Will inheriting my mum’s CBA shares trigger a big capital gains tax?

October 18, 2026 — 4:00am

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If I inherit shares from my mother after July 1, 2027, will I have to pay capital gains tax when I inherit them, or only when I eventually sell them? My elderly mother owns shares that she bought about 20 years ago, and which now have substantial unrealised capital gains.

I have heard conflicting information about how the CGT rules will apply after July 1. Will her death and my inheritance of the shares trigger a CGT liability, or does the tax only become payable when I later sell the shares?

Thanks for your question. We are seeing a lot of these situations, particularly related to Commonwealth Bank shares.

The point at which you inherit these shares will not trigger a capital gains tax liability. Capital gains tax will be payable when (if) you sell them. You do, however, inherit the cost base, meaning the purchase amount that your mother........

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