If you’re a real estate investor looking at selling a property, or if you’re thinking of buying a property now and thinking long term about selling it, then you might be worried about what taxes you’ll incur. In this blog post you’ll read about investment property taxes capital gains and what Atlanta real estate investors should know about capital gains.
Before you read further, you should be aware that this information is provided in general to a wide range of readers – each person reading in a different area inside or outside of Georgia, perhaps with different corporate structures, any many other factors. So we’re providing a helpful overview but you should always talk to an accountant and tax attorney before making any final decisions for yourself.
Different Types Of Tax For Different Types Of Income
There are different types of taxes for different types of income. For example, straight income that comes in from a job might be taxes as regular income at your regular tax rate. But other types of income may be taxed at a different tax rate. For a stock market investor, for example, income derived from dividends have their own tax rate. And for Atlanta real estate investors, you should be aware that income derived from capital gains on the sale of a property has its own tax rate. Feel free to reach out to us at 404-439-9984 and we will gladly provide you with insight but once again, you should consult with your tax attorney or accountant to make sure your particular situation is addressed.
What Are Investment Property Taxes Capital Gains?
Let’s start back at the basics: When you buy a property, you pay a price; when you sell a property, you get what the next buyer pays you. The difference between the price you bought the property for and what you sold the property for is the capital gain. Let’s say you bought the property for $100,000 and you sold it for $125,000. The capital gain is $25,000 and this is the income that is taxed at the capital gain rate. A simple way to look at it is that capital gains are the profit you made from the sell of your house, not from any other profits made via renting.
Why Do Capital Gains Have A Different Rate?
Capital gains tax rates are usually less than the rate you pay for your regular income. There are a couple of reasons why capital gains are taxed differently: one of the reasons is because the gain can be quite substantial on a piece of real estate so a normal tax rate can be quite prohibitive to pay, so a capital gains tax rate is like keeping extra money in your pocket. The other reason is because the government wanted to encourage the buying and selling of assets (which is good for the economy) so they provided an incentive (a lower rate) to do so. There are short term capital gains and long term. There is also a different rate on these gains so make sure to consult with your tax attorney!
Capital Gains On Investment Property Versus Your Primary Residence
You should be aware that capital gains on your residence (the house you live in) may be treated differently than other property you own. Some important factors include: whether you live in the house and for how long, or whether it’s a secondary property (such as a cottage) or an investment property such as a rental property. Atlanta Real Estate Investors should talk to a tax attorney about this because the situation will be different for everyone. Call us and we will be happy to point you in the right direction.
If you want to know more about real estate investment properties, or if you want to get introduced to a good tax attorney who can help you optimize your tax situation, click here to enter your information, or pick up the phone and call 404-439-9984.
