Foreign residents selling property in Australia
Foreign resident capital gains withholding (FRCGW) of 12.5% applies for all property sales of $750,000 or more.
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Foreign resident capital gains withholding (FRCGW) of 12.5% applies for all property sales of $750,000 or more. At a minimum, that is $93,750 being withheld from the sale and paid to the ATO, unless there is an approved variation.
The most common reasons why a seller may apply for a variation include:
- making a capital loss
- not having an income tax liability
- foreclosure.
In 2023 over 60% of applications for variations were lodged late, affecting settlement. When your clients are too late applying, the conveyancer or solicitor has no choice but to withhold 12.5%.
Tips
- Include the sales contracts with the variation application.
- Variations must be lodged online at least 28 days before property settlement to ensure processing time.
- The main residence exemption doesn't apply to foreign residents.
- Australian residents for tax purposes must have a clearance certificate before settlement to prove their residency for tax purposes, so no withholding occurs.
Find out more about FRCGW variations and clearance certificates needed for Australian residents.
ATO
7 March 2024
ato.gov.au