Do you have to report sale of personal property on a tax return?

Asked by: Dr. Camilla Klocko  |  Last update: February 23, 2026
Score: 4.3/5 (44 votes)

If you sold a personal use asset for more than what you bought it for, then you would generally report that on the Stock or Investment Sale Information screen. You can report any selling expenses by reducing the amount you enter as "Sale Proceeds" by the amount of your selling expenses.

Do I have to pay taxes on the sale of personal property?

Generally, all gains are taxable. Going back to the previous example, you purchased a car for $25,000. Then you sell the car later for $30,000. The result is a $5,000 taxable gain.

Do you have to report sale of personal items on a tax return?

If you made a profit or gain on the sale of a personal item, your profit is taxable.

Do I have to report a sale of property to the IRS?

Additionally, you must report the sale of the home if you can't exclude all of your capital gain from income. Use Schedule D (Form 1040), Capital Gains and Losses and Form 8949, Sales and Other Dispositions of Capital Assets when required to report the home sale.

Does selling your possessions count as income?

No matter what is sold (it's a treasure to someone) or how often, all taxpayers who make a profit on a sale are obligated to report that money as taxable income.

How To Report Sale Of Personal Property On Tax Return? - CountyOffice.org

18 related questions found

Do you have to pay taxes on used items you sell?

You only need to report personal items that you sold if they were sold for more than what you originally paid.

Is selling assets considered income?

Generally speaking, sales of assets such as equipment, buildings, vehicles and furniture will be taxed at ordinary income tax rates, while intangible assets such as goodwill or intellectual property will be taxed at capital gains rates.

How do I report a personal property sale?

If you sold a personal use asset for more than what you bought it for, then you would generally report that on the Stock or Investment Sale Information screen. You can report any selling expenses by reducing the amount you enter as "Sale Proceeds" by the amount of your selling expenses.

Do I have to report to the IRS if I sell something?

Whether or not you receive a Form 1099-K, you must still report any income on your tax return. This includes payments for any: Goods you sell, including personal items such as clothing or furniture.

How does the IRS know if you sold property?

Whether your small business focuses on real estate or sold unneeded property during the tax year, a copy of form 1099-S, which is sent to both you and the IRS by the closing attorney or real estate official, reports the gross proceeds from the sale.

What is the $600 rule?

The new "$600 rule"

Under the new rules set forth by the IRS, if you got paid more than $600 for the transaction of goods and services through third-party payment platforms, you will receive a 1099-K for reporting the income.

Do you have to pay tax on yard sales?

Under current tax law, you have to report the sale as income only if you sell an item at a garage sale or online and collect more money than the original purchase price.

Do I have to pay taxes on selling personal items in 2024?

If an individual sold items at a gain, which means they paid less than for what they sold it, they will have to report that gain as income, and it's taxable. See IRS.gov What to do with Form 1099-K for specific instruction on how to report personal item sales.

What does the IRS consider personal property?

Personal property is any property that's not land and all things that are permanently attached to it such as real estate. Examples include cars, livestock, and equipment.

Do I have to report the sale of my car to the IRS?

If the car was a personal asset, report the sale on an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 1040, Schedule D. If you used it for business purposes, report the sale on Form 4797 or Form 8824. Again, using a certified public accountant or professional tax preparer can help ensure you're filing correctly.

How to prove ownership of personal property?

Evidence of Ownership: Personal Property

Ownership of personal property may be shown by automobile titles, receipts, contracts, bills of sale, bank records, stock certificates, etc. Without these documents, ownership of personal property may be difficult to prove.

Is selling your personal items considered income?

A gain made on the sale of a personal item is taxable. If you receive a Form 1099-K for a personal item sold at a gain, report it as follows: Federal Section.

Do I have to report sale of property to IRS?

Reporting the sale

Report the sale or exchange of your main home on Form 8949, Sale and Other Dispositions of Capital Assets, if: You have a gain and do not qualify to exclude all of it, You have a gain and choose not to exclude it, or. You received a Form 1099-S.

Do I have to report income from selling collectibles?

If collectibles are sold at a gain, you will be subject to a long-term capital gains tax rate of up to 28%, if disposed of after more than one year of ownership. Collectibles sold at a gain are subject to ordinary income tax rates if held for one year or less.

Do I pay tax when selling my car?

For example, if you bought a used car for $1,000 and later sold it for $5,000, you will need to pay taxes on the profit as capital gains during tax season. Depending on the value and your tax bracket, if you have owned the car for more than a year, the taxes may range from 0% to 20% or higher depending on the state.

Is personal property tax deductible?

Personal property taxes are deductible when they are based on the value of personal property, such as a boat or car. To be deductible, the tax must be charged to you on a yearly basis, even if it is collected more than once a year or less than once a year.

What are the IRS rules for selling property to family members?

When you sell a house for less than its fair market value, you must report the difference as a gift to the IRS. Under IRS rules for the 2023 tax year, you can give up to $17,000 as a gift of equity before you pay gift taxes. As the seller and gift giver, you must pay the gift tax if it exceeds the limit.

Is selling property considered earned income?

You have to report any profits that result from the sale of your home. But the IRS allows you to exclude a certain portion of those gains—up to $250,000 if you're a single filer or up to $500,000 for married couples who file jointly.

At what age do you not pay capital gains?

Current tax law does not allow you to take a capital gains tax break based on your age. In the past, the IRS granted people over the age of 55 a tax exemption for home sales, though this exclusion was eliminated in 1997 in favor of the expanded exemption for all homeowners.

What assets are free from capital gains?

Assets Exempt from Capital Gains Tax
  • cars.
  • motorbikes.
  • boats.
  • yachts.
  • racehorses.
  • greyhounds.
  • clocks.
  • shotguns.