Less Than Zero
It’s true… Warren Buffett is paying a lower tax rate than his secretary. Because capital gains rates are lower than tax rates on wages…Finding the opportunities that exist to capture these lower rates are often overlooked by CPA and financial planners, and n some instances, Capital Gains rates can be ZERO point ZERO….we like zero when it comes to taxes
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Two things are certain death and Taxes. Our monthly subscription service, in concert with the proactive CPAs we work with, provides our clients a 360◦ view of their entire financial situation. Armed with this information, we can reveal immediate and ongoing tax and financial savings.
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Now to the rest of the story
Capital Gains Tax Rates
The total tax amount will depend on a variety of factors, though the IRS taxes most individuals at a rate of zero to 15 percent.
Here are a few factors that determine capital gains tax rates:1
- A total income of less than $80,000 is set at zero percent.
- A rate of 15 percent is set if your income is between $80,000 and $441,450, but this range will change depending on your marriage filing status.
- Rates higher than 20 percent result from certain investment types and income amounts surpassing the 15 percent range.
Make sure to check with the IRS to understand how different investments are taxed.
Duration of the Investment
The amount of time you hold an investment can reduce the amount of taxes you ultimately pay. The IRS has established two investment types: short-term and long-term.1 Investment duration is calculated from the day of purchase to the day of sale - over a year is considered long-term, while short-term is under a year.1
What Isn’t Affected by Capital Gains?
Certain types of property and accounts are not affected by capital gains taxes. If applicable, see if you can utilize these property and account types to maximize your investment.
There are two general property types unaffected by capital gains. The first is business property, including products. The second is anything you create as an individual. This could be a book you wrote or an invention you patent.
Alternatively, specific retirement and education accounts can help protect your investment from capital gains taxes, such as a Roth IRA.
Offsetting Capital Gains
Investments may not always pay off. Sometimes a market change results in your property reducing in value. This reduction is also calculated on your taxes and is calculated into your capital gains taxes. This can lower your taxable income range.
For example, if you receive $90,000 from selling one investment, you would be taxed in the 15 percent range. However, if you lost $15,000 on another investment, this would drop your total income from investments to $75,000, which could place you beneath the 15 percent tax range. These reductions and gains can only be combined if they are the same type of investment, long-term or short-term and are sold in the same year.1
Like-Kind Exchanges
Capital gains taxes can be postponed by using the income to invest in a similar property type.2 However, make sure to consult the IRS website or your tax professional before moving forward on any like-kind exchange, as the requirements and investment types have changed over the years.
Make sure you prepare to protect your investments from higher tax rates. And when selling an investment, or even a piece of property, make sure to consult a financial advisor or IRS representative to help determine how much you could be taxed.
https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc409
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-news/fs-08-18.pdf
This content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information and provided by Twenty Over Ten. It may not be used for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information, and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security.