Selling a capital asset—for example, stocks, bonds, precious metals, or real estate—for more than the purchase price results in a capital gain. Short-term capital gains result from selling capital assets owned for one year or less and are taxed as regular income.

Do you pay capital gains if you sell a stock and buy another?

Taking sales proceeds and buying new stock typically doesn’t save you from taxes. With some investments, you can reinvest proceeds to avoid capital gains, but for stock owned in regular taxable accounts, no such provision applies, and you’ll pay capital gains taxes according to how long you held your investment.

How are capital gains taxed in a stock sale?

In a straight stock sale, the capital gains tax liability is equal to each shareholder’s allocation of the company’s purchase price minus his or her current stock basis and the sale’s transaction costs.

When do you have a capital gain or loss?

Remember, when you sell a capital asset (i.e. a stock unit that has fully vested or stock in a taxable investment account), you either have a capital gain (if the stock asset has appreciated in value) or a capital loss (if the stock asset has declined in value).

How to calculate your tax liability for selling a stock?

Figures represent taxable income, not just taxable capital gains. To calculate your tax liability for selling stock, first determine your profit. If you held the stock for less than a year, multiply by your marginal tax rate. If you held it for more than a year, multiply by the capital gain rate percentage in the table above.

When to sell stock for long term gains?

Example: You own 3,000 shares of XYZ company purchased more than one year ago (all would generate long-term capital gains). You purchased the shares at different times in lots of 1,500 shares. You sell 1,500 shares on September 30, 2020, when the market price is $40 per share.