Investors
When it comes to investing, timing really is everything. Of prime importance to investors, lower tax rates for long-term capital gains and dividends will apply through 2012, unless Congress takes further legislative action.
Let's review the current tax breaks for investors.
The capital gains tax affects millions of American investors. Capital gain is the profit you make on the sale of a nonbusiness investment, and certain business investments, that have increased in value.
Not only do you need to be concerned about an investment's price when you sell, but you should also look at whether selling makes sense from a tax standpoint. As the result of favorable reform, gains on most assets held over a year will be treated as long-term capital gains and taxed at 15% for individuals in the top four income tax brackets. Through 2012, investors in the 10% and 15% income tax brackets will pay zero tax on long-term gains. In 2013, this reform expires, and investors in the top four brackets will pay 20% on long term gains, while lower-income investors will pay 10%.
Capital gains attributable to depreciation from real estate held longer than 12 months are taxed at a 25% rate. The gain on collectibles and certain small business stock is taxed at 28%.
The lower long-term capital gains rates are quite favorable, but they only apply to investments held for more than 12 months. Short-term gains on assets held less than one year are subject to tax at your regular income tax rate. So, unless you're holding a really volatile stock where the bottom might drop out at any minute, hang on to it for at least a year. Even if the stock price drops a little, you may cut the taxes on the profit nearly in half if you wait.
For example, if you are in the 35% tax bracket and sell stock that you have held for 11 months for a $10,000 gain, your after-tax net proceeds would be $6,500. However, if you sold just one month and one day later for an $8,000 gain (20% less), your net proceeds would increase by $300 to $6,800 because the lower 15% rate would apply.
Timing is also important at the end of the year. If you've cashed in some big gains during the year, review your portfolio for unrealized losses. You may want to sell off stock unlikely to rebound and use the losses to offset your gains. If you end up with more losses than gains, you can use $3,000 of losses against other income and carry over the remainder of the losses to next year.
Always review gains and losses before the end of the year so you can offset gains and make sure you've paid enough in estimated taxes. Carefully planning transactions may lower your tax bill.
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When selling shares of stock that you purchased at different prices at different times, inform your broker beforehand that you are selling the shares with the highest basis. This will minimize taxable gain or maximize deductible loss. |
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