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The tax bracket for calculating the tax on a long-term capital gain depends on your total taxable income, including the capital gain. The long-term capital gain is "stacked" on top of your taxable ordinary income. The gain is not necessarily all taxed at the same rate. Only the portion of the gain that fits into the 15% bracket is taxed at 0%.
For example, suppose your filing status is single and your taxable ordinary income is $30,000. The top of the 15% bracket for single filing status is $37,650 (for 2016), so all of your ordinary income falls in the 10% and 15% brackets. You have $7,650 in the 15% bracket that is not used up by your ordinary income. Therefore the first $7,650 of your long-term capital gain would be taxed at 0%. But any additional capital gain above $7,650 falls into the 25% bracket, so it is taxed at 15%. So if you manage to keep your taxable ordinary income just a bit below the top of the 15% bracket, only a small portion of your capital gain will get the 0% tax rate.
Making the situation somewhat better for you, though, note that your tax bracket is based on your taxable income, not gross income. Your taxable income is your gross income minus adjustments (if any), exemptions, and either the standard deduction or itemized deductions.
The tax bracket for calculating the tax on a long-term capital gain depends on your total taxable income, including the capital gain. The long-term capital gain is "stacked" on top of your taxable ordinary income. The gain is not necessarily all taxed at the same rate. Only the portion of the gain that fits into the 15% bracket is taxed at 0%.
For example, suppose your filing status is single and your taxable ordinary income is $30,000. The top of the 15% bracket for single filing status is $37,650 (for 2016), so all of your ordinary income falls in the 10% and 15% brackets. You have $7,650 in the 15% bracket that is not used up by your ordinary income. Therefore the first $7,650 of your long-term capital gain would be taxed at 0%. But any additional capital gain above $7,650 falls into the 25% bracket, so it is taxed at 15%. So if you manage to keep your taxable ordinary income just a bit below the top of the 15% bracket, only a small portion of your capital gain will get the 0% tax rate.
Making the situation somewhat better for you, though, note that your tax bracket is based on your taxable income, not gross income. Your taxable income is your gross income minus adjustments (if any), exemptions, and either the standard deduction or itemized deductions.
How about married filing jointly with total income of $77 including capital gains?
Short-term gains are taxed at your ordinary income rate. It is a little different for long-term gains.
The tax rate on most net capital gain is no higher than 15% for most individuals. Some or all net capital gain may be taxed at 0% if your taxable income is less than $78,750.
A capital gain rate of 15% applies if your taxable income is $78,750 or more but less than $434,550 for single; $488,850 for married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er); $461,700 for head of household, or $244,425 for married filing separately.
However, a net capital gain tax rate of 20% applies to the extent that your taxable income exceeds the thresholds set for the 15% capital gain rate.
There are a few other exceptions where capital gains may be taxed at rates greater than 20%:
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