as a reasonably fresh expat I will be devoting some time to reading all the info available here!
One hopefully quick question. I know that I need to pay Australian tax on a bonus I receive from my former Australian employer after I move tax residency (the bonus relates to services provided whilst I was a resident). Are there any concessions available on the tax payable on that bonus? Or does it just go into the same non-resident bucket as everything else, and I will just pay 32.5% from $0 – $120k, etc etc.
cheers!
Hi Andrew,
The answer to your question will depend on whether the bonus was received in the year you ceased residency or a subsequent year. In the year that you cease residency you will still be taxed at resident tax rates, albeit with an adjusted tax free threshold.
However, if the bonus was in a year after you ceased tax residency then it will be taxed at the non-resident tax rate which starts at 32.5%
If you have other questions after reading the blog articles feel free to post other questions or contact us to discuss.
Regards,
Terryn
Hi,
I am a dual national of UK & Australia. I have been an Australian non-resident for tax purposes from 2006 living in the UK.
I had Aussie shares since 2001. The company had an acquisition take over in June 2019 which they did not notify me about and the first I knew was when I found the funds in my Aussie bank account.
I spoke with my Australian Accountant and they said I had to declare it and pay CGT which turned out to be 38% of the total gain.
I have now done my UK tax Return and my UK Accountant written “I am slightly concerned as to why the tax was charged ( a quick review shows that Capital Gains Tax is not normally charged to non-residents in Australia ) and the high rate of tax.”
Should I have been charged CGT by the ATO? Any thoughts or advice?
Kind Regards Helen
Hi Helen,
Thanks for your question it is hard to say decisively without knowing more about your personal background and your shares.
However, from a general perspective, when you cease your Australian tax residency you will have a CGT event I1, which is a deemed disposal on your CGT assets, excluding assets that are ‘taxable Australian property’. However, you have the option to elect to defer the capital gain until you actually sell the assets.
If the gain was included in your return in the year you ceased residency, then it must not be included when you sold them. How you prepared your return in the year you ceased residency will be evidence as to whether you made that election or not.
Another thing to consider is the tax treaty between Australia and the UK which sets out which country will have the right to tax the capital gain. This generally will give the UK sole taxing rights (if it is not taxable Australian property), not Australia.
Your UK accountants comments seem to be correct.
In regards to your Australian return it’s possible you are overpaying tax in Australia. If you’d like to discuss further with one of our team you can book a free ‘general enquiry’ call on our website.
Regards,
Terryn
Hi Terryn,
I bought some ETFs and Australian shares while I was working in Australia for 3 years. I am currently living overseas and will be a non-resident for tax purposes soon since I won’t be back in Australia for a few years.
Since I’m an Australian tax resident for this FY, I will declare all the gains and losses from my executed trades this FY in my 2021 tax return. I believe that these will be subjected to CGT.
1. I still plan on buying and selling shares even when I become a non-resident for tax purposes. Does that mean that these realised gains/losses won’t be subjected to CGT by ATO?
2. Do I still need to lodge tax return through ATO in the succeeding years as a non-resident even if I won’t have any Australian-sourced income (other than realised gains/losses through stock trading, bank interest and franked dividends)?
Thanks in advance.
Hi Paul,
Thanks for your question.
In addition to including the gains/losses from investments traded during the year you are also deemed to have disposed of any shares/EFT’s at the market value on the date you ceased being a tax resident.
Shares and ETF’s you acquire whilst a non-resident will generally not be subject to Australian capital gains, bear in mind that if the company that you’ve invested in principally invests in property, and if you own more than 10% of the company, then your investment will be subject to capital gains tax.
You shouldn’t need to lodge a tax return in the future if you have included your deemed disposal and also you have not received Australian sourced income. You should notify the ETF’s, share registries and your banks that you are non-resident so they can withhold the appropriate non-resident withholding tax from payments made to you. If tax is not correctly withheld you will be required to lodge a return and include some components of the investment income and the bank interest.
