If you own an investment property, shares or a business asset, the way your profit is taxed when you sell is about to change. The 2026–27 Federal Budget, handed down on 12 May 2026, announced that from 1 July 2027 the 50% capital gains tax (CGT) discount will be replaced.

Most private business owners leave succession too late. They wait until they are ready to step back, then discover that the tax cost of transferring ownership has been building for years — and that the cheapest pathways closed because nobody planned for them.

For founders of a private business, either in Perth or Australia, looking at crowd funding by equity or loans - the tax risk in the crowd funding round round is usually set before money lands. Investor class, instrument choice, ESIC timing, CSF compliance, R&D interaction and employee option valuation should be checked before the term sheet is marketed.

Rewards crowdfunding can be an attractive option for many businesses – especially in startup phase. However, crowdfunding, in the ordinary sense, is usually taxed more like sales revenue than capital raising. Donation campaigns can also be tax assessable where they fund business activity. Debt raises are not income, but interest deductibility, withholding, tax file number reporting and Division 974 need tax review before launch.