00:00U.S. taxpayers with 2026 taxable income above $545,500, single filers, or $613,700, married
00:11filing jointly, pay the top 20% federal long-term capital gains rate on assets held more than one
00:17year. These thresholds come from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and apply to taxable income
00:25after deductions, not gross income or sale proceeds, and gain stack on top of ordinary
00:30income to determine which bracket applies. The three-tier structure breaks down by filing status.
00:371. Single filers. 0% up to $49,450. 15% from $49,451 to $545,500. 20% above
00:51$545,500.
00:532. Married filing jointly slash qualifying surviving spouse. 0% up to $98,900. 15% up
01:04to $613,700. 20% above that. 3. Married filing separately. 0% up to $49,450. 15% up
01:16to $306,850.
01:1920% above that. 4. Head of household. 0% up to $66,200. 15% up to $579,600.
01:3120% above that.
01:32The answer changes by context. Holding period matters most. Assets held one year or less are
01:39short-term gains taxed as ordinary income. Up to 37%. Not at these preferential rates.
01:45High earners face an additional 3.8% net investment income tax, NIT. Once modified adjusted gross
01:53income exceeds $200,000, single, or $250,000, joint. A threshold fixed since 2013 and not
02:02inflation-adjusted. Stacked together, the effective top rate on investment income reaches 23.8%.
02:09Qualified dividends receive identical treatment to long-term capital gains. I couldn't verify
02:16state-level rates, which vary significantly, e.g., California taxes gains as ordinary income up to
02:2313.3% and are not reflected in the federal figures above. Practical takeaway before selling
02:29appreciated assets. Calculate your projected total taxable income for the year, including the gain.
02:35If you're near a bracket edge, timing the sale across tax years or harvesting losses could shift
02:40you from 20% or 23.8% within IIT into the 15% bracket. Finally, remember that everything we
02:48discussed today is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
02:54Good luck to everyone and see you in the next video.
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