Minimising or Eliminating Capital Gains Tax!
When you dispose of an asset and make a capital gain, you may be liable for extra tax. There is no separate tax rate for capital gains. Instead, some or all of the capital gain is added to your assessable income and taxed along with your other income at your marginal tax rate. However the rules in a super fund are different. Over 55 and selling assets in super can potentially see no capital gains payable
CGT – generally speaking
The CGT system is very complex but in general terms, for individuals, the capital gain can be discounted by 50% if the asset is held for at least a year. This means the effective tax rate is 23.25% for those on the highest tax rate. There is no discount for assets held less than one year. For companies, there is no discount and the full capital gain is taxed at the company tax rate of 30%.
Tax on superannuation funds works in the same way as that applying to individuals. However, when a super fund disposes of an asset, it qualifies for a one-third discount if the asset was held for at least a year. Super funds are taxed at a flat rate of 15%, so this means the effective tax rate is 10%.
Minimising CGT
There are extra advantages in a Self Managed Super Fund (SMSF). The major benefit is that you can plan when to dispose of an asset taking into account the effective tax rate. This may mean, for example, that if you have invested in a share that has appreciated rapidly, you may hold it longer to qualify for the one-third discount.
Another advantage is that you can control the amount of capital gain made in a year and match it against capital losses to minimise the net capital gain. The lower tax rates in super mean there is a lower “tax cost” of selling before a year has passed. The maximum tax rate will be 15% rather than 46.5% or 30% if the asset was held as an individual or in a company.
The trustees of many SMSF’s find that the lower tax rate in super helps them to focus on buying quality assets rather than worrying about how much tax may be payable.
Eliminating CGT
Superannuation funds pay tax at 15%, however, once a super fund starts paying a pension or other income stream, the assets are not taxed at all. All income and capital gains are exempt from tax. This can happen from age 55 even if you are still working.
If your fund holds a large asset like a property, the capital gain may be significant and the potential tax cost could deter you from selling. In a SMSF, you control when you dispose of the asset. For example, disposal of the asset once a pension has started can eliminate capital gains tax altogether.
Of course, tax is not the only issue when making investments but it can “add cream to your cake” if it can be significantly reduced or legally eliminated. A SMSF provides excellent opportunities to do just that.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about all aspects of establishing a SMSF please contact us.
Sources:
ato.gov.au “Capital Gains Tax”
moneybuddy.com.au “Understanding Capital Gains Tax”