Capital Gains Tax

Will the Biden Presidency Affect Texas Capital Gains Taxes?

Published on: November 17, 2020 | By McCulloch & Miller, PLLC

On November 7, 2020, major news networks declared former Vice President Joe Biden the winner of the 2020 Presidential Election. With Biden’s election, there is likely to be a shift in many policies, from foreign diplomacy to tax incentives. One area that may soon be altered is an increase in the capital gains tax rate. What is this potential increase? Will it impact your Houston estate plan? And should you take action now before any new policy is put in place? Below are some common questions that Texans are asking in light of Biden’s election, specifically regarding capital gains tax considerations.

What is a Capital Gains Tax, and What Has Biden Proposed?

A capital gains tax is a tax on the growth of investments that an individual or corporation must pay when selling those investments. This means that the tax does not apply until an investment or stock shares are sold; however, capital gains taxes will incur every year until the investment is sold. The capital gains tax rate only applies to “long term capital gains,” which are assets held for more than a year.

What You Need to Know About Capital Gains and Dividend Income

Published on: July 12, 2019 | By McCulloch & Miller, PLLC

Almost every type of income comes with a tax consequence. Capital gains and dividends are both income but they are treated differently when it comes to taxes.

Understanding the difference between capital gains and dividend income can have an impact on portfolios and tax planning. That includes the difference in how these two incomes are taxed, says Investopedia in the article, “Capital Gains vs. Dividend Income: What's the Difference?”

Capital is the initial sum invested. A capital gain is a profit you get when an investment is sold for a higher price than the original purchase price. An investor doesn’t realize a capital gain until an investment is sold for a profit.

Houton Families: Going Back To Basis

Published on: March 12, 2014 | By McCulloch & Miller, PLLC

Recent tax law changes are turning traditional estate planning on its head. Indeed, moves long considered savvy–for example, aggressively shifting wealth to younger generations while senior family members are still alive or leaving assets to a “bypass” trust–may no longer be necessary to save estate tax and could now leave many families paying income tax they wouldn’t otherwise owe.

The beast – the estate tax – is not dead. Nevertheless, that multi-headed monster is far tamer these days. On the other hand, there is another less obvious tax monster that you cannot afford to ignore.

The capital gains tax.