If you are not required to lodge a return you still need to advise the ATO that you had no requirement to lodge a return for each year.
Regards,
Terryn
HI,
Can you please advise how much tax i would need to pay on the following scenario if any?
I had purchased ASX listed company shares in 2002 when i was living in Australia 20,000 at $2.65 each and i had left Australia in 2006 to India and never returned back, i still hold an Australian passport but im non-resident for tax purposes. Will i have to pay CGT on shares if i sell them now? We did not elect to defer when we left Australia? The share is trading around $7 each now.
thanks
Hi Sat,
Based on what you have said you will have a capital gain when you sell the shares.
The gain will be the increase in value from $2.65 to $7 per share. You will be eligible for some CGT discount but not the full 50% CGT discount as this was removed for non-residents since 8 May 2012. The CGT discount will be apportioned so that you get the CGT discount up to the date of the change in legislation.
The net gain after the discount will be taxable at your marginal tax rate.
There may be some tax planning strategies you could consider in the year of sale that you could consider to reduce the gain.
If you would like to discuss further I’d suggest getting in contact.
Regards,
Terryn
Hi, thanks for the informative article.
I was wondering if the same rules apply for non-Australian shares.
E.g. I am no longer an Australian tax resident, but i buy US shares by using my Australian bank account to deposit to a broker. I would withdraw profit to this bank account also.
Am I exempt from CGT in this case?
Thanks in advance.
Hi Steve,
Thanks for your question, yes the same rules will apply to non-Australian shares that are purchased whilst you are a non-resident.
If you owned the shares before you became a non-resident then there will be a deemed disposal of the shares at the date the residency changed and the gain/loss will be included in your tax return, however if an election was made to defer the gain, the gain will be assessable in Australia when the shares are sold.
Regards,
Terryn
Hi
My case is a bit complicated.
Assume I was an Australian tax resident and bought a share when it was 1 dollar per share. I ceased to be an Australian tax resident when the share price was 2 dollars.
Although I didn’t physically sell the share at that time, it deemed that I sold it at the point of being a non-Australian tax resident.(Am I correct about this?) I kept being a non-Australian tax resident and the share price rised to 10 dollars when I became an Australian tax resident again.
My questions are:
1. Is the capital gain between 2 and 10 dollars tax free?
2. It deemed I acquired share at 10 dollars per share when I became an Australian tax resident again?
3. I understand I have to pay CGT if the share price goes up from 10 dollars since I am an Australian tax resident now, but what if the share price falls to 5 dollars per share, am I eligiable to claim a CGT loss?
4. With regards to CGT calculation, do I have to using first in first out (eg. I bought 1000 shares at 1st May, another 1000 shares at 1st Jul, if I sell 1000 shares at 1st Dec, does it have to be the 1000 shares I bought in May? )
5. Unfortunately, I paid CGT on share in the past two years while I was actually a non tax resident, am I able to lodge an amendment to ATO?
Hope I made myself clear, please correct me if I got anything wrong. Looking forward to hearing from you. Many thanks.
Regards,
Ted
Hi Ted,
Thanks for your questions.
Generally you are deemed to have disposed of the shares when you ceased being an Australian tax resident. Unless the shares that you’ve invested in principally invests in property, and if you own more than 10% of the company, then your investment will be subject to capital gains tax.
The way you prepare your return in the year you cease is important as if you do not include the gain then the ATO will view this as you electing to defer the gain until you dispose of the shares.
If you included the gain when you ceased residency then the gain while you are a non-resident is not subject to Australian CGT.The new cost base when you resume residency will be the market value at that date.
Yes you will be eligible for a loss if the share value decreases from the time you resume residency to when you sell the shares.
No you can choose which parcel of shares you choose, you could choose the parcel/s that give the best tax outcome. You need to keep sufficient records to demonstrate how the calculation was done.
Most taxpayers have a two year amendment period, from the date of the notice of assessment issued by the ATO. You should be able to amend at least one of the returns but maybe both. If you are out of time to amend you may be able to object to the original assessment but this is a more complicated process than amending the return.
