Tax consequences of selling inherited stock

When a trust becomes irrevocable upon the death of the Grantor, if there is Federal or Estate tax ($5.6 million starting point, 2018) to be applied because of the value of the assets [state levels start as low as $635,000 in 2018) Depending on which state]

If you sell stock for more than you originally paid for it, then you may have to pay taxes on your profits, which are considered to be a form of income in the eyes of the IRS. Specifically, profits What happens with income taxes also depends on the terms of the irrevocable trust. If the trust terminates at the person's death and the trust distributes assets to you and other heirs, then the key thing to remember is that your tax basis in those assets will be whatever the trust's tax basis was. However, when you receive stocks as an inheritance, you automatically qualify for the lower long-term capital gains rates when you sell the stock, no matter how long you own the stock. This is significant if you sell the stock within one year of owning it because you still qualify for the lower capital gains rates. For example, if you buy a stock and sell it four months later, you would have to treat the gain as a short-term, subject to ordinary income tax rates. The tax laws say that your tax basis is the value as of the previous owner’s date of death. For example, if a son inherits a house from his mother that’s worth $200,000 as of her death, his tax basis is $200,000. It doesn’t matter that her tax basis was only $75,000, the amount she paid for the house 30 years ago. The sale of an inherited home is treated as a capital gain or loss for income tax purposes. Capital gains or losses are those you realize from selling things you use for personal or investment purposes, such as a house, stocks or furniture.

A capital gain is earned when an investment is sold for more its cost of purchase. The capital gains tax is applied only to the gain -- the difference between the cost and the selling price. For example, if you paid $10,000 for stock and sold it for $25,000, you would have to pay tax on the $15,000 capital gain.

For the 2012 tax year, that’s a 15-percent tax on your gains -- not the entire proceeds of the sale -- no matter when you sell the stocks. Losses on Inherited Stocks After you determine the basis for your inherited stocks, the IRS treats them as any other asset in your portfolio with the exception of the automatic long-term gains rate. If you decide to sell the inherited stock immediately, you may be able to avoid paying any taxes on the sale. If you sell the stock immediately after you inherit it, it may be close to the same price that it was when the owner of the stock died. If there is no gain from that price, you will not have any capital gains taxes to worry about. The Tax Consequences of Sellling an Asset that is Inherited or Received as a Gift This article was edited and reviewed by FindLaw Attorney Writers A very common but often overlooked aspect of income taxation concerns the tax consequences of an individual's sale of an asset received either by inheritance or as a gift. Artwork and jewelry: If you inherit artwork, jewelry or collectibles and you sell them, again you will have to pay taxes on the net gain of the sale. There is a hefty 28% capital gains tax rate, as compared to the 15% to 20% that applies to most capital assets, on the sale of inherited collectibles. Selling stocks will likely affect your tax bill. Whether you earned a capital gain, a capital loss, or only earned dividends on your investments, you still may owe money this tax season. If you work with a financial adviser, he or she should be able to briefly explain the tax information for you, The basis of property inherited from a decedent is generally one of the following: The fair market value (FMV) of the property on the date of the decedent's death (whether or not the executor of the estate files an estate tax return ( Form 706, United States Estate (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return) ).

The sale of an inherited home is treated as a capital gain or loss for income tax purposes. Capital gains or losses are those you realize from selling things you use for personal or investment purposes, such as a house, stocks or furniture.

The sale of an inherited home is treated as a capital gain or loss for income tax purposes. Capital gains or losses are those you realize from selling things you use for personal or investment purposes, such as a house, stocks or furniture.

Tax Basis for Selling Inherited Stock. You realize a capital gain or loss when you sell shares of stock. Tax basis, also called cost basis, is the amount you exclude from the net proceeds of the

When a trust becomes irrevocable upon the death of the Grantor, if there is Federal or Estate tax ($5.6 million starting point, 2018) to be applied because of the value of the assets [state levels start as low as $635,000 in 2018) Depending on which state]

The tax laws say that your tax basis is the value as of the previous owner’s date of death. For example, if a son inherits a house from his mother that’s worth $200,000 as of her death, his tax basis is $200,000. It doesn’t matter that her tax basis was only $75,000, the amount she paid for the house 30 years ago.

Tax Basis for Selling Inherited Stock. You realize a capital gain or loss when you sell shares of stock. Tax basis, also called cost basis, is the amount you exclude from the net proceeds of the You must report on your tax return the sale of the stock that you inherited from your father. However, since you inherited the stock, your “cost basis” for calculating the gain or loss will generally be the fair market value of the stock on your father’s date of death, and this may help your tax situation. For the 2012 tax year, that’s a 15-percent tax on your gains -- not the entire proceeds of the sale -- no matter when you sell the stocks. Losses on Inherited Stocks After you determine the basis for your inherited stocks, the IRS treats them as any other asset in your portfolio with the exception of the automatic long-term gains rate. If you decide to sell the inherited stock immediately, you may be able to avoid paying any taxes on the sale. If you sell the stock immediately after you inherit it, it may be close to the same price that it was when the owner of the stock died. If there is no gain from that price, you will not have any capital gains taxes to worry about. The Tax Consequences of Sellling an Asset that is Inherited or Received as a Gift This article was edited and reviewed by FindLaw Attorney Writers A very common but often overlooked aspect of income taxation concerns the tax consequences of an individual's sale of an asset received either by inheritance or as a gift. Artwork and jewelry: If you inherit artwork, jewelry or collectibles and you sell them, again you will have to pay taxes on the net gain of the sale. There is a hefty 28% capital gains tax rate, as compared to the 15% to 20% that applies to most capital assets, on the sale of inherited collectibles.

The basis of property inherited from a decedent is generally one of the following: The fair market value (FMV) of the property on the date of the decedent's death (whether or not the executor of the estate files an estate tax return ( Form 706, United States Estate (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return) ). If you sell stock for more than you originally paid for it, then you may have to pay taxes on your profits, which are considered to be a form of income in the eyes of the IRS. Specifically, profits What happens with income taxes also depends on the terms of the irrevocable trust. If the trust terminates at the person's death and the trust distributes assets to you and other heirs, then the key thing to remember is that your tax basis in those assets will be whatever the trust's tax basis was. However, when you receive stocks as an inheritance, you automatically qualify for the lower long-term capital gains rates when you sell the stock, no matter how long you own the stock. This is significant if you sell the stock within one year of owning it because you still qualify for the lower capital gains rates. For example, if you buy a stock and sell it four months later, you would have to treat the gain as a short-term, subject to ordinary income tax rates. The tax laws say that your tax basis is the value as of the previous owner’s date of death. For example, if a son inherits a house from his mother that’s worth $200,000 as of her death, his tax basis is $200,000. It doesn’t matter that her tax basis was only $75,000, the amount she paid for the house 30 years ago. The sale of an inherited home is treated as a capital gain or loss for income tax purposes. Capital gains or losses are those you realize from selling things you use for personal or investment purposes, such as a house, stocks or furniture.