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How to Calculate and Lower Your Capital
Gains Tax When Selling Rental Property

If you are selling rental property for profits, it's crucial that you know to calculate and cut down on your capital gains tax quickly and easily. Find out to protect your profits with this step by step guide right now.

Are you selling rental property for the first time? Click here to learn what is capital gains on rental property and how to slash your capital gains tax effectively.


Step 1: Calculate the Adjusted Cost Basis for Your Rental Property

Adjusted cost basis is simply a financial term that refers to the cost that you paid to buy your rental property in the first place.

Adjusted Cost Basis = Purchase Price + Buying Costs + Home Improvement Costs
   + Selling Costs - Depreciation


Purchase Price - Price that you paid for your rental property in the first place.

Buying Costs - The transaction costs incurred when you bought your rental property. This includes legal fees, bank fees and sales commission.

Home Improvement Costs - Amount that you spent on property improvements and maintaining your rental property according to the local housing standards.

Sales Cost - The transaction costs that you rack up when selling your rental property. This includes your advertising costs, legal fees, bank fees and sales commission.

Depreciation - As a rental property owner you are allowed to claim the depreciation of your property as tax deductions. When selling rental property, you will have add back the depreciation that you have claimed to the total amount of taxable income.

Step 2: Find Out Your Tax Rate and Calculate the Capital Gains Tax

Capital Gains = Selling Price of Rental Property - Adjusted Cost Basis

Total Capital Gains Tax = (Capital Gains x Tax Rate) + (Depreciation x 25%)


Tax Rate - Your tax rate can vary from 10% to 35% depending on your tax bracket and whether your profits are considered a short term or long term capital gain. The table below will show you the complete list of tax rates:

Tax Bracket Short Term Capital Gains Long Term Capital Gains
$0 – $8,025 10% 10%
$8,026 – $32,550 15% 15%
$32,551 – $78,850 25% 25%
$78,851 – $164,550 28% 25%
$164,551 – $357,700 33% 25%
$357,701+ 35% 25%

Selling rental property for profits after owning it for less than 1 year will cause you to face heavier taxes at short term capital gains rate.

If you buy and hold your rental property for more than 1 year before selling it, you will be taxed at the lower long term capital gains rate.



Want to learn MORE practical must-know facts on slashing your property taxes?

Return from this Selling Rental Property page to our Rental Property Tax Deductions guide




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