The 2025 tax legislation signed into law by President Trump, commonly referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, largely preserves the existing capital gains tax framework. Long-term capital gains rates remain set at 0%, 15% and 20%, with no changes to the underlying brackets.
Donald Trump has recently proposed eliminating property taxes across the United States, stirring up a major debate on housing and taxes.
Tax changes for 2025, largely driven by the "One Big Beautiful Bill" (OBBBA) Act, introduce significant deductions for seniors, tips, overtime, and auto loan interest, expand the Child Tax Credit, and raise the SALT deduction cap to $40,000, while making several 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provisions permanent, including the seven tax brackets. Key changes include a $2,200 Child Tax Credit, a $6,000 senior deduction, deductions for qualified tips and overtime, and a permanent standard deduction increase.
On May 28, 2021, the White House and Treasury released the Fiscal Year 2022 Federal Budget and the Treasury Green Book, or "Green Book", which includes new details regarding the Biden administration's proposed 2021 tax reform -- including a retroactive proposed capital gains tax increase to 37% to the extent household ...
For example, in 2025, a single filer won't pay any tax on long-term capital gains if their total taxable income is $48,350 or less. But an individual filer with income between $48,350 and $533,400 would pay a 15% long-term capital gains tax rate.
In March, the Carney government cancelled the capital gains inclusion rate hike, which was proposed by the previous Trudeau government. The Canadian Entrepreneurs' Incentive, a tax credit introduced to offset losses to small businesses, will now be cancelled under Budget 2025.
Can I avoid capital gains taxes?
The following TCJA provisions are set to expire after 2025. Near doubling of the standard deduction, repeal of personal exemptions, and lower value of several itemized deductions, including those for: State and local taxes (SALT) Mortgage interest.
April 10, 2025, the House adopted the Senate's amended version of the budget resolution, which allows $5.3 trillion in deficit-financed tax cuts (the combination of $3.8 trillion of tax cuts assumed to be “costless” under a current policy baseline plus $1.5 trillion in additional deficits permitted), deficit increases ...
Does the Trump Tax Plan Affect Capital Gains Tax Rates? Trump's tax law leaves existing capital gains tax rates and income tax brackets unchanged. Capital gains remain a key consideration for investors, especially those with taxable brokerage accounts, real estate holdings or long-term investment portfolios.
You can avoid or minimize capital gains tax by holding assets over a year for lower long-term rates, using tax-advantaged accounts (like Roth IRAs/401(k)s), donating appreciated assets to charity, using tax-loss harvesting to offset gains, or leveraging primary residence exclusions for your home, but completely avoiding tax often involves specific strategies like Qualified Opportunity Zones or 1031 exchanges for real estate.
If the individual tax cuts expire, taxpayers in all income groups would face higher and more complicated taxes. Machinery and equipment expensing is a key provision that, if allowed to expire, would especially harm capital-intensive industries like manufacturing.
On a $100,000 capital gain, you'll likely pay 15% for long-term gains, resulting in about $15,000 in federal tax (plus potential state tax), but it could be 0% or 20% depending on your total taxable income and filing status, while short-term gains are taxed as ordinary income (potentially 22-24%).
Capital Gains Tax (CGT)
The Chancellor raised CGT rates at the last Budget — increasing the lower rate from 10% to 18% and the higher rate from 20% to 24%.
Deduction for seniors (Section 70103)
Effective 2025 through 2028, individuals age 65 and older may claim an additional $6,000 deduction. This is in addition to the standard deduction for seniors available under existing law. Applies per eligible individual (or $12,000 for a married couple if both spouses qualify).
This deduction starts in tax year 2025, meaning retirees aged 65 or older may qualify for up to $6,000, while married couples where both partners meet the age requirement can claim up to $12,000. The deduction is scheduled to remain in effect through 2028, unless Congress renews it.
Trump Tax Plan Changes: Standard Deduction
The 2017 Trump tax law (TCJA) nearly doubled the standard deduction for all filers, and OBBB bumped them up. If you're a single filer or if you're married filing separately, your standard deduction for 2025 rose to $15,750 under OBBBA.
Second, capital gains taxes on accrued capital gains are forgiven if the asset holder dies—the so-called “Angel of Death” loophole. The basis of an asset left to an heir is “stepped up” to the asset's current value.
2025/26 tax year
The main rate of CGT is 18% for basic rate taxpayers. For higher or additional rate taxpayers, the rate is 24%. If you are normally a basic-rate taxpayer but when you add the gain to your taxable income you are pushed into the higher-rate band, then you will pay some CGT at both rates.
President Biden has formally proposed the highest top capital gains tax in over 100 years. Here is a direct quote from the Biden 2025 budget proposal: “Together, the proposals would increase the top marginal rate on long-term capital gains and qualified dividends to 44.6 percent.”
Use your principal residence exemption
Your principal residence is exempt from the capital gains tax. To claim this exemption, make sure: You own the home, alone or jointly. You've designated the property as your principal residence with the CRA.