Capital Gains Tax 2014 remains almost the same as last year’s tax.
The fiscal cliff deal, officially known as the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 increased Capital Gains Taxes in 2013. The 2014 Capital Gains Tax rates remain almost the same from last year.
For those new to issues of taxation, the IRS defines a capital gain this way:
Almost everything you own and use for personal or investment purposes is a capital asset. Examples include a home, personal use items like household furnishings, and stocks or bonds held as investments. When a capital asset is sold, the difference between the basis in the asset and the amount it is sold for is a capital gain or capital loss.
There are two different types of capital gains:
- short-term capital gains
- long-term capital gains
A short-term capital gain results from selling an asset held for one year or less. A long-term capital gain results from selling an asset held for longer than one year.
This distinction is important because each are taxed differently.
2014 Capital Gains Tax Rates:
You’ll notice that the 2014 income thresholds have slightly increased this year;
- 0% if you fall into the 10% or 15% tax bracket. This includes singles filers with incomes below $36,900
- 15% if you fall into the 25%, 28%, 33%, or 35% tax bracket. This includes single filers whose incomes fall into the $36,900-$406,750 range.
- 20% if you fall into the new 39.6% tax bracket. This includes single people earning over $406,750 and married couples making over $457,600.
When did the Capital Gains Tax Change significantly?
Before 2013, long-term capital gains and dividends income were taxed at a significantly different rate. Starting in 2013, capital gains tax rate increased dramatically.
These new rates, implemented in the 2013 tax year for capital gains are only a sliver of the changes for high earners brought about by the fiscal cliff. Others include a 0.9% Medicare surtax on wages, the phaseout of itemized deductions and personal exemptions, and an increase in the federal income tax rate.
If you do have a capital gain (or a capital loss) you may have to file the following forms along with your tax return:
- Schedule D [Capital Gains and Losses]
- Form 8949 [Sales and Other Dispositions of Capital Assets]
If you still need to file your taxes for the 2013 tax year, you’ll notice the change in tax rates from 2012. Additionally, when filing your 2014 tax return in 2015, you’ll notice the rates listed above if reporting capital gains.
Photo via Dave Hosford on Flickr.