If you need further assistance please get in contact with our team.
Regards
Hi There,
If I am an Australian citizen and a tax resident of Hong Kong.
Do I need to pay CGT on equity/stock market investments which were executed whilst being a HK tax resident?
The investments were executed through Australian investment applications (Comsec and Westpac investing), will there be any issues if I declare this income in HK?
Regards
Jason
Author
Hi Jason,
Thanks for your message (and the online chat that you sent us earlier too – I’ll respond to that shortly).
Whilst your question is not complex, the answer is not so straightforward as more information is required. However, let me explain it this way.
Firstly, the answer depends upon your Australian tax residency status (not your Hong Kong residency status), assuming that you hold the shares personally and not in any other structure.
If you are an Australian resident for Australian tax purposes, notwithstanding that you may live in Hong Kong, then your gains will be assessable in Australia and CGT will be payable.
If however, you are a non-resident for Australian tax purposes, then your gains MAY be assessable and CGT MAY be payable. Ultimately, the answer depends upon the following – whether:
Hopefully that helps explain the outcomes. If you need some assistance or advice with your returns or the issue above, feel free to book an appointment with us as we’d be more than happy to assist with these complexities.
Regards
Shane
I am a non-resident of Australia for tax purposes.
I now have a capital gain from the sale of my investment rental property in Australia. I also have some UNREALIZED capital losses from some of my Australian share portfolio. I am wondering if I realize some of those share capital losses, can i offset them against the capital gain from the property?
Hi Joshua,
If you acquired those shares while you were a non-resident then they won’t be taxable Australian property and therefore the loss won’t be included in your Australian tax return and you won’t be able to offset the gain against your share losses.
If you acquired the shares while you were an Australian tax resident and elected to defer the gain until you sell the shares then, when you sell those shares you will realise the loss. That loss can offset gains in the same year or be carried forward to offset future gains. If the sale of the property was in last financial year, those losses will not be able to offset the gain.
Regards,
Terryn
Hi Terryn,
A question regarding funds gained from selling shares. If – as I am currently – a non-resident for tax purposes sells shares when non-resident and deposits the (CGT-free) profit in an Australian bank account, are those funds then essentially treat as non-taxable thereafter or may they be deemed liable for CGT if and when the seller returns to Australia and becomes resident for tax purposes once again ?
Hi Grant,
If the gain was not subject to capital gains tax then the proceeds kept in your bank account will not be taxable in the future, even if/when you return to Australia.
However, if that money in the bank earns interest then the interest will be assessable, either as a non-resident or resident. If you are a non-resident you should ensure you advise the bank so they withhold non-resident withholding tax and then it won’t be required to be included in your Australian return while you are a non-resident.
Thanks
Hi Terryn,
Is there any reason why a foreign resident would prefer franked over unfranked dividends (or vice versa), other things being equal??
Secondly can I ask if it makes a difference with regard to any obligation to file an Australian tax return? Neither franked dividends nor unfranked with withholding tax deducted leads to any further Australian tax charge. But if a foreign resident only receives Australian interest (withholding tax deducted) and Australian dividends is there a need to file a tax return if unfranked dividends have been received rather than franked?
Author
Hi Jason,
Thanks for your questions – please see my responses below:
Q./ Is there any reason why a foreign resident would prefer franked over unfranked dividends (or vice versa), other things being equal??
A./ Assuming all things are equal, then franked dividends are preferred as they are essentially ‘tax-paid’ dividends for a non-resident. Unfranked dividends are subject to a 15% withholding tax (where the taxpayer resides in a country with which Australia has a tax treaty), or 30% in all other cases. When a non-resident taxpayer receives franked dividends, the logic is that as the company paying the franked dividends has already paid tax on their profits (at the rate of 30%), the withholding tax (15% or 30%) payable by the non-resident taxpayer is taken to have already been paid. As such, there is no further tax paid.
