Sale Proceeds vs. Cost Basis: What Is the Difference?

Sale proceeds and cost basis are numbers used when selling a home. Both are needed to calculate the amount an investor pockets from selling their real estate investment. We'll describe what both terms mean and how to apply them in practice.

At What Age is Social Security Not Taxable?

Social Security retirement benefits are a substantial source of income for many retirees. Payroll deductions fund Social Security and Medicare benefits. Suppose an employer pays you. In that case, you and the employer each pay 6.2 percent of your income, up to a maximum of $160,200 (in 2023—this amount is regularly updated). If you are self-employed, you must pay the employee and employer share, totaling 12.4 percent of income.

Is Bond Interest Taxed as Ordinary Income?

Investors often look at bonds as a hedge against stock market volatility. While bond investments don’t have the same potential upside as equities, they may balance an investor's portfolio. Unfortunately, that strategy doesn't always work as hoped. 2022 is a good example, as bonds dropped along with stock market returns.

What is a Transfer Tax in Real Estate?

A transfer tax is imposed by state or local governments when property ownership is transferred from one party to another.

When Do I File Form 8824?

IRS Form 8824 is a form submitted to the IRS when a like-kind exchange takes place in real estate investing. A like-kind exchange, also referred to as a 1031 exchange, is when an investor exchanges one investment property for another similar property, potentially deferring capital gains taxes under section 1031 of the IRS code.

What Happens If You Don't Pay Your Deferred Taxes?

Tax management is an essential component of financial planning for many taxpayers. There are several possible reasons to favor deferring taxes and more than one tool for doing so. Taxpayers may seek to defer income taxes or capital gains taxes. In each case, deferral does not equate to elimination, although it is possible to legally eradicate capital gains taxes in some cases.

How to File Estate Taxes

When someone dies and transfers physical and monetary assets to their heirs, those assets may be subject to an estate tax. A vast majority of Americans won’t have to worry about paying estate taxes. The federal estate tax exemption in 2023 is $12.92 million, so unless you are leaving your heirs property, cash, stocks, and other assets with a fair market value greater than that amount, your heirs won’t have to worry about estate taxes.