long term capital gain / primary residence

[TinaH52]

My husband and I have both recently retired in 2018.   We are considering selling our home in 2019.  The long term gain (all qualified) will exceed the $500,000 exclusion.  If we keep our 2019 income below 78,750, the long term gain threshold for married couples, will our tax rate on the excess above $500K be taxed at the 0 rate?   I tried modeling this scenario using the 2017 home & business and received two answers one taxing the excess and the other not. 

[Anonymous]

is the $78k the taxable portion of the home sale or is this income before the taxable portion of the home sale

sale $79k is interest income,  tax would be about $6,000

now say you have a $100,000 excess gain on home sale your tax jumps to about $17,000

now say you have a $70,000 excess gain on home sale you tax is now your tax is about $13,000

now say the $79k is qualified dividends and the excess gain is $70,00 YOUR TAX IS ABOUT $7,000.  

now say the $79k is qualified dividends and the excess gain is $100,000, your tax is about $11,000

so in effect the taxes you pay will be affected by the type of the $79K in other income and how much the taxable portion of the gain will be

'

[tagteam · Accepted solution]

It depends upon your taxable income. The $78,750 figure is the maximum amount, for married filing jointly, that will be taxed at the 0% rate. However, any amount above that rate (including the amount that exceeds your $500,000 exclusion) is taxed at the 15% rate (until you get into the next bracket, 20%).

Your best bet would be to look at the Qualified Dividends and Capital Gain Tax Worksheet in Forms Mode.