Let me illustrate by way of an example. Let’s assume that a non-resident taxpayer, residing in a non-treaty country receives a cash dividend of $10,000 unfranked, and a cash dividend of $10,000 fully franked. In this example, withholding tax of 30%, totalling $3,000 will be deducted and paid for the unfranked dividend whereas the franked dividend will have no further tax paid.
In this example, the net amount received (after tax) would total $10,000 for franked dividends and only $ 7,000 for unfranked dividends. Thus, the non-resident taxpayer will usually be between 15% – 30% better off receiving franked dividends (depending upon whether residing in a treaty country or not.
Q./ Secondly can I ask if it makes a difference with regard to any obligation to file an Australian tax return? Neither franked dividends nor unfranked with withholding tax deducted leads to any further Australian tax charge. But if a foreign resident only receives Australian interest (withholding tax deducted) and Australian dividends is there a need to file a tax return if unfranked dividends have been received rather than franked?
A./ Answering both questions at once, it only makes a difference if withholding tax is NOT deducted from interest, or from unfranked dividends (noting that franked dividends are already treated as tax paid and can be excluded from your return.
Let me explain in a different way . . . if you receive interest and unfranked dividends, and no other Australian sourced income when you are a non-resident, if withholding tax was withheld from both the interest and the unfranked dividends, then you will be eligible to file a ‘Return Not Necessary’ (RNN) form (also known as a ‘Non-lodgement Advice’) instead of a full tax return. Note that unless you have previously lodged a final return with the ATO (meaning that you’re told the ATO that no further return will ever be required to be lodged), then you will have to lodge one of these two forms: either a RNN or a tax return. Refer our article: Do I need to lodge a tax return while living overseas?
If however, withholding tax is NOT withheld either from any interest OR unfranked dividends earned, then you WILL be obligated to lodge a full tax return, including the relevant amount (i.e. the amount without tax withheld) in your return. To be clear, you generally will not be eligible to lodge a RNN in this instance.
– – – – –
Jason, hopefully that helps to explain things.
Thanks again for your questions.
Regards
Shane
How are dividend reinvestment plans (DRPs) treated as a non-resident? I notice that many companies explicitly exclude non-residents from participating, but some appear to not exclude it in their DRP rules. My guess is that an equivalent withholding tax (15% to 30%) on the value of the reinvested shares would need to be paid. Or is it even more favourable as a non-resident? As non-residents get big advantages on CGT, a mention of DRPs might be useful. Thanks.
Hi Zeeb,
As a non-resident taxpayer the income will be taxed the same as any other dividends. If the dividends are fully franked no further tax is payable in Australia. Unfranked dividends will have 30% tax withheld, unless you reside in a country which Australia has a treaty agreement. Most of the treaties will have 15% tax withheld on unfranked dividends. Each treaty is different, so you would need to the treaty relevant to the country you reside in.
Shares acquired through a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRP) are treated the same as any other acquisition. If you are a non-resident for Australian tax purposes at that date they will not be subject to Australian capital gains tax if you sell them while a non resident. The same exclusions and rules that apply to other capital gains mentioned in the article will relate to DRP’s too.
It is important to note that bonus share plans, which are not as common as DRP’s, are not treated as new purchases so these would potentially have a different tax outcome.
Regards
Terryn
Hi Terryn,
Does the same tax treatment for non-residents apply for ETFs listed on the ASX as direct shares?
Hi Jen,
Yes ETF’s are treated in the same way.
Thanks
Hi Terryn,
Thanks for the great eye opening article
I apologise in advance for the plethora of questions below I just want to understand this corrcectly
I was considering rolling some investments into Super but am now reconsidering what will be most tax effective!
I have some ETF investments ( outside of Superannuation) that I wish to leave to grow here in Australia, whilst my family and I relocate to Ireland for a few years at least ( we will be non-resident for tax purposes). I believe when we leave I can elect to defer the CGT event that would be triggered by the change in tax status.
