For taxpayers in tax brackets above 15%, the maximum tax rate is 15% on gains from capital assets, such as stocks and bonds, that are held more than 12 months. Taxpayers in the 10% or 15% brackets pay 0% on these gains. These rates also apply to real estate gains, except that recaptured depreciation is generally taxed at 25%. The maximum rate for collectibles, such as coins and antiques, held over one year is 28%.

Planning can increase return

What should the savvy investor do to maximize after-tax returns? That depends, since many factors other than taxes affect investment decisions. However, careful planning can make a significant difference in your investment return.

If your employer offers stock options, be sure to manage their exercise and sale to maximize your long-term capital gains.

You pay ordinary tax rates on taxable distributions from your retirement accounts, regardless of how much capital gains income they contain. Therefore, you may want to evaluate the assets in these accounts in relation to your nonretirement investments. For example, the closer you are to retirement, or the higher you expect your retirement tax rate to be, the more you may benefit from keeping assets with long-term gain potential out of your retirement accounts.

Be careful with capital losses. The timing and size of your capital gains and losses could affect whether you achieve maximum tax benefit from your losses.

Be aware that the exercise of substantial incentive stock options can trigger the alternative minimum tax, with all its related complications.

With the big gap between long-term capital gain and ordinary tax rates, good recordkeeping is very important to ensure capital gains treatment. Also, when determining if you've met the required long-term holding period, remember that your holding period starts the day after you purchase an asset and includes the sale date.
 

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