Since you may need to pay taxes on your investments, it’s best to prepare in advance of when it comes time to file your taxes. Here’s what to expect this tax season if you own stocks.
When Do You Pay Taxes on Stocks?
Since stock holdings are capable of earning income, any action that earns you money could have tax implications.
If You Buy or Sell Your Investments
If you sell some of your investments at a gain, you will have to pay taxes on the profits you made. This is called a capital gain. A short-term investment is one that you held for less than one year and is taxed at your normal tax rate of up to 37%, depending on your income. Meanwhile, a long-term investment is one you held for longer than one year and is taxed at 0%, 15%, or 20%, depending on your income. If you lose money in your investments, this is called a capital loss. This also plays into your taxes, potentially to your benefit. If your losses exceed your gains, you can use it to lower your amount of taxable income, up to a certain yearly limit. In many instances, you can also carry any excess capital loss over to the following year.
If You Earn Dividends and Interest
Even if you don’t sell any of your investments for profit, you may still owe some taxes on them for the money you earn passively. For example, if you own stocks, a mutual fund, or an index fund, you may receive periodic payments from that company. These payments are called dividends, and you have to pay taxes on them. Additionally, if you own bonds and earn interest on them, you will also have to pay taxes on the interest earned. These vary based on the type of bond you own. If you own mutual funds, you will be responsible for paying taxes on any interest earned. You will also have to pay taxes if you sold any mutual fund shares. However, you don’t have to pay taxes on any transactions performed by the mutual fund’s managers.
Plan Ahead To Pay Your Taxes
You can adjust your in come tax withholdings as you receive dividends, capital gains, and interest from your investment portfolio. This should help lessen the blow of your tax bill. Another option for minimizing the amount of taxes you pay on investments is to put aside the money that you will owe in taxes on dividends, interest, and capital gains as you earn it. You can also talk to your accountant about the best way to prepare for tax season, so you can be prepared to pay your tax bill—and still stick to your monthly budget.
Quick Tips for Filing Taxes
When it is time to file your taxes, you should receive a 1099-DIV form from each company or fund that sent you dividends. You will also receive a 1099-B form from your investment brokerage that shows your capital gains for that year. If you work with an accountant or tax software, be sure to be organized and have all the forms you’ve received for that tax year ready when you file. It helps to have a checklist of all forms to ensure you received everything you need to complete your taxes.
Ask an Accountant or Financial Adviser
How much you will pay in taxes on your investments will vary depending on the number of investments you have, if they made or lost money last year, your current income, and other financial factors. It is important to consult with your accountant and financial advisor about how much you need to save to cover your taxes each year. If you are just starting to invest, what you earn may not be enough to make a big impact on your tax bill. In most cases, the changes will come gradually, and you should be able to adjust as your tax burden increases. When you reach a point where you are earning a significant amount in investments each year, it’s best to hire an accountant to help you come up with a workable tax strategy.
Consider Tax-Advantaged Investment Vehicles
Now that you know about paying taxes on investments such as index funds, mutual funds, and stocks, it may be time to take advantage of a tax-free investment account. Examples include the 401(k), 529 College Savings Plans, Health Savings Account (HSA), and IRAs or Roth IRAs.