If I do defer the CGT then return to being an Australia tax resident in a few years time does that mean I have the potential ( depending on market performance) to face a much bigger tax bill on several additional years growth than if I had just taken the smaller CGT hit earlier ?
Also, If I do take the CGT hit when we leave Australia, I assume then there will be no CGT to pay on this again until I actually physically divest from the funds ? ( even then it will only be for the time period between when we become Aussie tax residents again and when we sell out of the funds)? If we divest while we are non-resident for tax purposes some years down the line – is their any further CGT to pay at all ?
Ireland does have a double taxation agreement with Australia but if there is no actual divestment then I assume there is nothing to pay year on year whilst we are away (Unfranked dividends pay a 15% non-resident witholding tax direct to the ATO anyway).
Do I understand this correctly ?
Many Thanks again
David
Hi David,
I think your understanding of the article is very good.
If you elect to defer the gain then you will be assessable on the whole gain when you do eventually sell the investment. If the investment value has increased then you will end up with a larger gain. In addition to this since 8 May 2012 the 50% CGT has been removed for non-residents, if you do elect to defer the gain then your period of foreign residency is taken into account when calculating the CGT discount you can apply and you will not receive the full 50% CGT discount.
If you include the deemed gain in your return in the year of departure and you sell the investment while a non resident, there will be no additional gain to include in your Australian return.
You would need to investigate how Ireland treats the capital gains, if sold while you are in Ireland or when you depart and also how they treat the investment income. In Australia if the income is fully franked or appropriate non-resident withhold is deducted then you would have no further tax on the income each year. The double taxation agreement will assist with setting out how the income is to be taxed.
Please contact us at Expat Tax Services for more information.
Thanks
Terryn
Good day Terryn,
I note that in one instance you mention that if an investor invests in a firm that invests in Australian property and/or holds ten 10 percent of the firm then he may be liable for the capital gain tax in Australia. Do both conditions have to be met in order to become liable? From a browse of this on the internet I think both must apply, as one of those conditions is not enough to make one liable. As in even if a firm invests in Australian property but you own few shares then not liable. Also in regards to mining companies which invest and hold most assests in Australia (gold companies operating mines), does it make the mines Australian property? Thank you in advance.
Hi Paul,
The condition is that both of those tests need to be met. Sorry if there was any confusion created by previous responses.
If the mining Companies underlying value is principally derived from Australian real property would it be considered taxable Australian property.
Thanks
Hi Terryn,
I left Australia about 2 years ago for the purpose of travel (on tourist visas – no employment contract or anything). To date I’ve remained an Australian resident for tax purposes. It now looks like I’ll settle overseas longer (at least another year or 2 – indefinite at this point) in which case I’ll likely change to a non-resident. Assuming that’s the case, what’s the date that I cease being a resident? Is it 1-Jul-2020? If so, would my 2019/2020 return still be completed as a resident with the exception that the I1 CGT event gets applied (where my share holdings are deemed to be sold)? And would I get still get the 50% CG discount on the I1 CGT event?
Thanks
Tom
Hi Tom,
You will be a non-resident from the date that you fail each of the Australian tax residency tests. It’s very rare that someone’s residency status changes on 1 July, but it is possible and depends on all of your personal circumstances. You would have to run through each of the tests to determine when you cease being an Australian tax resident.
In the year that your residency status changes you will need to complete your return as a part year resident and notify the ATO of the date of your change in residency. On the date that you cease being a resident you will trigger the CGT event I1, at that date you are required to include the gain in your return, unless you elect to defer the gain until you actually dispose of the shares. You are still eligible to the 50% CGT discount on the deemed disposal of the shares, as long as you meet the usual requirements for the 50% CGT discount.
Regards,
Hi Terryn,
I am on temporary visa(currently living in Australia), which means I am temporary resident for tax purpose. Does this rule still apply for me as I have bought and and sold some shares this year 2020?
Hi Prem,
Thanks for your question.
