Investors must pay capital gains taxes on the income they make as a profit from selling investments or assets. The federal government taxes long-term capital gains at the rates of 0%, 15% and 20%, depending on filing status and income. And short-term capital gains are taxed as ordinary income. Some states will also tax capital gains. A financial advisor could help you figure out your tax liability and create a tax plan to maximize your investments.
An Overview of Capital Gains Taxes
Capital gains vary depending on how long an investor had owned the asset before selling it. Long-term capital gains come from assets held for over a year. Short-term capital gains come from assets held for under a year.
Based on filing status and taxable income, long-term capital gains for tax year 2023 and 2024 will be taxed at 0%, 15% and 20%. Short-term gains are taxed as ordinary income based on your personal income tax bracket. After federal capital gains taxes are reported through IRS Form 1040, state taxes may also be applicable.
States That Don’t Tax Capital Gains
The following states do not tax capital gains:
- Alaska
- Florida
- New Hampshire
- Nevada
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Wyoming
This is because many of these states do not have an income tax. New Hampshire specifically taxesinvestment income (including interest and dividends from investments) only, but not wages.
States That Tax Capital Gains
A majority of U.S. states have an additional capital gains tax rate between 2.9% and 13.3%. The rates listed below are for 2023, which are taxes you’ll file in 2024.
States With the Highest Capital Gains Tax Rates
The states with the highest capital gains tax are as follows:
California
California taxes capital gains as ordinary income. The highest rate reaches 13.3%
Hawaii
Hawaii taxes capital gains at a lower rate than ordinary income. The highest rate reaches 7.25%.
Iowa
Taxes capital gains as income and the rate reaches 6%.
Maine
Taxes capital gains as income. The rate reaches 7.15% at maximum.
Minnesota
Taxes capital gains as income and the rate reaches a maximum of 9.85%.
New Jersey
New Jersey taxes capital gains as income and the rate reaches 10.75%.
New York
New York taxes capital gains as income and the rate reaches 8.82%.
Oregon
Oregon taxes capital gains as income and the rate reaches 9.9%.
Vermont
Vermont taxes short-term capital gains as income, as well as long-term capital gains that a taxpayer holds for up to three years. They are allowed to deduct up to 40% of capital gains (at a maximum of $350,000 and not exceeding 40% of federal taxable income) on long-term assets held over three years. The capital gains tax rate reaches 8.75%.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin taxes capital gains as income. Long-term capital gains can apply a deduction of 30% (or 60% for capital gains from the sale of farm assets). The capital gains tax rate reaches 7.65%.
Capital Gains Tax Rates in Other States
As for the other states, capital gains tax rates are as follows:
Alabama
Taxes capital gains as income and the rate reaches 5%
Arizona
Taxes capital gains as income and the rate reaches 2.5%
Arkansas
Taxes capital gains as income and the rate reaches around 5.50%.
Colorado
Colorado taxes capital gains as income and the rate reaches 4.55%.
Connecticut
Connecticut’s capital gains tax is 6.99%.
Delaware
Taxes capital gains as income and the rate reaches6.60%.
Georgia
Taxes capital gains as income and the rate reaches5.75%.
Idaho
Idaho taxes capital gains as income. The rate reaches 5.80%.
Illinois
Taxes capital gains as income and the rate is a flat rate of 4.95%.
Indiana
Taxes capital gains as income and the rate is a flat rate of 3.15%.
Kansas
Kansas taxes capital gains as income. The rate reaches 5.70% at maximum.
Kentucky
Taxes capital gains as income. The rate is a flat rate of 4.5%.
Louisiana
Taxes capital gains as income. The rate reaches 4.25%.
Maryland
Taxes capital gains as income and the rate reaches5.75%.
Massachusetts
Taxes capital gains as income. Long-term capital gains are usually taxed at a flat rate of about 9% but there are some types of capital gains that the state taxes at 12%.
