A report from the inquiry into the operation of the capital gains tax discount in Australia including its contribution to inequality, how it influences the types of assets purchased, its distributional effects and its role in suppressing productivity and whether it is fulfilling its original intended purpose. The report finds Australia’s tax system is broken.

The briefing paper provides an analysis of all 150 federal electorates in Australia to show the flow of the 50% Capital Gains Tax (CGT) discount. It finds that the benefits of the CGT discount flow overwhelmingly to a small number of high-income, inner-city electorates in the eastern states.

This paper examines the economic case for the capital gains tax (CGT) discount and concludes that many of the arguments for reducing it are based on persistent myths rather than evidence. The paper argues that housing should not dominate the CGT debate. It finds that some form of concessional treatment for capital gains is economically...

There are various proposals regarding how to reform capital gains taxation in Australia. Using data on realised capital gains in 2022 for a subset of housing investors (those holding for between one and nine years) this paper describes how four different tax systems, including the current system, would have treated individuals differently.

This briefing note outlines how tax breaks for property investors in Australia are contributing to worsening housing affordability. It proposes the Federal Government recalibrate its housing policies to prioritise people on low incomes. It should curb the 50% CGT discount and negative gearing and invest the savings in essential supports such as social housing.