How to Invest in US and Global Stocks from Australia (2026 Guide)
Australians can invest globally without capital controls, and with no LRS-equivalent restriction. The main considerations are FX cost, the 50% CGT discount for assets held over 12 months, and how to combine ASX and US market exposure efficiently.
Best brokers for Australian global investors
- Interactive Brokers (IBKR): ASIC-regulated. Lowest FX cost ($10 per $10,000). Access to US, ASX, and 150+ exchanges. Best for active investors.
- Stake: ASX-listed, popular for US stocks. FX fee: 0.7%. On $10,000, that's $70 — 7x more than IBKR. Simple app.
- CMC Markets: 0.5–0.7% FX fee. Good platform, limited US market access.
- CommSec International: 1% FX fee. Backed by CBA. Familiar to existing CommBank customers but expensive for US investing.
- Pearler: long-term focused investing. 0.5% FX fee. Good for DCA (dollar cost averaging) investors.
Australian tax on global investments
- Capital gains: taxed at your marginal rate. If held over 12 months, you get a 50% CGT discount — only 50% of the gain is included as assessable income.
- Foreign dividends: taxed as income at your marginal rate. US withholds 15% (AUS-US treaty). Claim the foreign tax credit on your Australian tax return.
- Currency gains/losses: ATO considers AUD/USD exchange rate movements as part of your capital gain calculation. Calculate gains in AUD using exchange rates at purchase and sale dates.
- Super (superannuation): your super fund can invest in US stocks at a 15% tax rate on gains. For high-income earners, this is far cheaper than personal tax rates.
AUS vs US vs Global: portfolio allocation
- Australian investors are often over-weighted in ASX (home bias). ASX is resource and financial sector heavy — limited tech exposure.
- A diversified global portfolio typically has 30–40% ASX, 30–40% US, 20–30% international (ex-US/AUS).
- VAS (Vanguard Australian Shares) + VGS (Vanguard MSCI International) combination is the most popular low-cost passive approach via ASX ETFs.
- For direct US stock ownership, IBKR via AUD → USD conversion at 0.2 bps is the most cost-effective route.
More guides on ForexFee
corridor
Send money to India
Everything you need to know to send money to India in 2026 — from picking the cheapest provider to UPI delivery, FEMA rules, taxes and corridor-specific tips for the USA, UK, UAE, Canada and Singapore.
Read guide
corridor
Send money to Philippines
Everything you need to know to send money to the Philippines in 2026 — from picking the cheapest provider to GCash and PESONet delivery, BSP rules, taxes and corridor-specific tips for OFWs in the USA, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Canada.
Read guide
corridor
Send money to Mexico
Everything you need to know to send money to Mexico in 2026 — from picking the cheapest provider to SPEI delivery, Banxico rules, taxes and corridor-specific tips for senders in the USA, Canada and Europe.
Read guide
corridor
Send money to Pakistan
Everything you need to know to send money to Pakistan in 2026 — provider choice, the Roshan Digital Account scheme, the Pakistan Remittance Initiative bonus, JazzCash and Easypaisa wallets, SBP rules, and tips for senders in the UK, USA, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Australia.
Read guide
ForexFee guides are based on publicly available information and live rate data from Wise's comparison API. For pricing, KYC requirements and current promotions, always check each provider's official site. See our methodology for how we source and rank rates.