Michigan
Taxed as income and at a flat rate of 4.25%.
Mississippi
Taxed as income and reaches 5%.
Missouri
Taxed as income and the rate reaches 4.95%.
Montana
Taxed as income and the highest income tax rate is 6.90%, but with a 2% capital gains credit, this rate is technically 4.9%.
Nebraska
Taxed as income and the rate reaches 6.64%.
New Mexico
The state taxes capital gains as income (allowing a deduction of 40% of capital gains income or $1,000, whichever is higher) and the rate reaches 5.9%.
North Carolina
Taxed as income and at a flat rate of 4.75%.
North Dakota
Taxed as income (with a deduction allowed of 40% of capital gains income) and the rate reaches 2.90%.
Ohio
Taxed as income and the rate reaches4.80%.
Oklahoma
Taxed as capital gains and the rate reaches 4.75%. There is a 100% capital gains deduction available for income from particular kinds of investments.
Pennsylvania
Taxed as capital gains income at a flat rate of 3.07%.
Rhode Island
Taxed as capital gains income and reaching 5.99%.
South Carolina
South Carolina taxes capital gains as income (with a 44% deduction available on long-term gains) and the rate reaches 6.4%.
Utah
Taxes capital gains as income at a flat rate of 4.95%.
Virginia
Virginia taxes capital gains as income with the rate reaching 5.75%.
Washington
Washington State taxes capital gains at a rate of 7%. However, real estate, retirement savings, livestock and timber are exempt from this tax.
West Virginia
The state taxes capital gains as income. The rate reaches 6.5%.
Bottom Line
Taxes can be difficult if you’re not an expert and capital gains taxes can be tricky when investing, especially when you have to figure out both federal and state taxes. Be sure to understand whether your state taxes capital gains – and to what extent – before filing your tax return.
Tips for Navigating Tax Planning
- Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard.SmartAsset’s free toolmatches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
- SmartAsset’s free capital gains calculator can help you estimate both short- and long-term capital gains taxes.
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Capital Gains Taxes
Investors are required to pay capital gains taxes on the income they make from selling investments or assets. The federal government taxes long-term capital gains at rates of 0%, 15%, and 20%, depending on filing status and income. Short-term capital gains are taxed as ordinary income. Some states also impose taxes on capital gains.
Long-term vs. Short-term Capital Gains
The distinction between long-term and short-term capital gains is based on how long an investor has owned the asset before selling it. Long-term capital gains come from assets held for over a year, while short-term capital gains come from assets held for under a year.
Federal Capital Gains Tax Rates
For tax year 2023 and 2024, long-term capital gains are taxed at rates of 0%, 15%, and 20%, depending on filing status and taxable income. Short-term gains are taxed as ordinary income based on the individual's personal income tax bracket. After reporting federal capital gains taxes through IRS Form 1040, state taxes may also apply.
States That Don't Tax Capital Gains
Several states do not tax capital gains. These states include Alaska, Florida, New Hampshire, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming. It's important to note that some of these states do not have an income tax, while others may only tax specific types of investment income.
States That Tax Capital Gains
The majority of U.S. states have additional capital gains tax rates ranging from 2.9% to 13.3%. The specific rates vary by state and may change over time. Here are some examples of states with higher capital gains tax rates:
- California: California taxes capital gains as ordinary income, with the highest rate reaching 13.3%.
- Hawaii: Hawaii taxes capital gains at a lower rate than ordinary income, with the highest rate reaching 7.25%.
- Iowa: Iowa taxes capital gains as income, with the rate reaching 6%.
- Maine: Maine taxes capital gains as income, with the rate reaching 7.15% at maximum.
- Minnesota: Minnesota taxes capital gains as income, with the rate reaching a maximum of 9.85%.
- New Jersey: New Jersey taxes capital gains as income, with the rate reaching 10.75%.
- New York: New York taxes capital gains as income, with the rate reaching 8.82%.
