Hi all, just a quick question re contract notes sent by online broker (comsec) through email in a PDF file.
I have 2 dates on the contract note. One date is the date i purchased the stock called "as at date" (11/1/07) and then i have a another date called "settlement date" (16/1/07). I'm guessing this is the T+3 date.
Which date do i record in my spreadsheet for my accountant? Do i need to put both in or is only one of them relevant for CGT calculations?
You must keep records setting out in English:
■ the date you acquired the asset
■ any amounts which will form part of the cost base of the
asset, and
■ the date you dispose of the asset and the capital
proceeds from the sale.
I always record it as the date of purchase, not date of settlement, and the ATO hasn't complained. It's logical, because the date of purchase (or sale) is the date from which your fortunes are tied to (or untied from) the stock.
The important date is the date of the contract to buy or sell. For stocks, it's the date on which you make the trade (and the date shown on the contract note). For a real estate transaction, it's the date you sign the contract to buy or sell. The date of settlement follows sometime later (three days for stocks, a month or three for real estate), and is irrelevant for calculating CGT holding periods, etcetera.