Capital Gains Tax

Mutual fund investing presents tax considerations that are a bit different from investing in individual securities, but end-of-year forecasting and planning can put mutual fund losses to...

There are two methods day traders can use to calculate taxes. It is important to carefully analyze these options and calculate your tax rate based on this research. If you wish to tax your gains...

Although no one enjoys taking an investment loss, at tax time you can use these losses to your benefit. Subject to certain restrictions, you can use your investment losses to offset investment...

One of today's most popular investment instruments is the exchange traded fund (ETF). ETFs are popular for a number of reasons---they look like mutual funds but trade like stocks, the associated...

Cost basis is how much you paid for shares of a security The average cost basis method is an IRS-approved way to determine the average price that you paid for mutual fund shares only, not...

Calculating the tax basis of real estate is important with your personal residence, but it is absolutely critical when dealing with investment property. Failing to calculate the correct tax basis...

The only consolation that comes from realizing a capital loss in your investment portfolio is getting to declare it on your tax return against your taxable income. Although the calculations...

Selling stock at a profit is always fun, at least until tax time, but stock splits can confound the basis computations for the uneducated. Fortunately, figuring out this issue is not as...

Contacting the IRS directly is the easiest and most dependable way to find your complete tax history. The IRS offers two options for receiving a copy of your tax history: by phone or by mail. The...

The best way to understand how to calculate something is understand what it is and what it means in real terms. Capital gains are the profits you make on an investment. If you sell stock for...

Mutual fund distributions can create a tax bill for you even if the total value of your shares has fallen below what you originally paid for them. This tax bill can be avoided by selling mutual...

Many people have automatic investing plans that purchase stocks at set amounts every month at various prices. One question that might come up when preparing a federal tax return is when the time...

At the end of each year, investors with positions in mutual funds need to prepare for potential common tax issues. In IRAs or other tax-sheltered accounts, this is not a concern unless you need to...

Tax calculation on stock options can be confusing and complex. There exist several flavors of stock options, each having unique tax treatment characteristics. Knowledge of the tax implications...

Why give the federal government an interest free loan when you can have that money in your pocket, working for you? If you receive a large refund every April, you are paying too much in...

If you make money from a business, rental property, or other investment property, you may have a federal quarterly estimated tax payment obligation. See the steps below to avoid underpayment...

Profits and losses from selling stocks must be reported to the IRS as they affect your net income. However, the amount you are taxed varies greatly depending on timing and nature of the sale.

Profits and losses from selling stocks must be reported to the IRS because they affect your net income. However, the amount you are taxed varies depending on timing and nature of the sale.

Profits and losses from selling stocks must be reported to the IRS, as they affect your net income. However, the amount you are taxed varies greatly depending on timing and nature of the sale.

If you casually buy and sell stocks it is important to consider the tax implications of these transactions, since taxes can cut into your profits. Also, you can use these same laws to actually...

A bad investment can have a silver lining. Their can be some relief at tax time, and it may be better to realize a loss now than to wait on an uncertain outcome. Many taxpayers rely on their tax...

There are two main types of stock options: statutory and non-statutory. Options granted under an employee stock purchase plan or incentive plan are considered incentive stock options (ISO) and are...

The United States tax code allows investors to reduce the amount of capital gains tax that they owe by deducting loses they incur when they sell a stock. One exception to this tax law is called...

Capital-gains taxes are collected by the IRS on profits you make from selling assets such as stocks and bonds, real estate, jewelry and collectibles. They are classified as long-term and...

Cost basis is the value of an asset, such as stocks or other investments, when you originally purchased them. It is used to calculate the capital gains on your investments for tax purposes. The...

It is very important for investors to weigh tax consequences when executing an investment strategy. Although it is never prudent to make an investment decision strictly for tax reasons, tax...

It's important to understand the different ways the IRS classifies dividends, since not all dividends are taxed at the same rate. If you don't understand the important difference between ordinary...

The IRS does not allow deductions for losses on a wash sale. A wash sale occurs when you use the proceeds from a stock sale to purchase "substantially identical" stocks within 30 days of the sale...

Dividends are distributions given to shareholders by corporations. They can be stock or property but are usually a set amount of cash per share. When you own a dividend-paying stock or mutual...

Sometimes employers do not provide your W-2. This can often happen because he does not have your correct contact information. Whatever the reason, you can contact your employer and request your...

If you sold your home and made a profit, you must report the capital gain, however, there are exclusions. If the sale is on your main home, individual homeowners can exclude up to $250,000 in...

Taxes often seem like an imposing and complicated set of rules and regulations that are difficult to ascertain. Yet if there is one constant, it is the government's dauntless ability to collect...

Sometimes getting your paycheck can be a little bit depressing. You thought you made a good amount of money but then your pay check is significantly less, thanks to all of those deductions made...

Mark-to-market (MTM) calculations in finance help to reduce counterparty risk. That is, they provide more transparency (for both parties) into a transaction, thereby mitigating some of the risk...

A capital gain is defined as the amount of earnings of the sale of real estate, or the amount of earnings of stock profits, based on the value versus the loan amount. Under IRS tax laws, this...

Like all other forms of income, interest from a Certificate of Deposit (CD) must also be reported to the government. You should receive a form 1099-INT from the financial institution which issued...

When common stocks are sold, the taxes due on them are calculated based on the profit, or capital gain, realized. This can be done by comparing the total cost of the shares with the net proceeds...

Learning how to calculate taxes on operating income is important for every businessperson to know. This is the only way that you will know what your tax liability is. You must keep accurate...

Taxation of stock options can be a tricky issue, depending on the type of options that you are granted. Some options are taxed in a fairly straightforward manner, while others have more complex...

What papers do I need to file in order to sell a house that was gifted to me? If you’ve been gifted a house, either during the donor’s lifetime, or as a testamentary bequest (under the Will of...

Investing in the stock market can give a wonderful rush, or a horrible headache depending on the day. Lately, more headaches than rushes have been heading investors' way. Why make taxes one more...

It's tax season again. Ready to tackle your 2008 tax return and start finding tax deductions? Make sure not to forget some new tax deductions and some old tax deductions. Here's some deductions...

Capital gains taxes are an issue for many investors who "play" the stock market or "flip" real estate, as they are a special tax available for those who realize a profit on these kinds of assets...

If you plan to sell your investment properties and buy another investment property or properties, you should consider to defer you capital gains tax to get benefit of bigger equity to purchase...

A capital gain is an increase in the value of an asset from the time it is purchased. Any sort of asset can experience capital gains, but most commonly capital gains occur in investment type...

Investors and homeowners are all too familiar with the hows and whys of capital gains. Understanding how capital gains affect your overall tax burden means fewer surprises at tax time--and less...

Many of us have seen the website that offer people rent out their homes when a big event it taking place in their city. Example, the World Series or Olympic. There is big potential to make a lot...

This article expands on my other article showing you how to salvage your finances in a tough market. 2008 and 2009 are prime years to sell highly appreciated securities. Even your stocks aren't as...

A seller who wishes to defer paying income taxes due from the sale of a business or investment property can take advantage of the Internal Revenue Code Section 1031, commonly known as a 1031...

A company has a certain number of shares outstanding at any given time. These shares are priced individually and represent a fractional ownership of the company. In a stock split, the company...