Things to Consider for Your 2015 Capital Gains Tax
There are all kinds of investors in the world. Some are looking to make a quick buck by buying and then quickly selling stocks as soon as they increase in value. Other investors buy stocks with an eye toward the future, which means they are in it for the long haul.
In any case, anyone who invests wants to be successful at it. It’s a great feeling to buy stock in a company and see that stock increase in value. However, at some point if you plan on selling that stock and cashing in or your gains, you will have to give a portion of those gains to the taxman. What percentage you will owe will depend on the size of your gain and how long you have owned the stock.
The government wants investors to hold onto their stocks longer. To encourage this they have a lower tax percentage on stocks held longer than a year. Whether you’re a quick turnaround trader or a long-term investor here’s what you should be aware of in 2015 for your capital gains taxes.
First, generally all you need to know to determine your capital gains is the difference between what you paid for the stock and how much you sold it for. When you know that amount then you can calculate the tax. Your tax rate will depend on which bracket you’re in. There are three that apply:
- If your ordinary income puts you in the 10-15 percent tax bracket, then your long-term capital gains rate is 0 percent.
- If your ordinary income falls in one of the 25, 28, 33, or 35 percent tax brackets then your long-term capital gains rate is 15 percent.
- If your ordinary income is in the 39.6% tax bracket, then your long-term capital gains rate is 20%.
There are a few other caveats to remember. For high-income earners, there is an additional 3.8 percent surtax on net investment income. Also, you only pay taxes on the net of your capital gains, which can make a big difference if you sell more than one stock in a year. If you want to learn more about capital gains taxes then please contact GROCO for more answers. Click here or call us at 1-877-CPA-2006.
Why Are You Still in Credit Card Debt?
Why Are You Still in Credit Card Debt? Do you have any credit card debt? Chances are if you own even one credit card the answer is yes. And if you’re like most people, then you probably have several cards with each one carrying at least some balance. In fact, more than 120 million Americans…
Top 10 Tips for Year-End Tax Planning
Does it feel like you just finished last year’s taxes? Well, believe it or not it’s almost time to do it again. Every year the tax laws and policies change, so each year you will have to be aware of these changes and additions. However, there are some things that never seem to change. With…
How Can Trump Make the Country Great Again for Business?
President Trump has made, and continues to make a lot of promises to all Americans about taxes and the economy. Throughout his campaign the president continued to push his “Make America Great Again” slogan to the delight of all those who helped him get elected. Obviously, his message resonated with enough people in the right…
True Leadership Really Depends On Just One Quality
True Leadership Really Depends On Just One Quality If you could choose only one quality for a good leader to have what would be? Or, if you had to describe a good leader in only one word, what word would you choose? Would it be compassionate, trustworthy, humble, integrity, or perhaps something else? All of…