Shares, ETFs & Crypto: How the 2026 Budget Changes Capital Gains Tax
The 2026 CGT reforms replace the 50% discount with inflation indexation and a 30% minimum tax on real capital gains. Share, ETF, and crypto investors may experience different outcomes depending on growth rates, inflation, holding periods, and portfolio structure, while transitional rules protect gains accrued before July 2027.
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Introduction
Shares, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and cryptocurrency have become central components of long-term wealth-building strategies.
The proposed Capital Gains Tax (CGT) reforms announced in the 2026 Federal Budget could affect how these assets are taxed, particularly for investors who rely on long-term capital growth.
From 1 July 2027, the Government replaced the existing 50% CGT discount with a new inflation-indexed system and a 30% minimum tax on real capital gains. While property investors have attracted much of the attention surrounding the reforms, share investors, ETF investors, cryptocurrency holders, and diversified portfolio investors may also see meaningful changes to their after-tax outcomes.
Understanding how the reforms could affect different asset classes is essential before making major portfolio decisions.
How Capital Gains Tax Currently Works for Shares, ETFs and Crypto
Under the old system, investors who hold eligible assets for more than 12 months generally receive a 50% CGT discount. This means only half of the capital gain is included in taxable income.
For example:
Purchase price: $100,000
Sale value: $200,000
Capital gain: $100,000
Discounted gain: $50,000
The discounted gain is then taxed at the investor's marginal tax rate.
This framework has been a key feature of Australian investing for more than two decades.
What Changed From 1 July 2027?
The Government replaced the flat 50% discount with a system based on inflation indexation.
Under the proposed model:
The cost base of the asset is adjusted for inflation.
Only gains above inflation are treated as real gains.
A minimum 30% tax applies to those real gains.
The Government argues this approach more accurately reflects genuine wealth creation by ensuring investors are taxed on real economic gains rather than inflationary increases in asset values.
The reforms apply broadly to CGT assets, including:
Shares
ETFs
Managed funds
Cryptocurrency
Collectibles
Other investment assets held outside superannuation
Why Shares May Be Affected Differently Than Property
One of the more interesting observations in the Budget papers is that the existing 50% discount has historically affected shares and property differently.
According to the Government, inflation has accounted for approximately half of the nominal gains generated by Australian shares over the past two decades. This means the current discount may not always have fully compensated long-term share investors for inflation. As a result, some share investors may experience less dramatic changes than property investors under the proposed indexation system.
The actual outcome depends on future inflation and market performance.
What the Changes Mean for Share Investors
Investors holding individual Australian or international shares should pay close attention to the relationship between capital growth and inflation.
High-Growth Share Portfolios
Investors holding:
Growth stocks
Technology companies
Small-cap shares
Emerging market investments
...may experience capital gains that exceed inflation.
Where growth materially outpaces inflation, the proposed system could produce higher tax outcomes than the current discount model.
Income-Focused Share Portfolios
Investors focused on:
Dividend-paying shares
Blue-chip companies
Income-oriented portfolios
...may experience less dramatic changes because a larger proportion of their total return comes from income rather than capital growth.
Importantly, the reforms do not change:
Dividend taxation
Franking credits
Dividend imputation arrangements
Only capital gains treatment is affected.
What the Changes Mean for ETF Investors
ETFs have become one of the most popular investment vehicles among Australian wealth builders.
Many investors use ETFs to:
Build diversified portfolios
Access international markets
Create long-term retirement savings
Reduce portfolio management complexity
Because ETF investors often hold assets for decades, the interaction between inflation and capital growth is important. The longer the holding period, the more significant inflation indexation may become.
For some investors, indexation may partially offset the reduction in the traditional CGT discount. For others, particularly those experiencing strong long-term growth, the new framework could increase future tax liabilities.
How Cryptocurrency Could Be Affected
Although the Budget papers do not specifically reference cryptocurrency, the reforms apply broadly to CGT assets.
This means assets such as:
Bitcoin
Ethereum
Solana
XRP
Other digital assets
...could eventually fall under the new regime.
Cryptocurrency presents unique challenges because of its volatility. Many investors experience gains that far exceed inflation during strong market cycles.
Under the proposed framework, investors with substantial crypto gains may find that:
More gains are subject to tax than under the current discount system.
