Is selling RSUs and rebuying with capital gain a wash sale?

(I'm new)I'm new

29 Apr 2026

I have a significant amount of RSU shares in a company I worked for until 2025. I was considering selling these at a significant capital gain, declaring this and paying my large amount of CGT this financial year.

However, I would like to repurchase the same company shares straight away to start afresh (my initial qty less the amount needed to pay my CGT for the sale).

Would this be considered a wash sale? From what I can see wash sale examples relate to losses, I won't be claiming any losses and plan to pay all my CGT.

Thanks in advance.

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Taxduck

(Taxicorn)Taxicorn

30 Apr 2026

A wash sale is the selling of assets to create a capital loss then purchasing the same or similar assets immediately back. This way a capital loss is created to claim off other capital gains or expected capital gains for the year. It is a form of tax avoidance.

If you aren't doing this then it isn't a wash sale.

"A wash sale is different from normal buying and selling of assets because it is undertaken for the artificial purpose of generating a tax benefit for the current financial year."

Wash sales: The ATO is cleaning up dirty laundry | Australian Taxation Office

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TaxRookie2000

(Newbie)Newbie

15 May 2026

That is clear! Thanks for the answer. I had a similar question but with the view of recent tax changes. What about selling them before the new rules on CGT take place? For example, selling shares in June 2027 to realise CGT with 50% discount and then repurchase them under the new regime in July 2027? There is a tax benefit, but not through the losses realisation.

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Taxduck

(Taxicorn)Taxicorn

15 May 2026

Any scenarios regarding new tax changes is simply conjecture. No legislation has been passed and there are no ATO guidelines on any of the changes.

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RachelATO

(Community Moderator)Community Moderator

15 May 2026

Hi @TaxRookie2000,