Limiting capital gains tax changes to new investments would ‘severely delay’ budget reforms, Deloitte says

The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, has warned that proposed changes to investor tax breaks will not generate ‘a huge amount of revenue’ over the coming few years. Photograph: Darren England/AAP

Only applying changes to the CGT discount and negative gearing rules to new investments would “severely delay” desperately needed reforms required to repair a “structurally flawed” budget and boost the economy, Deloitte says.

The consulting firm estimated that a policy which cut the 50% capital gains tax discount to 33% and abolished negative gearing would only generate $500m over the first four years of operation if existing investments were not included – an approach known as “grandfathering”.