At what age can you sell your home and not pay capital gains?

Asked by: Ellsworth Gislason  |  Last update: August 25, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (50 votes)

Unfortunately, there's no age limit to paying capital gains tax. However, you can manage and even reduce your tax burden with the right strategies and information. Here are the basics about capital gains tax rules and rates as well as some tax-saving tactics.

How do seniors avoid capital gains tax?

Bottom Line. The IRS allows no specific tax exemptions for senior citizens, either when it comes to income or capital gains. The closest you can come is contributing to a Roth IRA or Roth 401(k) with after-tax dollars, allowing you to make qualified withdrawals on a tax-free basis.

How to avoid capital gains tax after selling a house?

How Do I Avoid Paying Taxes When I Sell My House?
  1. Offset your capital gains with capital losses. ...
  2. Use the IRS primary residence exclusion, if you qualify. ...
  3. If the home is a rental or investment property, use a 1031 exchange to roll the proceeds from the sale of that property into a like investment within 180 days.13.

At what age do you not pay capital gains?

As of 2022, for a single filer aged 65 or older, if their total income is less than $40,000 (or $80,000 for couples), they don't owe any long-term capital gains tax. On the higher end, if a senior's income surpasses $441,450 (or $496,600 for couples), they'd be in the 20% long-term capital gains tax bracket.

How much money can a 72 year old make without paying taxes?

Taxes aren't determined by age, so you will never age out of paying taxes. People who are 65 or older at the end of 2024 have to file a return for tax year 2024 (which is due in 2025) if their gross income is $16,550 or higher.

Watch Out For Capital Gains when Selling Your House

25 related questions found

Do seniors over 70 need to do federal tax returns every year?

If Social Security is your sole source of income, then you don't need to file a tax return. However, if you have other income, you may be required to file a tax return depending on the amount of other income.

At what age is Social Security no longer taxed?

Social Security income can be taxable no matter how old you are. It all depends on whether your total combined income exceeds a certain level set for your filing status. You may have heard that Social Security income is not taxed after age 70; this is false.

How do I legally not pay capital gains tax?

9 Ways to Avoid Capital Gains Taxes on Stocks
  1. Invest for the Long Term. ...
  2. Contribute to Your Retirement Accounts. ...
  3. Pick Your Cost Basis. ...
  4. Lower Your Tax Bracket. ...
  5. Harvest Losses to Offset Gains. ...
  6. Move to a Tax-Friendly State. ...
  7. Donate Stock to Charity. ...
  8. Invest in an Opportunity Zone.

Does social security count as income for capital gains tax?

Social Security and capital gains

Keep in mind that up to 85% of Social Security benefits can be subject to tax depending on your overall income, including capital gains. The calculation that determines how much of your Social Security benefits are taxable includes realized gains.

What makes you exempt from capital gains?

You can do this if you meet all three conditions: You owned the home for a total of at least two years. You used the home as your primary residence for a total of at least two years in the last five-years before the sale. You haven't excluded the gain from another home sale in the two-year period before the sale.

What is a simple trick for avoiding capital gains tax on real estate investments?

A few options to legally avoid paying capital gains tax on investment property include buying your property with a retirement account, converting the property from an investment property to a primary residence, utilizing tax harvesting, and using Section 1031 of the IRS code for deferring taxes.

What are the two rules of exclusion on capital gains for homeowners?

You do not have to report the sale of your home if all of the following apply: Your gain from the sale was less than $250,000. You have not used the exclusion in the last 2 years. You owned and occupied the home for at least 2 years.

Are closing costs deducted from capital gains?

By properly deducting eligible closing costs and major improvements, you reduce your capital gain, potentially lowering your tax liability significantly.

Do I have to buy another house to avoid capital gains?

Can You Avoid Capital Gains Tax On Real Estate? It's possible to legally defer or avoid paying capital gains tax when you sell a home. You can avoid capital gains tax when you sell your primary residence by buying another house and using the 121 home sale exclusion.

What should a retiree do with proceeds from sale of home?

The proceeds from a home sale can be used in a variety of ways. With up to $500,000 available tax free, you could use the money to make a down payment on another home, pay down problematic debt, increase your stock portfolio or implement strategies to improve your retirement plan.

What retirement income is tax free?

Roth IRA or Roth 401(k) qualified distributions are tax-free. Social Security income is taxed at your ordinary income rate up to 85% of your benefits; the rest is tax-free.

Do you have to pay capital gains after age 70?

Seniors must pay capital gains taxes at the same rates as everyone else—no special age-based exemption exists.

How do I get the $16728 Social Security bonus?

Specifically, a rumored $16,728 bonus that had people wondering if it was true or not in 2024? Sadly, there's no real “bonus” that retirees who receive Social Security can collect.

How to get 0% tax on capital gains?

A capital gains rate of 0% applies if your taxable income is less than or equal to:
  1. $47,025 for single and married filing separately;
  2. $94,050 for married filing jointly and qualifying surviving spouse; and.
  3. $63,000 for head of household.

Does an estate pay taxes on the sale of a home?

If the inherited property is sold, you could be subject to capital gains tax if it is sold for more than its fair market value on the date of the deceased person's death. In general, your basis in inherited property is step up basis which is its fair market value on the date of death.

What is the 6 year rule for capital gains tax?

Here's how it works: Taxpayers can claim a full capital gains tax exemption for their principal place of residence (PPOR). They also can claim this exemption for up to six years if they move out of their PPOR and then rent it out. There are some qualifying conditions for leaving your principal place of residence.

Can you ever avoid capital gains tax?

Use tax-advantaged accounts

Retirement accounts such as 401(k) plans, and individual retirement accounts offer tax-deferred investment. You don't pay income or capital gains taxes on assets while they remain in the account. However, you will pay income taxes when you withdraw money from the account.

Do you pay income tax after 70 years old?

Some seniors must pay federal income taxes on their Social Security benefits, depending on their income and filing status. If you have a source of income that is substantially more than what you receive from your Social Security benefits, you will pay federal income taxes on up to 85% of your benefits.

When my husband dies, do I get his Social Security and mine?

When one of them dies, the widowed spouse continues to receive $1,200 a month, but she is not entitled to both benefits. Total monthly family income is thus reduced to $1,200, half of their former income as a couple.

How much should a 72 year old retire with?

By retirement age, it should be 10 to 12 times your income at that time to be reasonably confident that you'll have enough funds. Seamless transition — roughly 80% of your pre-retirement income. This amount is based on a safe withdrawal rate (SWR) of about 4% of your retirement accounts each year.