- Oregon: Oregon taxes capital gains as income, with the rate reaching 9.9%.
- Vermont: Vermont taxes short-term capital gains as income, as well as long-term capital gains held for up to three years. The state allows a deduction of up to 40% of capital gains on long-term assets held over three years, with the capital gains tax rate reaching 8.75%.
- Wisconsin: Wisconsin taxes capital gains as income, with long-term capital gains eligible for a deduction of 30% (or 60% for farm assets). The capital gains tax rate reaches 7.65%.
Capital Gains Tax Rates in Other States
There are many other states with varying capital gains tax rates. Here are a few examples:
- Alabama: Taxes capital gains as income, with the rate reaching 5%.
- Arizona: Taxes capital gains as income, with the rate reaching 2.5%.
- Arkansas: Taxes capital gains as income, with the rate reaching around 5.50%.
- Colorado: Colorado taxes capital gains as income, with the rate reaching 4.55%.
- Connecticut: Connecticut's capital gains tax rate is 6.99%.
- Delaware: Taxes capital gains as income, with the rate reaching 6.60%.
- Georgia: Taxes capital gains as income, with the rate reaching 5.75%.
- Idaho: Idaho taxes capital gains as income, with the rate reaching 5.80%.
- Illinois: Taxes capital gains as income, with a flat rate of 4.95%.
- Indiana: Taxes capital gains as income, with a flat rate of 3.15%.
- Kansas: Kansas taxes capital gains as income, with the rate reaching 5.70% at maximum.
- Kentucky: Taxes capital gains as income, with a flat rate of 4.5%.
- Louisiana: Taxes capital gains as income, with the rate reaching 4.25%.
- Maryland: Taxes capital gains as income, with the rate reaching 5.75%.
- Massachusetts: Taxes capital gains as income, with long-term capital gains usually taxed at a flat rate of about 9%, but some types of capital gains are taxed at 12%.
- Michigan: Taxed as income, with a flat rate of 4.25%.
- Mississippi: Taxed as income, with the rate reaching 5%.
- Missouri: Taxed as income, with the rate reaching 4.95%.
- Montana: Taxed as income, with the highest income tax rate at 6.90%, but with a 2% capital gains credit, the effective rate is 4.9%.
- Nebraska: Taxed as income, with the rate reaching 6.64%.
- New Mexico: The state taxes capital gains as income, allowing a deduction of 40% of capital gains income or $1,000 (whichever is higher). The rate reaches 5.9%.
- North Carolina: Taxed as income, with a flat rate of 4.75%.
- North Dakota: Taxed as income, with a deduction allowed of 40% of capital gains income. The rate reaches 2.90%.
- Ohio: Taxed as income, with the rate reaching 4.80%.
- Oklahoma: Taxed as capital gains, with the rate reaching 4.75%. There is a 100% capital gains deduction available for income from specific types of investments.
- Pennsylvania: Taxed as capital gains income at a flat rate of 3.07%.
- Rhode Island: Taxed as capital gains income, with the rate reaching 5.99%.
- South Carolina: South Carolina taxes capital gains as income, with a 44% deduction available on long-term gains. The rate reaches 6.4%.
- Utah: Taxes capital gains as income at a flat rate of 4.95%.
- Virginia: Virginia taxes capital gains as income, with the rate reaching 5.75%.
- Washington: Washington State taxes capital gains at a rate of 7%. However, certain assets like real estate, retirement savings, livestock, and timber are exempt from this tax.
- West Virginia: The state taxes capital gains as income, with the rate reaching 6.5%.
Navigating tax planning and understanding capital gains taxes can be complex. It's advisable to consult a financial advisor who can help you determine your tax liability and create a tax plan to maximize your investments.
Please note that the information provided is based on the search results and may not be exhaustive or up to date. It's always a good idea to consult official sources or a tax professional for the most accurate and current information.