The 30% minimum tax becomes increasingly relevant.
Tax planning around disposal timing becomes more important.
At the same time, crypto investors should remember that the reforms do not eliminate taxation on pre-2027 gains, nor do they require immediate action before the transition date.
The End of Waiting Until Retirement?
One objective of the proposed reforms is reducing what policymakers describe as the lock-in effect.
Historically, some investors have delayed selling assets until:
Retirement
A lower-income year
A period of reduced marginal tax rates
The Government argues this behaviour can distort investment decisions and reduce the efficient allocation of capital.
The proposed 30% minimum tax on real capital gains is intended to reduce the tax advantages associated with delaying disposals purely for tax reasons. For long-term investors, this may alter how future exit strategies are evaluated.
What Happens to Existing Portfolios?
Investors do not need to panic-sell their portfolios before July 2027. The proposed reforms include transitional arrangements designed to protect gains that have already accrued.
Existing Gains Remain Protected
The current CGT system continues to apply to gains earned before 1 July 2027. Only gains arising after that date fall under the proposed new framework. This means investors do not lose the benefit of gains already accumulated.
The July 2027 Valuation Point
For assets held through the transition:
A valuation may be obtained as of 1 July 2027; or
An approved ATO apportionment method may be used.
This creates a mechanism for separating pre-reform gains from future gains.
For investors with substantial portfolios, maintaining accurate records around the transition date may become increasingly important.
What About Diversified Portfolios?
Most investors do not own a single asset class. Instead, they hold diversified portfolios containing a mix of:
Australian shares
International shares
ETFs
Managed funds
Property
Fixed interest investments
Cryptocurrency
The impact of the reforms may vary across different components of the portfolio. This means investors may need to move beyond viewing CGT as a single issue and instead consider:
Asset-level tax exposure
Expected future growth rates
Inflation sensitivity
Portfolio-wide after-tax returns
Diversification remains important but understanding how different assets are taxed is valuable under the proposed framework.
Rebalancing Implications for Investors
Portfolio rebalancing is a common strategy used to maintain target asset allocations.
For example, an investor may periodically sell outperforming assets and reinvest into underperforming areas to maintain diversification.
Under the proposed rules, rebalancing decisions may require closer attention to:
Embedded capital gains
Future inflation assumptions
Tax consequences of disposals
Long-term portfolio objectives
This does not mean investors should avoid rebalancing.
However, after-tax outcomes may become a more important consideration when determining how and when to make portfolio adjustments.
What About Pre-1985 Assets?
The reforms introduce an important change for investors holding assets acquired before the introduction of CGT in 1985.
Historically, these assets have enjoyed permanent CGT-free status.
Under the proposed framework:
Gains accrued before 1 July 2027 remain tax-free.
Gains arising after 1 July 2027 become subject to the new regime.
For investors holding legacy share portfolios or inherited assets, this may create important long-term planning considerations.
Superannuation Remains Unaffected
One important point for investors is that the proposed reforms do not change superannuation tax arrangements. This means shares and ETFs held within superannuation continue to operate under their existing taxation framework.
For some investors, the relative attractiveness of superannuation may increase as taxation outside super becomes less concessional. However, superannuation decisions should always be assessed within the context of broader retirement, liquidity, and estate-planning objectives.
What Should Investors Do Now?
Investors should begin reviewing:
Unrealised gains across portfolios
Expected future growth rates
Tax exposure across asset classes
Rebalancing strategies
Trust ownership structures
Long-term retirement plans
Importantly, the reforms do not create an automatic reason to sell shares, ETFs, or cryptocurrency before July 2027. The transition rules have been designed to reduce pressure on investors to make rushed decisions.
The most effective response is usually not immediate action, but informed planning. Investors who understand how the proposed rules interact with their portfolio, their retirement objectives, and their broader wealth strategy will be better positioned to make confident decisions as the reforms move closer to implementation. Book a 15-minute call with James Hayes today.
Disclaimer
The information in this article is provided as a general guide only. It does not constitute personal financial advice and should not be relied upon as such. Readers should seek advice from a licensed financial adviser before making any financial decisions. James Hayes and his associated entities accept no responsibility or liability for any loss, damage, or action taken in reliance on the information contained in this article. Links to third-party websites are provided for reference purposes only. We do not endorse or guarantee the accuracy of their content.