Capital gains tax rates
A capital gains rate of 0% applies if your taxable income is less than or equal to: $47,025 for single and married filing separately; $94,050 for married filing jointly and qualifying surviving spouse; and. $63,000 for head of household.
A few options to legally avoid paying capital gains tax on investment property include buying your property with a retirement account, converting the property from an investment property to a primary residence, utilizing tax harvesting, and using Section 1031 of the IRS code for deferring taxes.
However, thanks to the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, most homeowners are exempt from needing to pay it.1 If you're single, you will pay no capital gains tax on the first $250,000 of profit (excess over cost basis). Married couples enjoy a $500,000 exemption.2 However, there are some restrictions.
“It is a simple fact that billionaires in America can live very extraordinarily well completely tax-free off their wealth,” law professor Edward J. McCaffery writes. They can do so by borrowing large sums against their unrealized capital gains, without generating taxable income.
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.
Capital gains (and losses) apply to the sale of any capital asset. That includes traditional investments made through a brokerage account—such as stocks, bonds and mutual funds—but it also includes assets like real estate, cars, jewelry and collectibles, and digital assets such as cryptocurrency.
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.
Social Security and capital gains
Keep in mind that up to 85% of Social Security benefits can be subject to tax depending on your overall income, including capital gains. The calculation that determines how much of your Social Security benefits are taxable includes realized gains.
CGT 6-Year Rule
Allows temporary renting of PPOR for up to 6 years while still claiming main residence exemption. – Each 6-year absence period is treated individually. - No limit on number of times you can use this exemption. - Property must have been your main residence before renting out.
Capital gains rates for individual increase to 15% for those individuals with income of $44,626 and more ($89,251 for married filing joint, $44,626 for married filing separate, and $59,751 for head of household) and increase even further to 20% for those individuals with income over $492,300 ($553,850 for married ...
Long-term capital gains of up to ₹1 lakh are exempted from tax. However, please note that as per the latest Union Budget, this limit of ₹1 lakh has been increased to ₹1.25 lakh, which will be effective from FY 24-25.
Get top local stories in Southern California delivered to you every morning. > Sign up for NBC LA's News Headlines newsletter. Starting in 2025, single filers qualify for the 0% long-term capital gains rate with taxable income of $48,350 or less, while married couples filing jointly are eligible with $96,700 or less.
To qualify for the principal residence exclusion, you must have owned and lived in the property as your primary residence for two out of the five years immediately preceding the sale. Some exceptions apply for those who become disabled, die, or must relocate for reasons of health or work, among other situations.
A 1031 exchange, named after Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code, allows you to defer paying capital gains taxes by reinvesting the proceeds from the sale of your investment property into a similar property.
As of 2022, for a single filer aged 65 or older, if their total income is less than $40,000 (or $80,000 for couples), they don't owe any long-term capital gains tax.
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.
Taxes aren't determined by age, so you will never age out of paying taxes. People who are 65 or older at the end of 2024 have to file a return for tax year 2024 (which is due in 2025) if their gross income is $16,550 or higher.
Use tax-advantaged accounts
Retirement accounts such as 401(k) plans, and individual retirement accounts offer tax-deferred investment. You don't pay income or capital gains taxes on assets while they remain in the account. However, you will pay income taxes when you withdraw money from the account.