Yes, you can generally deduct state capital gains taxes paid on your federal tax return as an itemized deduction under State and Local Taxes (SALT). However, this deduction is capped at a total of $10,000 ($5,000 married filing separately) for state and local income/property taxes.
You can exclude up to $250,000 of your gain. You can do this if you meet these conditions and file as Single, Head of Household, or Married Filing Separately. If you file Married Filing Jointly, you can exclude up to $500,000.
Sales tax can be deductible if you itemize your deductions on your federal tax return. You can choose to deduct either state and local income taxes or sales taxes, whichever gives you the bigger benefit. Use this guide to help you calculate the deduction and determine which would be best to claim on your tax return.
A deduction is allowed a decedent's estate under section 2053(d) for the amount of any estate, succession, legacy, or inheritance tax imposed by a State, Territory, or the District of Columbia, or, in the case of a decedent dying before September 3, 1958, a possession of the United States upon a transfer by the ...
That is, they can subtract the amount of state estate taxes paid from the value of the estate that is subject to federal taxes. The value of this deduction to the estate is the amount of the tax paid times the estate's marginal tax rate.
As an individual, your deduction for state and local taxes (SALT) (lines 5a, 5b and 5c on Schedule A of Form 1040) is limited to a combined total deduction of $40,000 ($20,000 if married filing separately) subject to a modified adjusted gross income limitation but not reduced below $10,000.
20 Common Tax Deductions: Examples for Your Next Tax Return
You can deduct costs to acquire and improve assets (like sales tax, installation, and major renovations), incidental costs of selling (commissions, legal fees, advertising), and capital losses (up to $3,000 against ordinary income, with excess carrying over) from your capital gains, plus potentially exclude gains from selling your primary home if you meet IRS rules.
How can I reduce capital gains taxes?
The Federal rates are 0%, 15%, or 20%, depending on filing status and taxable income. Each state may also have a capital gains tax, but each treats them slightly differently.
The biggest tax mistakes people make include filing late, math errors, incorrect personal info (like Social Security numbers), forgetting deductions/credits (like EITC), misreporting income, not signing forms, and making errors with bank details for direct deposit, all leading to delays, penalties, or missed savings, with using tax software or professionals helping avoid these common pitfalls.
Many business expenses are 100% deductible, including advertising, employee wages, rent, supplies, and certain business meals like company parties or meals for the public, while personal deductions like student loan interest or charitable donations (depending on the type) can also be fully deductible for individuals. The key is that the expense must be "ordinary and necessary" for your trade or business or meet specific IRS criteria, often differentiating from the 50% rule for client meals.
10 of the Largest Tax Breaks Explained
1. Transfers and Gifts
State income tax is imposed at a fixed or graduated rate on taxable income of individuals, corporations, and certain estates and trusts. These tax rates vary by state and by entity type. Taxable income conforms closely to federal taxable income in most states with limited modifications.
You can typically inherit a very large amount from your parents without paying federal tax, as the federal estate tax exemption is around $15 million per person for 2026, meaning only estates larger than that pay tax, not you directly. While you generally don't pay income tax on inheritances (except for pre-tax retirement funds like IRAs/401(k)s, which are taxed as income when withdrawn), some states have their own estate or inheritance taxes with much lower thresholds, affecting a smaller portion of wealth.
The "6-year rule" for Capital Gains Tax (CGT) in Australia allows you to treat a former main residence as tax-exempt for up to six years after you move out, even if you rent it out, enabling you to avoid CGT on any growth during that period. You qualify by moving out, choosing to treat it as your main home for tax, and can reset the rule by moving back in. If you rent it out for longer than six years, only the portion of the gain after the six-year mark becomes taxable.
Capital gains tax rates
A capital gains rate of 0% applies if your taxable income is less than or equal to: $48,350 for single and married filing separately; $96,700 for married filing jointly and qualifying surviving spouse; and. $64,750 for head of household.