PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSE

Applying Australian capital gains tax principles, concessions and compliance for 2026–27.

Professional reference and assessment | 2026–27

Scope and reliance

This material summarises the principal capital gains tax rules applying to Australian taxpayers for the 2026–27 income year. It addresses capital gains tax assets and events, exemptions, the main residence, foreign residents and withholding, small business concessions, calculation methods, deceased estates, restructures and digital assets. General assessable income, deduction and capital allowance rules are included only where they directly affect a capital gains tax outcome. Application depends on legal ownership, transaction timing, residency, asset use, valuation evidence and the precise terms of an exemption or rollover. This material provides professional education and does not constitute taxation, legal, superannuation or financial advice.

Course overview

The material provides a structured professional approach to Australian capital gains tax for 2026–27. It covers the review sequence, asset and event classification, collectables and personal use assets, exemptions, the main residence exemption, foreign-resident issues, small business concessions, cost base calculations, losses, records, deceased estates, restructures, digital assets and enacted changes from 1 July 2027.

The content is organised into five knowledge blocks supported by native Word tables, independent examples, practical activities, two compact flowcharts, a professional review toolkit and a final LearnDash-compatible assessment. It is suitable for tax agents, Business Activity Statement agents, public practitioners, accountants and other advisers who identify, calculate, document or review capital gains tax outcomes.

Course objectives

Identify capital gains tax assets and events, determine transaction timing and classify proceeds, cost bases and exemptions.
Apply the main residence, foreign-resident and foreign resident capital gains withholding rules to common professional scenarios.
Evaluate access to the small business capital gains tax concessions and apply the required concession ordering.
Calculate capital gains and losses using the cost base, reduced cost base, discount, indexation and other methods.
Prepare defensible records for deceased estates, restructures, digital assets and the transition to the enacted post-1 July 2027 framework.

Learning Outcomes

You should be able to identify the taxpayer, asset, capital gains tax event and event time for a transaction.
You should be able to determine whether an exemption, main residence rule, rollover or foreign-resident collection mechanism applies.
You should be able to test the basic and additional requirements for the small business capital gains tax concessions.
You should be able to calculate and document capital gains, capital losses and available calculation methods in the required order.
You should be able to complete a professional capital gains tax review supported by ownership, valuation, residency and transaction evidence.

CPD/CPE compliance mapping

The following mapping identifies how the professional outcomes align with common continuing professional development and continuing professional education competency areas. It does not determine the acceptance of a particular activity by a membership body or regulator. Professional development compliance mapping

Body or framework	Relevant competency area	Mapped outcomes	Evidence of completion	Suggested classification
CPA Australia	Taxation, financial accounting, risk and professional skills.	CGT events, cost bases, concessions, evidence, calculations and compliance review.	Completion record, quiz result and retained course notes.	Technical and professional development.
Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand	Tax, accounting, assurance, risk and practice capability.	Application of CGT exemptions, residency, small business, valuation and reporting rules.	Completion record, quiz result and reflective application to client work.	Technical competence.
Institute of Public Accountants	Taxation, accounting, compliance and public practice.	Asset classification, calculations, rollovers, digital assets and record keeping.	Completion record, quiz result and practice workpaper.	Structured CPE.
Tax Practitioners Board	Australian taxation law and tax agent services.	CGT calculations, withholding, elections, evidence and lodgement decisions.	Course completion certificate and assessment result.	Relevant tax practitioner CPE.