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Level 2
posted Feb 25, 2021 8:02:30 PM

Assume an AGI of 200K. Will a long term capital gain of 700K be subject to a 20% tax rate? Or will the first 300K or so be taxed at 15%, and the rest at 25%? Thank you.

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3 Replies
Employee Tax Expert
Feb 25, 2021 8:26:01 PM

It depends on your filing status.  While capital gains may be taxed at a different rate (including 0%), they are still included in your adjusted gross income, or AGI, and thus can affect your tax bracket.

 

  • Long-term gains are treated much better. Long-term gains are taxed at 15% or 20% except for taxpayers in the 10% or 15% bracket. For low-bracket taxpayers, the long-term capital gains rate is 0%. There are exceptions, of course, since this is tax law.
  • Long-term gains on collectibles—such as stamps, antiques, and coins—are taxed at 28%, unless you're in the 10% or 15 % or 25% bracket, in which case the 10% or 15% rate or 25% rate applies
  • Long-term gains from stock sales by children under age 19—under age 24 if they are students—may not qualify for the 0% rate because of the Kiddie Tax rules. (When these rules apply, the child’s gains may be taxed at the parents’ higher rates.)

Capital Gain Tax Rates 

 

Level 15
Feb 26, 2021 12:35:56 AM

why if $700K in LTCG is AGI only $200K. 

$200K less say a standard deduction of about $12K that leaves taxable income of about $188K. and assuming filing status is single. 

About $40K is taxed at zero leaving about $148K taxed at 15%.  so taxes would be about $22K.  but since key info is missing the taxes could be substantially different. 

MFJ about 80K taxed a zero leaving $108K taxed at 15%

 

 

Level 2
Feb 26, 2021 6:01:43 AM

Thank you, Mike. I guess I asked the question the wrong way. You are correct the AGI will not be $200K but $900K (200K would have been the AGI without LTCG). My question then is this: Is all of the LTCG of 700K taxed at the top rate, or is some (around 300K) of it taxed at a lower rate (15%) and then what is left at 20% (given that what is left means the total AGI is now above 500K, which is about the tax bracket threshold for married jont)?