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Plan ahead to cut taxes like the capital gains tax

Tips for Capital Gains Tax Planning

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As the end of the year approaches, investors need to focus on tax-related considerations, particularly regarding capital gains. Year-end tax planning can help investors manage their overall tax liability while seeking to manage investments for suitable tax outcomes. Here we explore four key tax planning tips for capital gains: what it is, tax law changes, tax-efficiency, and offsetting capital losses.

1

Understanding capital gains

First, having a good understanding of the concept of capital gains is crucial. In simple terms, a capital gain is the increase in value of an investment or real estate beyond its purchase price. However, this gain is unrealized until the investment sells. The resulting profit from a sale is taxed at a rate that depends on how long the investment was held. Capital gains taxes apply only to capital assets, which include stocks, bonds, digital assets like cryptocurrencies and NFTs, jewelry, coin collections, and real estate.

The current tax law provides for two types of capital gains: short-term capital gains for assets held for less than one year and long-term capital gains for assets held longer than one year.

2

Be aware of tax laws

Tax law changes must be an essential part of your year-end planning because it determines the amount of taxes you may be obligated to pay. Financial and tax professionals can help you prepare for recent tax law changes that may impact your situation.

For the 2023 tax year, individual filers won’t pay any capital gains tax if their total taxable income is $44,625 or less. The rate jumps to 15 percent on capital gains if their income is $44,626 to $492,300. Above that income level, the rate climbs to 20 percent.

For 2024, it’s anticipated that the capital gains rates will not change, but the income brackets for the rates will change.

3

Implement tax-efficient strategies

A key element of tax planning is understanding and implementing strategies to help minimize taxes. One tax-efficient strategy involves timing the sale of your assets to help capitalize on the federal tax code’s distinction between long-term and short-term capital gains. For example, if an investment has been held for one year and one day, it qualifies for the lower long-term capital gains rate. Depending on the situation, an investor may hold off on selling an investment if approaching that one-year mark since doing so may help lower their overall tax bill.

Focusing on tax-efficient investing is also vital. Tax-efficient investing involves using strategies designed to help manage tax liability. These strategies may include investing in tax-efficient fund options, index funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), or asset location – a strategy that involves placing investments that may generate more taxable income into tax-advantaged accounts.

4

Offset capital losses

Capital loss offsetting is another component of the year-end tax planning strategy. Capital losses result when you sell an investment for less than what you paid. The losses can then be used to offset capital gains to help manage the overall taxable income. Be mindful, however, that the IRS has restrictions on “wash sales,” which occur if you sell a security at a loss and then buy the same or substantially identical security within 30 days before or after the sale.
In conclusion, year-end tax planning is essential for managing capital gains. Discussing your situation with financial and tax professionals is vital to help mitigate your tax liability and potentially increase your investment’s net return. Remember, the key is not only about how much your investments earn but also how much you keep after taxes.

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© 2024 Trajan® Wealth LLC. Nothing in this blog is intended as investment advice, nor is it an offer to buy or sell any security. Please consult your financial advisor for questions about your personal financial situation. All investments involve risk, including the potential for loss. Trajan Wealth clients and employees may have a position in any of the securities mentioned. Portfolio holdings and other data are subject to change at any time and without notice. Additionally, the above links provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by Trajan Wealth, L.L.C., of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporation or organization or individual. Trajan Wealth, L.L.C., bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. These materials are for informational and educational purposes and are not designed, nor intended, to apply to any person’s individual circumstances. It does not take into account the specific investment objectives, tax and financial condition, or particular needs of any specific person. Please consult with your legal and/or tax advisor before making any tax-related decisions.

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