The tax consequences when selling a house inherited in San Antonio can be hard to understand and untangle much of the time.
The relevant laws may seem fairly simple at first glance, but they get complicated when you factor in all the legal conditions and nuances. The short version is that if you made gains, you’ll owe taxes, and if you had a loss, you may have a tax deduction.
But then it gets complicated because whether you made a profit or had a loss also depends on when the decedent died and the use you made of the house.
What Are the Tax Consequences When Selling a House Inherited in San Antonio?
Capital Gains or Losses Taxes
When it comes to tax time, there are usually a few standard deductions and exemptions that everyone can claim. However, depending on your individual circumstances, you may also be able to deduct capital losses from the sale of specific assets. This could include investments such as stocks or mutual funds, or it could also include the sale of a house.
If you sell an inherited house in San Antonio, you’ll be subject to capital gains taxes. A gain or loss on the sale of a personal residence is considered a long-term gain or loss. This means that you must have owned and used the house as your primary residence for at least two out of the five years leading up to the sale. And if you do sell an inherited house for a gain, you won’t be able to claim that gain as a tax deduction.
Reporting the Inherited House
In some cases, the executor has to file an estate tax return to report the inherited house. But this is only if the estate exceeds the inflation-adjusted exemption amount.
The determination of the gain or loss on a house sale depends on the “basis” of the house. As the basis goes higher, the taxable gain from a sale decreases. There are, however, different rules for the sale of an inherited house that allow for a special stepped-up basis.
“Basis” Determination
The basis of the house depends largely on when it was inherited. In general, the basis is the fair market value on the date of the decedent’s death. What this means is that the capital gains taxes you owe are based on gains above the property value at the time of the decedent’s death – not what the decedent paid for the house.
If you never lived in the house and if it sells for less than what the fair market value was at the time of death, then you have a deductible loss. Just be aware that only $3,000 of such losses can be deducted each year against your ordinary income. Anything above that $3,000 will have to be carried over as deductions in future years.
Reporting Sale of the Inherited House
Obviously, when you sell an inherited house, you have to report the sale (and gains or losses) when you file your income tax return. To calculate the gain or loss, you have to subtract the basis from what you received for the sale.
To report the gain or loss, you need to use the standard document for this purpose, the IRS Schedule D. You also have to include the gain or loss on your personal Form 1040 tax return. And make sure you use the Form 1040 (and not the Form 1040A or Form 1040EZ) for the year in which you sold the inherited house.
The tax consequences when selling a house inherited in San Antonio can be complex and difficult to understand at best.It’s usually a good idea to find a professional to help you navigate the tax waters.