When you sell a capital asset such as stocks, bonds or real estate the profit from that sale is taxable. The tax rate on capital gains depends on a number of factors.

One of the first things to consider is how long you’ve owned the asset before selling it. Short-term gains are taxed at ordinary income rates, while long-term gains are subject to a lower capital gains tax rate.

Cost basis

Cost basis is the original price that you paid for an investment or asset. The IRS uses cost basis to calculate capital gains tax on the sales of assets, such as your home or an investment property.

Depending on the type of investment or asset, it can change over time. For example, your cost basis for a stock may increase or decrease as you buy and sell shares over time.

Another example is when you receive dividends from a stock or bond that you purchased. If you reinvest those dividends, they add to your cost basis over time and can help reduce your tax liability when you sell those shares.

When it comes to selling securities, investors should review the cost basis information provided by their brokerage firm and use this figure when calculating capital gains. The amount of cost basis that your broker reports to the IRS can have a significant impact on your final tax bill.

Capital gain

Capital gains are profits made from the sale of capital assets, including stocks, real estate, and mutual funds. They are taxed based on how much you make from selling these assets and the length of time you hold them.

Long-term gains are taxed at lower rates than short-term gains. The rates are based on your taxable income and adjust for inflation each year.

You can also deduct investment losses from your tax return. This is a great way to reduce your taxable income and pay less in taxes.

When it comes to calculating capital gain, you need to know the basis of the asset, which is usually the purchase price plus any commissions or fees paid. This may also change if the asset depreciates or is upgraded.

You must also know the difference between the purchase and sale price, and the cost inflation index of the year you bought the asset. This will help determine how much you paid for the asset and how much you sold it for.

Depreciation deductions

When you buy property, it can be a good idea to depreciate its cost over time. This spreads the cost over multiple accounting periods and can provide tax relief to a business in several years.

Small businesses can use different methods of calculating depreciation depending on their specific circumstances. Some allow you to accelerate deductions so that you write off a greater percentage of the property’s cost upfront, while others let you spread deductions over the asset’s life span.

Regardless of the method you choose, you can claim depreciation only on property used for a business or for the production of income. You cannot claim it on property used primarily for personal purposes (such as a car that’s used only to drive to work or the occasional shopping trip).

When you sell a depreciated capital asset, you can recapture the difference between the amount you paid and the value you receive after subtracting your deductions from the sale price. This can help reduce your capital gain tax bill if the depreciation you claim was not enough to cover your full cost basis in the property.

Tax rates

The tax rate you pay on capital gains depends on several factors, including the amount you paid for an asset (cost basis) and how long you held it before selling. In general, you pay a lower tax on long-term capital gains than you do on short-term gains.

The rates for capital gains are also based on income thresholds that are adjusted each year for inflation. Compared to income tax, capital gain taxes are disproportionately paid by high-income households.

In some cases, the tax on a long-term gain can be as low as 0% depending on your income. Nevertheless, some types of assets are subject to a higher tax rate, especially collectibles such as coins, precious metals and antiques. This can lead to significant taxable profits for those who hold these items for long periods of time. Fortunately, the IRS has provided a special exception for these collectibles. These assets are taxed at a maximum of 28%.