Do capital gains count towards Medicare premiums?

Asked by: Prof. Aliyah Roob  |  Last update: November 16, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (48 votes)

Capital gains can also affect Medicare premiums through Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amounts (IRMAA).

Do long term capital gains count as income for Medicare premiums?

Specifically, the higher your gross income (above the above-mentioned threshold), the higher your IRMAA. Given that capital gains are part of your MAGI, this does impact any extra you might owe for Medicare coverage.

Does capital gains count as income for healthcare gov?

Include: Unemployment benefits. All household members' income (not just yours). Additional types of income, including interest income, capital gains, and alimony.

Do you have to pay Medicare on capital gains?

However, if you have a net gain to report on Schedule D Capital Gains and Losses, and your AGI exceeds $200,000 (or $250,000 if married filing jointly), then you may be assessed a 3.8% Medicare contribution tax in addition to the income tax calculated on Form 1040 U.S. Individual Income Tax Return .

What income is counted for Medicare premiums?

This is based on your "modified adjusted gross income" (MAGI). Your MAGI is your total adjusted gross income and tax-exempt interest income.

What Types of Income is IRMAA Based on? How to Avoid the Medicare Surcharge

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What income is used to determine Medicare premiums for 2025?

The amount you pay for Medicare premiums depends not only on the standard rates but also on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) from two years prior. So, for example, the 2025 IRMAA brackets will be based on your income in 2023.

What is excluded from Medicare earnings?

The non-taxable wages are deductions appearing on the pay stub under 'Before-Tax Deductions. ' These include medical, vision, and dental insurance premiums, Flexible Spending Account Health Care, and Flexible Spending Account Dependent Care. Employers are required to withhold Medicare tax on employees' Medicare wages.

Are capital gains not considered income?

While capital gains may be taxed at a different rate, they're still included in your adjusted gross income (AGI) and can affect your tax bracket and your eligibility for some income-based investment opportunities.

Can seniors avoid capital gains?

Seniors must pay capital gains taxes at the same rates as everyone else—no special age-based exemption exists.

How do I avoid Medicare 3.8% Surtax?

Look for ways to minimize your AGI. The lower your AGI (the number at the bottom of the TAX-FORM 1040) the lower the amount of your income will be subject to the 3.8% surtax. Need another reason to contribute to your retirement plan? Making contributions to your 401k, 403b or pension will lower your AGI.

Does MediCal count capital gains as income?

WHAT IS CONSIDERED INCOME? Income includes things such as earnings from a job, unemployment benefits, self-employment income, retirement benefits, Social Security Administration income; taxable royalties, dividends, and capital gains, just to name a few. WHAT ABOUT MY RESOURCES?

What is not counted as income?

Unemployment compensation generally is taxable. Inheritances, gifts, cash rebates, alimony payments (for divorce decrees finalized after 2018), child support payments, most healthcare benefits, welfare payments, and money that is reimbursed from qualifying adoptions are deemed nontaxable by the IRS.

What disqualifies you from the premium tax credit?

For tax years other than 2021 and 2022, if your household income on your tax return is more than 400 percent of the federal poverty line for your family size, you are not allowed a premium tax credit and will have to repay all of the advance credit payments made on behalf of you and your tax family members.

How does selling a house affect Medicare premiums?

Selling your home may also cause your Medicare Part B premium to rise, if only for one year. When you sell a home at a profit, a big chunk of your capital gain is tax-free. If you are single the first $250,000 in capital gain from a home sale ($500,000 for married couples filing a joint tax return) is tax-free.

What income is subject to the 3.8% Medicare tax?

A Medicare surtax of 3.8% is charged on the lesser of (1) net investment income or (2) the excess of modified adjusted gross income over a set threshold amount. The threshold is $250,000 for joint filers, $125,000 for married filing separately, and $200,000 for all other filers.

Do capital gains affect Social Security benefits?

Social Security Taxation

Investment income, such as interest, dividends and capital gains, can affect the taxation of your Social Security benefits. Taxability depends on your “combined income,” which includes your adjusted gross income (AGI), half of your Social Security benefits, and any tax-exempt interest.

What is the one-time capital gains exemption?

If it's your primary residence

You can sell your primary residence and avoid paying capital gains taxes on the first $250,000 of your profits if your tax-filing status is single, and up to $500,000 if married and filing jointly. The exemption is only available once every two years.

At what age do you no longer have to pay capital gains tax?

Is there a one-time capital gains exemption for seniors? The real estate scenario applies to all adults, and it's worth reiterating that there are no age-related exemptions from capital gains tax.

What is the 6 year rule for capital gains tax?

Here's how it works: Taxpayers can claim a full capital gains tax exemption for their principal place of residence (PPOR). They also can claim this exemption for up to six years if they move out of their PPOR and then rent it out. There are some qualifying conditions for leaving your principal place of residence.

Are capital gains added to your total income and put you in a higher tax bracket?

Long-term capital gains can't push you into a higher tax bracket, but short-term capital gains can. Understanding how capital gains work could help you avoid unintended tax consequences. If you're seeing significant growth in your investments, you may want to consult a financial advisor.

What income does not pay capital gains tax?

For the 2025 tax year, individual filers won't pay any capital gains tax if their total taxable income is $48,350 or less. The rate jumps to 15 percent on capital gains, if their income is $48,351 to $533,400. Above that income level the rate climbs to 20 percent.

What kind of tax is Social Security and medicare?

Taxes under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) are composed of the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance taxes, also known as Social Security taxes, and the hospital insurance taxes, also known as Medicare taxes.

What type of income affects Medicare premiums?

The amount you pay depends on your modified adjusted gross income from your most recent federal tax return. To determine your 2025 income-related premium, Social Security will use information from your tax return filed in 2023 for tax year 2022.

How do I avoid paying 3.8% Medicare surtax?

Is there any way to reduce the tax? You can sell some securities at a loss to offset investment gains if you think you might be subject to the surtax this tax year. And when planning for the future, you can also choose investments that are naturally more tax-efficient.

What kind of income does not count against Social Security?

For the earnings limits, we don't count income such as other government benefits, investment earnings, interest, pensions, annuities, and capital gains.