What is a capital gains tax?
A capital gains tax on inheritance is a tax on the increase in the value of assets you own, including property and investments. When you sell an asset, such as a house or stock, it can result in a capital gains tax. The amount of taxable gain is based on your purchase price and the current market value of the asset. Generally, if you make a gain on an inherited asset, you’ll have to pay CGT on the full amount of the gain.
There are some exceptions to this rule. Generally, if you inherit an asset from a spouse who was dead for less than five years, the fair market value at death will be used to assess any capital gains or losses. This rule doesn’t apply if you were married to the deceased for more than five years. If you inherit an asset from a parent or grandparent who was alive when the asset was inherited, any net capital gains from that inheritance are generally exempt from estate taxes. Another exception to paying capital gains tax on inherited assets is if you use the asset for personal purposes within two years of inheriting it. In this case, any realized gain is considered income and will be subject to taxation accordingly.”
Capital gains tax is a tax on the sale of assets, including property. When you sell an asset, like a stock or an estate, you may have to pay a CGT.
Capital gains are the profits that you make from the sale of assets, minus any expenses you incurred in making the purchase.
How much do I have to pay?
If you’re single and your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is less than $200,000, you won’t have to pay any capital gains tax on inherited property. If your AGI is more than $200,000 but less than $250,000, you’ll only have to pay a portion of the capital gains taxes – 25% if your AGI is between $200,000 and $250,000 and 50% of your AGI is over $250,000 but less than $300,000. If your AGI is more than $300,000 but less than $400,000, you’ll have to pay the full CGT on inherited property. If your AGI is over $400,000 you won’t have to pay any capital gains tax on the inherited property until you
How does a capital gains tax work on inheritance
If you inherit property, you may have to pay capital gains tax on the value of the property at the time of your inheritance. If you sell the property shortly after inheriting it, you may have to pay a capital gains tax as well.
How you avoid to pay CGT on your inheritance? make sure to follow these tips:
- Compare the purchase price of the inheritance property with its worth at the time of your inheritance. If the purchase price was lower than the property’s worth, you may be able to avoid CGT by selling the property before inheriting it and using the proceeds to buy an equivalent amount of taxable property.
- Review any estate or succession planning documents that were in place when you inherited the property. These documents could stipulate that you won’t have to pay capital gains tax on your inheritance if it is sold within a certain time period after inheriting it (for example, within two years). If no such time limit is set, however, you may have to pay capital gains tax on any increase in value in the meantime.
- Consider transferring ownership of the inheritance property into a family trust before inheriting
How does the executor avoid paying CGT on an inheritance?
If you are the executor of an estate and you inherit property, be sure to take full advantage of any capital gains tax exemptions that may apply. The following are some of the most common exemptions:
The first exemption is the estate tax exemption. This is $5,000,000 per person in 2017 ($11,350,000 for a married couple). This exemption reduces your taxable estate value by 50% ($2,000 x 50%).
The second exemption is for gifts from a spouse. If the property was acquired before marriage, the gift is exempt from capital gains tax. However, if the property is acquired after marriage, the gift is only exempt from capital gains tax if it was given during the 10-year period preceding death (or when filed for divorce if before death). In other words, if you give your wife $100,000 worth of stock on her birthday and she sells it two years later for $120,000 at market value, her gain would be taxed at 40%, not 40% as with a gift given before marriage.
The third exemption is for inheritances given during life to a spouse or child. This includes life estates (whereby you lease the property to someone permanently
In what cases can you claim to have zero capital gain on inheriting an asset?
- If the asset was acquired before you were 18 years old, then you can claim to have zero capital gain.
- If the asset was inherited within two years of your death, then you can also claim to have zero capital gain.
If the asset was bought and owned by the deceased within the previous two years, there is no capital gain tax to pay. Additionally, if you inherit an estate that contains a primary residence, yard, or boat property, you are also exempt from capital gains taxes on those assets.
If you are not sure whether an asset qualifies for one of these exemptions, you should consult a tax professional.