How to Avoid Capital Gains Taxes

CAPITAL GAINS Taxes: DETERMINING YOUR TAX BASIS

 

For many of the nation’s high net worth individuals, much of their wealth comes from capital gains. Capital gains are better than income because they are taxed at a much lower percentage than other income. While capital gains taxes could be going down under the Trump administration, it still pays to know every trick in the book to avoid paying more taxes on them than you have to.

With that mind, let’s look at some of the important tips you should know in order to keep your capital gains taxes low. One smart move is to use a tax-advantaged retirement account when you invest. When you use a retirement account to invest, your money is allowed to grow tax-deferred, instead of paying a tax on the gains like a normal investment. Plus, if you use a Roth IRA, even your withdrawals are tax-free.

Additionally, the longer you hold your investments the less you will pay in taxes. If you hold an investment for a year or less then you will pay a percentage rate equal to your ordinary income. If you hold them longer than a year your rates decrease substantially.

Always look for opportunities to sell your underperforming stocks in order to offset the gains from your successful stocks. This will lower your tax bill. Lastly, keep track of your home improvements so when it comes time to sell your home you can use those expenses as deductions from any gains you make on the sale price of your home.

https://www.fool.com/retirement/2017/02/07/4-tips-for-avoiding-capital-gains-tax.aspx

Posted in ,
Don’t Expect to Find These Deductions When You File This Year

Don’t Expect to Find These Deductions When You File This Year

Don’t Expect to Find These Deductions When You File This Year A lot has been made of the all the tax changes this year, thanks to the Tax Cut and Jobs Act. Many of the laws have been altered and some have been completely eliminated. Certain credits have been cut, while others have been increased.…

Florida Man Tries to Keep Huge Tax Refund That Was A Mistake

Florida Man Tries to Keep Huge Tax Refund That Was A Mistake

Florida Man Tries to Keep Huge Tax Refund That Was A Mistake Just about every taxpayer eagerly waits for his or her tax refund this time of year. No matter what they plan to do with it, taxpayers can’t wait for that fat check from the IRS. But what if you somehow got a huge…

How Much Will Amazon Pay in Taxes on $11.2 Billion in Profit?

How Much Will Amazon Pay in Taxes on $11.2 Billion in Profit?

You might think a company that makes more than $11 billion in profit would have a huge tax bill. After all, that makes complete sense. However, in the case of Amazon, the online retail giant, their tax bill is quite small. In fact, according to recent reports, the company will be paying a whopping $0…

How to Claim Deductions for the Business Use of Your Vehicle

How to Claim Deductions for the Business Use of Your Vehicle

How to Claim Deductions for the Business Use of Your Vehicle One of the most common tax deductions for those who have a business is the use of a vehicle. If you use your vehicle for business then depending on your situation, you could reduce your business income significantly. That could be a big boost…