Finance and tax

Foreign exchange losses

Deductible foreign-currency losses under the forex realisation and election rules.

Who can claim

This deduction is available to individuals and companies.

  • A forex realisation event produced a deductible loss under the foreign-currency rules.
  • Any applicable election, 12-month rule, functional-currency or limited-balance account treatment has been applied.

What you cannot claim

  • Do not treat a foreign-currency movement as deductible merely because an account value changed.
  • Private, exempt-income and capital amounts can be excluded or treated under another rule.
  • The taxation-of-financial-arrangements rules can apply instead of Division 775 and require a separate calculation.

How the amount is worked out

Calculate the realised Australian-dollar loss under the applicable forex event and election, then reduce or defer it where a statutory exception applies.

Records the ATO expects

  • Foreign-currency statements
  • Exchange rates and conversion method
  • Election records
  • Forex calculation

Where this rule comes from

Primary source: Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Division 775 (Section 775-30 and Division 775). Reviewed 30 July 2026. Covers the 2025-26 and 2026-27 income years.

Next steps