Stern Market Minute: Capital Gains Taxes
Channel: The Stern Team | KW Salt Lake City Real Estate
Date: 2023-05-30

As a homeowner, the profits you make from selling your property can be a significant source of income. However, the taxes you must pay on these capital gains can eat into your earnings. Unfortunately, real estate investors don't enjoy the same tax breaks as homeowners. But don’t worry; there are ways to reduce your tax bill. In this blog post, we will discuss some strategies you can use to minimize your capital gains tax liability and maximize your profits.

1+ year rule: How long you’ve owned the rental property before selling will determine how much you get taxed. If it has been a year or less, you will be dealing with short-term capital gains, which will be taxed at the same rate as your income. However, if you hang onto the property for a year or more, you will be dealing with long-term capital gains, which are taxed at a lower rate. Therefore, the longer you hold onto your property, the lower your tax bill will be.

Primary Residence: If you have owned your property for at least two years and made it your primary residence for at least two years of the past five years, you may qualify to waive capital gains taxes when selling. Single filers can waive up to $250,000, and joint filers can waive up to $500,000 of capital gains taxes. To ensure you qualify, keep good records of when you lived on the property.

1031 Exchange: A 1031 exchange is a tax-deferred exchange in which you use the profits from selling a property to purchase another “like-kind” property. The IRS sees this exchange as an investment "swap," so you may be able to defer or reduce your capital gains taxes. To qualify for a 1031 exchange, the new property must be of equal or greater value than the old property, and it must be purchased within a specific time frame. Consider working with a qualified intermediary to ensure you follow the strict IRS rules.

Sale in Installments: Another way to reduce your capital gains tax is by selling the property in installments instead of one lump sum. This strategy is called an installment sale, and it allows you to spread out the capital gains tax over several years. However, beware that the IRS rules surrounding an installment sale can be complicated, and a real estate attorney or tax professional is recommended.

Hire a Professional: Finally, the laws around capital gains taxes can be complicated, and it is easy to overlook details that could get you in trouble with the IRS. Therefore, consider working with a tax professional or experienced real estate attorney to help guide you through the process of selling your property and reducing your capital gains tax liability.

In conclusion, capital gains taxes can significantly eat into your profits when you sell your property. However, with careful planning and knowledge of the tax laws, you can reduce your tax liability and maximize your profits. The strategies discussed in this blog post, including the 1+ year rule, primary residence, the 1031 exchange, sale in installments, and hiring a professional, can help you save on your tax bill and boost your earnings. Remember to keep good records and be mindful of IRS rules to avoid problems down the road. With these tactics, you can sell your property and retain as much of your profits as possible.

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