The rules are a bit different for a temporary resident to the the rules for a non-resident.
Temporary residents are assessable on capital gains from CGT assets that are taxable Australian property.
Temporary residents are assessable on Australian sourced investment income, like Australian dividend income.
Please Contact Us if you want to discuss further and one of our team will get back to you.
Terryn
hi
Hi Terryn,
My question relates to tax implications for foreigners granted share schemes overseas.
After recently receiving an RSU award through an Employee share scheme from my overseas employer, and selling these shares, I am having to pay a hefty amount of tax on the granted shares + capital gain event here in Australia. I haven’t yet had to pay tax on these overseas, will I incur other tax implications from overseas or since tax will have already been paid and there is a tax treaty between the 2 countries, do I need to worry about it anymore?
Thanks for your help!
Regards,
Bec
Hi Bec,
Thanks for your question. Tax on employee share schemes is quite confusing to start with, but it is particularly confusing if you are a non-resident during part of the service period. Some of the scheme may be taxable in Australia and some in another foreign jurisdiction.
We would need to discuss with you to find out a bit more about your particular employee share scheme to answer your question properly. It seems unusual to pay tax on shares issued as part of the award and a capital gain (on the same shares) if you disposed of them at the same time as they were awarded to you. The capital gain could be from the disposal of shares issued from an employee share scheme in an early year, which would make sense.
The tax rules in the foreign country that you live in will determine how that income is to be treated in that country. If there is a tax treaty with that country and Australia, the tax treaty will set out how that income is to be taxed. Many of Australia’s tax treaties allow a foreign tax credit for tax paid in the other country. The good news is you shouldn’t end up paying tax in both countries but you can’t forget about it just yet, you may still need to include the income in both returns and claim a credit for tax paid in Australia.
If you want to discuss further, please Contact Us and one of our team will get back to you.
Regards,
Terryn
Hi Terryn,
My query is regarding the CGT exemption on ASX shares, bought and sold whilst a non resident for tax purposes.
To date I’ve used a local Australian postal address, for CHESS sponsorship (shares purchased using Commsec).
Perhaps a strange question, but would there be any negative implications on my CGT exemption, based on this aspect ?
The ATO does have formal records of my non-resident tax status, as I have been lodging tax assessments and paying PAYG tax throughout my expatriation overseas, due to income from property investments.
Appreciate any guidance/feedback.
Best
Tony
Hi Tony,
Thanks for your question. Your postal address with the share registry and your broker should have no bearing on the CGT on your shares, as long as you meet the other requirements mentioned in the article. If Commsec or the registry record your residential address then you should ensure that is recorded correctly as your overseas address.
Regards,
Terryn
if non resident doesn’t need to pay CGT does that mean we do not need to indicate/mention capital gain in tax return (note:it’s not a propert/real estate company and we don’t own 10% of the company)
Hi Shudip,
That is correct, you won’t need to include these on your Australian tax return if you are a non-resident, as long as the following:
Regards,
I moved overseas recently and I do not intend to return to Australia. I currently own shares in a couple of companies (CBA and WBC) listed on the ASX. I now consider myself to be a non resident. To finalise my non residency do I just submit a final tax return with the capital gains calculations for my shares worked out as of the date of my last tax return? If I choose to continue to hold shares in these companies what are the implications moving forward? Thanks in anticipation,
Hi Stephen,
Thanks for your questions. The way that you notify the ATO is on your tax return, so if you left after 30 June 2019, you will notify this on your 2020 tax return. You can also notify the ATO that you have no future tax obligations on your tax return.
When you cease being an Australian resident for tax purposes you are deemed to have disposed of your assets that are not taxable Australian property for their market value at the time you ceased being a resident, this generally includes shares.
If you do not return to Australia any future gains from your existing and new share investments in Australia are not subject to capital earnings in Australia.
If the Companies pay you fully franked dividends or unfranked dividends and withholds non-resident withholding tax you will not pay any additional tax in Australia and you will not be required to lodge Australian tax returns in the future.
