Disclosure: This article is written for entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as financial or any other type of professional advice.
Selling a stock at a gain may be cause for celebration. Depending on my income level in a certain year and the type of account in which I held the investment, I may owe as little as 0% or as much as 20% of my profit in federal income taxes.
In general, I should focus on finding the best stocks for my portfolio and ignore the tax consequences of buying, selling, and holding investments until it’s time to file my taxes.
But taxes, like investment fees, can erode my investment growth and detract from my net worth. So I should consider what sorts of taxes apply to my investments (if any) so I can devise and implement a tax-efficient investment strategy.
A common investment-related tax is one on capital gains. Here are the basics of what I’ve learned about capital gains and associated taxes:
Capital gains represent the profits generated from buying and selling an investment
For stock investing, determine the gain (or loss) based on the proceeds from the sale of the investment. This calculation involves subtracting the cost of shares when purchased from the price of shares when sold (price when sold – cost when purchased).
Generally, I can include commissions and transaction fees to acquire shares in the cost of shares; the entire cost is called its cost basis or just “basis.” Likewise, I can typically deduct the commissions to sell shares from my proceeds.
Capital gains are classified as either short-term or long term
There are two types of capital gains in stock investing. A short-term capital gain occurs when I generate a profit on shares held for one year or less. A long-term capital gain happens when I make money on shares held for more than one year.
I should track when I purchase shares so I’ll know whether selling them will trigger a short-term or long-term gain (or loss). Typically, my broker will have records of purchase dates for reference and tax reporting purposes. Note that if the investment loses value and I lose money on the sale, I’ll experience a capital loss.
Long-term capital gains receive favorable (lower!) tax treatment
Short-term capital gains are taxed at ordinary income tax rates, similar to earned income. Long-term capital gains are taxed at different rates based on (but not the same as) ordinary income tax brackets.
Taxes are applied at various tiers of income as indicated by the tax brackets. Tax rates for long-term capital gains are based on combined taxable income (various sources of ordinary income such as earned income plus long-term capital gains) and associated tax brackets; currently, they are much lower percentage-wise than taxes on other forms of income.
Capital gains can be offset by capital losses
Generally, capital losses offset capital gains, reducing tax liability. In a given year, I can offset gains with up to $3,000 of losses (or $1,500 if married, filing separately) to lower my income. Losses not deducted can be carried over to subsequent tax years.
I don’t pay capital gains taxes when gains occur inside of tax-advantaged accounts
When I hold investments inside of a tax-advantaged account, such as a traditional IRA, typically I do not pay capital gains taxes in the year of the gain.
However, I may owe taxes on these gains at ordinary income tax rates when I make withdrawals, depending on the account’s structure.
Gains from the sale of investments held in regular taxable accounts can trigger tax liabilities, particularly when I sell stocks for more than the original purchase price. Knowing the basics of capital gains taxes can be useful when planning investment strategies and controlling tax liability.
