FiscalFox editorial team · Product lead: Grant Sloane · Updated
Calculate Australian CGTTranslate the cost and proceeds separately
Keep the trade date, currency and amount of each purchase and sale. An unchanged US-dollar share price can still create an AUD gain or loss because exchange rates moved. Record the rate source and its direction: USD per AUD must be divided into the USD amount.
Sources: ATO: Foreign exchange rates · RBA: Exchange rates
Include charges once in the right currency
A net settlement may already include brokerage. Keep the export’s net and gross conventions consistent and convert separately charged amounts in their own currency. Pearler US rows, for example, mix USD share prices with AUD brokerage and need those amounts recorded separately in the trade list.
Keep dividends and currency cash records separate
Foreign dividends and withheld tax are income records, not share sale proceeds. Interest, currency cash movements and derivatives can raise separate issues; this guide describes the share CGT calculation rather than treating every USD transaction as a share disposal.
Sources: ATO: Individual supplementary tax return 2026 (PDF)
Worked example: separate AUD exchange rates
Synthetic FX rates, not historical market quotes. No fees or losses; the parcel meets the current 12-month discount test.
| Calculation | AUD or result |
|---|---|
| Purchase: US$1,000 at US$0.80 per A$1 | $1,250 cost |
| Sale: US$1,200 at US$0.75 per A$1 | $1,600 proceeds |
| AUD capital gain | $350 |
| Net gain after 50% discount | $175 |
Questions and answers
Can I convert my broker’s annual USD profit at 30 June?
That loses the separate AUD acquisition and disposal values. Use the dated transaction amounts and evidence for each conversion.
Is money withdrawn from my broker the capital gain?
No. A withdrawal is a cash movement. A share disposal is calculated from its proceeds and the cost base of the parcels sold.
Official sources
Sources reviewed . Export steps describe FiscalFox’s supported file. Broker help links explain the available reports; menu names can vary by account and platform.