Capital Gains Tax
Federal tax on profit from the sale of a capital asset (stock, real estate, business interest). Long-term rate (held over 1 year): 0%, 15%, or 20% based on income, plus 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax for high earners. Short-term rate: ordinary income rates up to 37%. California adds an additional 1-13.3% — California does NOT have a preferential capital gains rate, taxing it as ordinary income. The combined federal + California rate on long-term capital gains for high earners reaches 37.1%.
Where This Matters
Everything business owners need to know about selling, exiting, or transitioning out of their company — from valuation to tax strategy to deal structure.
Legal strategies to reduce business and personal tax burden — entity optimization, deferred compensation, retirement planning, California-specific tactics.
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