Capital Gains Tax

Capital Gains Tax

Capital Gains Tax

Capital gain is the profit one earns on the sale of an asset like stocks, bonds or real estate. It results in capital gain when the selling price of an asset exceeds its purchase price and receives a capital gains tax. It is the difference between the selling price (higher) and cost price (lower) of the asset. Capital loss arises when the cost price is higher than the selling price.

How Are Capital Gains Taxed?

Capital gains are classified as either short-term or long-term. Short-term capital gains, gains realized in securities held for one year or less, tax an ordinary income based on the individual’s tax filing status and adjusted gross income. Long-term capital gain, realized gain in securities for more than one year, usually tax at a lower rate than regular income.

What Is the Capital Gains Tax?

The capital gains tax is a levy on the profit from an investment that incurs the sold investment.

When stock shares or any other taxable assets are sold, the capital gains, or profits, are referred to as having been “realized”. The tax doesn’t apply to unsold investments or “unrealized capital gains”. Therefore, stock shares will not incur taxes until their sold. No matter how long the holden shares or how much they increase in value.

Under current federal tax policy, the gain tax rate applies only to profits from the sale of assets for more than a year, referred to as “long-term capital gain”. The rates are 0%, 15%, or 20%, depending on the taxpayer’s tax bracket for that year.

The short-term capital gain tax applies to assets for a year or less and taxes an ordinary income. For most taxpayers, that is a higher tax rate than the capital gain rates.

Calculation

Capital gain tax generally calculates taking the sale price of an asset and subtracting its base cost and any incurred expenses. The resulting value will be the capital gain, or capital loss if negative. In reality, many governments provide supplementary methods of calculating capital gains for both individuals and businesses. These methods can provide taxation relief by lowering the calculated capital gain value.