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Do I Have to Pay Taxes on Stocks I Own? Miriam Caldwell has been writing about budgeting mcmuffin personal finance basics since 2005.

She teaches writing as an online instructor with Brigham Young University-Idaho, and is also a teacher for public school students in Cary, North Carolina. Peggy James is an expert in accounting, corporate finance, and personal finance. She is a certified public accountant who owns her own accounting firm, where she serves small businesses, nonprofits, solopreneurs, freelancers, and individuals. 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 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. Capital gains are taxed at different rates, depending on whether they are considered a short-term or long-term holding. If you lose money in your investments, this is called a capital loss.

This also plays into your taxes, potentially to your benefit. You can deduct the amount you lost on an investment from your capital gains. Even if you don’t sell any of your investments for profit, you may still owe some taxes on them for 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 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 dividends earned. You will also have to pay taxes if you sold any mutual fund shares. You can adjust your 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 if you have an investment portfolio, so you can be prepared to pay your tax bill—and still stick to your monthly budget. 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. 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.

As your investments grow, so will your taxes, and you need to be prepared to handle the changes—and subsequent tax bills. 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. 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. How much tax do you pay on stocks? Your income from investments can be taxed at various rates, depending on how the income is classified and what your total income is from all sources.

How do I report my investment earnings to the IRS? At the beginning of the calendar year, you’ll receive tax forms—usually the 1099-DIV—that have any profits from dividends or sales. You’ll use these to report your stock profits on your annual tax return, and you’ll calculate taxes based on what type of profits you made. Can I avoid paying taxes on stocks? It is unlawful to avoid paying taxes on legitimate taxable income, however there are many ways to invest strategically in order to minimize the tax burden on your stocks. Some of the best ways to do this include holding your stocks longer, investing through tax-deferred retirement funds, using capital losses to offset gains, and more. What Is a Long-Term Capital Gain or Loss?

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