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NSW Treasury Urges Overhaul of 50% Capital Gains Tax Discount to Ease Housing Pressures

The federal treasurer has ruled out changes despite a state submission to a parliamentary inquiry.

Overview

  • The state’s submission to a select committee urges cutting or redesigning the concession, arguing it has distorted the housing market.
  • NSW Treasury says the policy has bolstered investor demand, lifting prices and making it harder for first-home buyers to purchase.
  • Treasury-calculated lending shifted from $13 billion to investors and $10 billion to first-home buyers in 1994 to $139 billion versus $64 billion last year.
  • ABS figures cited show home ownership falling from 71% in 1999–00 to 66% in 2019–20.
  • The discount’s cost is estimated at about $23 billion nationally, including $8.7 billion from NSW, and it benefits higher-income investors the most.