I’d highly recommend that you engage a registered tax agent, who specialises in expats to prepare the return for you because Australian tax residency is complicated and it is important that your return is completed correctly with the appropriate disclosures. Obviously we’d like it to be us but if not us, another firm that specialises in this area.
If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact us via the contact us page on our website.
Regards,
Terryn
Hi
Thanks for sharing this.
What happens in the year of changing residency where you were tax resident in Australia for say only 90 days, so not tax resident for that financial year. Is the CGT based off the date of physically leaving or the prior 30 June? If based on physically leaving then isn’t a person subject to CGT in Australia and their new country? The new country (like Australia would upon arrival) state that if you are resident for 275 days in my example to pay tax on the full year’s CGT. In which case only DT agreement would save them.
Thanks
Hi Pablo,
If you change your residency status during the year you are treated as a part year tax resident. From the time that you leave Australia you will be a non-resident. Most countries will only treat you as a resident from the date of the change not the whole of the tax year but it would depend on the tax legislation of the particular country you have moved to.
Get in contact with us at Expat Tax Services to discuss further in relation to your circumstances.
Regards
Terryn
Hello,
Thank you for the helpful article!
Are there any online brokers operating in Australia that you are aware of that will allow investment in shares for non-residents of Australia? Or is it possible through Australian banks?
Kind regards,
Joel
Hi Joel,
This is not a recommendation to use them but CMC Markets Australia is one broker that does allow a non-resident to setup an account. I do not know which banks do offer share trading accounts for non-residents.
You would need to compare the options to see which is best suited to your needs.
Regards,
Terryn
Hi Guys and Gals (and any others),
I’m an expat in China, who is a non resident for tax purposes, and I still have cash in an Australian bank account. I’m wondering if I was to buy shares through an Aussie broker such as commsec or similar, and I was to remain a non resident for tax purposes, do I avoid capital gains? Are profits from share trading taxed in other ways?
Thanks for your helpful information. This site and blog are great!
Stephen.
Hi Stephen,
Thanks for your question. Share investments in Australia generally are not subject to Australian capital gains tax while you remain a non-resident for tax purposes. Bear in mind that if the company that you’ve invested in principally invests in property, and if you own more than 10% of the company, then your investment will be subject to capital gains tax.
Whilst you won’t be assessable on the gain in Australia as a non-resident you may be assessable on the gain in China depending on how long you have or will be there, you would need to check this with a tax accountant in China.
As I mentioned to Jack in a previous comment, you may find that if you are a non-resident of Australia you may find it more difficult to setup an online trading account in Australia, not all brokers will create an account for non-residents.
Thanks for the positive feedback.
If you do have any other questions do not hesitate to contact us.
Regards,
Terryn
Hello,
I’m an aussie expat living and working in the US. I’m hoping to buy some bluchip Aussie stocks (listed on ASX), and was wondering whether I should buy them via a US broker or through an aussie broker. And, if I don’t become an Australian tax resident until after I’ve sold the aussie stocks, what are my tax obligations related to capital gains? Would I better off buying them through a US broker then, or an Aussie Broker?
Hi Jack,
From an Australian tax outcome it will be the same if you have purchased the shares from an Australian broker or US broker. However you may find that if you are a non-resident it may be harder to setup an online trading account in Australia, not all brokers will create an account for non-residents.
If you sell the shares before you become an Australian tax resident the Australian shares will not be subject to Australian Capital Gains tax, share investments in Australia are generally not subject to Australian capital gains tax while you remain a non-resident for tax purposes. Bear in mind that if the company that you’ve invested in principally invests in property, and if you own more than 10% of the company, then your investment will be subject to capital gains tax.
You would need to discuss with a US tax accountant how to best manage the US tax on the shares.
If you still own the shares when you become an Australian tax resident, the cost base of the shares will be the market value on the date you became a resident, when you sell the shares you will only include the capital gain during the time you are an Australian tax resident.
Regards,
Terryn