There was an option to reinvest proceeds from the sale of a home into a new home in order to avoid capital gains taxes. That option was repealed in 1997 and replaced by the current $250,000/$500,000 exclusion.
There is no other option to avoid capital gains taxes by reinvesting. Perhaps you are thinking of the Section 1031 exchange that lets you trade one income-producing or business property for a similar property. See:
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=179801,00.html
how do you report long term capital gains and what rate are they taxed
Most dividends are. However, long term capital gains distributions from a mutual fund are capital gains. Liquidating dividends and return-of-capital dividends can be capital gains. And, to make matters more confusing, some dividends, knows as "qualifying dividends," are taxed at long term capital gains rates even though they are not capital gains.
can long term gains be offset by short term losses
A Capital gain tax is federal income tax on the any gain from the sale of a capital asset. Go to the IRS gov website and use the search box for Topic 409 Capital Gains and Losses Almost everything owned and used for personal or investment purposes is a capital asset. Capital gains and losses are classified as long-term or short-term. If you hold the asset for more than one year before you dispose of it, your capital gain or loss is long-term. If you hold it one year or less, your capital gain or loss is short-term. Capital gains and deductible capital losses are reported on Form 1040, Schedule D Use the search box for 10 Facts About Capital Gains and Losses Have you heard of capital gains and losses? If not, you may want to read up on them because they might have an impact on your tax return. The IRS wants you to know these ten facts about gains and losses and how they could affect your tax situation.
The federal tax rate for what are known as "qualifying dividends" is the same as the long term capital gains tax rate. The rate for all other dividends is the same as the ordinary income rate. Mutual funds sometimes issue a dividend known as a "capital gains dividend" or a "capital gains distribution." This is a capital gain passed through from the fund and is treated as a long term capital gain to the shareholder.
how do you report long term capital gains and what rate are they taxed
Capital gain taxes are based in large part on your ordinary tax rate.... * Ordinary tax rate 10%, long term capital gains tax 0%, short term capital gains tax 10% * Ordinary tax rate 15%, long term capital gains tax 0%, short term capital gains tax 15% * Ordinary tax rate 25%, long term capital gains tax 15%, short term capital gains tax 25% * Ordinary tax rate 28%, long term capital gains tax 15%, short term capital gains tax 28% * Ordinary tax rate 33%, long term capital gains tax 15%, short term capital gains tax 33% * Ordinary tax rate 35%, long term capital gains tax 15%, short term capital gains tax 35%
Most dividends are. However, long term capital gains distributions from a mutual fund are capital gains. Liquidating dividends and return-of-capital dividends can be capital gains. And, to make matters more confusing, some dividends, knows as "qualifying dividends," are taxed at long term capital gains rates even though they are not capital gains.
Unlike the federal government, NJ does not have a special long term capital gains rate. All capital gains are taxed at the same rates as ordinary income.
can long term gains be offset by short term losses
At this time at the end of the 2010 tax year the capital gains tax rate will be changing for the tax year 2011 unless our elected officials change things before the end of the year 2010.
A Capital gain tax is federal income tax on the any gain from the sale of a capital asset. Go to the IRS gov website and use the search box for Topic 409 Capital Gains and Losses Almost everything owned and used for personal or investment purposes is a capital asset. Capital gains and losses are classified as long-term or short-term. If you hold the asset for more than one year before you dispose of it, your capital gain or loss is long-term. If you hold it one year or less, your capital gain or loss is short-term. Capital gains and deductible capital losses are reported on Form 1040, Schedule D Use the search box for 10 Facts About Capital Gains and Losses Have you heard of capital gains and losses? If not, you may want to read up on them because they might have an impact on your tax return. The IRS wants you to know these ten facts about gains and losses and how they could affect your tax situation.
Long term capital gains are taxed at a federal rate of 0% or 15% which is considerably less than the rates on ordinary income. State income tax treatment of capital gains varies by state.
Taxes on investment gains fall into two categories, long and short term capital gains.
The federal tax rate for what are known as "qualifying dividends" is the same as the long term capital gains tax rate. The rate for all other dividends is the same as the ordinary income rate. Mutual funds sometimes issue a dividend known as a "capital gains dividend" or a "capital gains distribution." This is a capital gain passed through from the fund and is treated as a long term capital gain to the shareholder.
At this time no one know what our elected officials will come up with before the end of the year 2010. For the 2011 tax year you can probably expect to see some changes in the capital gains tax rate but to what amounts at this time? Who knows?
The holding period (owned) one year or less and sold would be short term. Held (owned) more than one year and sold would be long term. Capital gains and losses are classified as long-term or short-term. If you hold the asset for more than one year before you dispose of it, your capital gain or loss is long-term. If you hold it one year or less, your capital gain or loss is short-term.