What are the capital gains brackets for 2024?
Single tax filers can benefit from the zero percent capital gains rate if they have an income below $47,025 in 2024. Most single people with investments will fall into the 15% capital gains rate, which applies to incomes between $47,026 and $518,900.
Single tax filers can benefit from the zero percent capital gains rate if they have an income below $47,025 in 2024. Most single people with investments will fall into the 15% capital gains rate, which applies to incomes between $47,026 and $518,900.
| Tax rate | Single filers | Head of household |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $11,600 or less | $16,550 or less |
| 12% | $11,601 to $47,150 | $16,551 to $63,100 |
| 22% | $47,151 to $100,525 | $63,101 to $100,500 |
| 24% | $100,526 to $191,950 | $100,501 to $191,150 |
2024 standard deduction over 65
The just-released additional standard deduction amount for 2024 (returns usually filed in early 2025) is $1,550 ($1,950 if unmarried and not a surviving spouse).
The capital gains tax rate is 0%, 15% or 20% on most assets held for longer than a year. Capital gains taxes on assets held for a year or less are taxed according to ordinary income tax brackets: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35% or 37%.
For 2024, the standard tax deduction for single filers has been raised to $14,600, a $750 increase from 2023. For those married and filing jointly, the standard deduction has been raised to $29,200, up $1,500 from the previous year. Source for all charts: IRS (PDF).
Whether you're 65 or 95, seniors must pay capital gains tax where it's due. This can be on the sale of real estate or other investments that have increased in value over their original purchase price, which is known as the 'tax basis'.
Bigger tax refunds in 2024
Through the end of February, tax refunds are about 4% higher than last year – although they are still below the recent high of $3,473 in 2022, when pandemic benefits bolstered the typical refund check.
Social Security can potentially be subject to tax regardless of your age. While you may have heard at some point that Social Security is no longer taxable after 70 or some other age, this isn't the case. In reality, Social Security is taxed at any age if your income exceeds a certain level.
Under current law, the top tax bracket for individual taxpayers, estates and trust income is 37%. It reverts to 39.6% after 2025.
How much can a 70 year old earn without paying taxes?
Taxes aren't determined by age, so you will never age out of paying taxes. Basically, if you're 65 or older, you have to file a return for tax year 2023 (which is due in 2024) if your gross income is $15,700 or higher.
You report the taxable portion of your social security benefits on line 6b of Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR. Your benefits may be taxable if the total of (1) one-half of your benefits, plus (2) all of your other income, including tax-exempt interest, is greater than the base amount for your filing status.
Extra standard deduction for people over 65
But a single 65-year-old taxpayer will get a $15,700 standard deduction for the 2023 tax year. The extra $1,850 will make it more likely that you'll take the standard deduction on your 2023 return rather than itemize. (The extra standard deduction amount is $1,850 for 2024).
The IRS doesn't tax these gains the same as your other taxable income. Instead, it looks at your taxable income for the year and your filing status to determine if your tax rate is 0%, 15%, or 20%. See the charts below to find out what the long-term capital gain tax rates are for 2023.
Long-term capital gains tax rates for the 2024 tax year
For the 2024 tax year, individual filers won't pay any capital gains tax if their total taxable income is $47,025 or less. The rate jumps to 15 percent on capital gains, if their income is $47,026 to $518,900. Above that income level the rate climbs to 20 percent.
Federal long-term capital gains tax rates are based on adjusted gross income (AGI). The basic capital gains rates are 0%, 15%, and 20%, depending on your taxable income.
You may be in line for a smaller tax refund this year if your income rose in 2023. Earning a lot of interest in a bank account could also lead to a smaller refund. A smaller refund isn't necessarily terrible, since it means you got paid sooner rather than loaning the IRS money for no good reason.
As the 2024 tax deadline approaches, you may be in the position of expecting to owe money to the IRS. This may be the case if you made over $20,000 from a side hustle in 2023, you earn self-employment income (such as through a freelance gig), or you entered a new tax bracket.
Business payers must issue 1099s on Form 1099-MISC to recipients by January 31, 2024, or February 15, 2024, if amounts are reported in boxes 8 or 10. Payers must issue Form 1099-NEC to recipients by January 31, 2024.
Bottom Line. The IRS allows no specific tax exemptions for senior citizens, either when it comes to income or capital gains.
How do I pay zero capital gains tax?
The not-so-secret 0 percent capital gains rate
You have two major conditions: Your capital gains must be long term. Your taxable income must be below a certain level, depending on your filing status.
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 moved out of their PPOR and then rented it out.
If you are 65 or older AND blind, the extra standard deduction is: $3,700 if you are single or filing as head of household. $3,000 per qualifying individual if you are married, filing jointly or separately.
| Line | Modified AGI (nominal $) | Taxable portion of income |
|---|---|---|
| Single | ||
| 1 | Less than 25,000 | None |
| 2 | 25,000–34,000 | Lesser of— 50 percent of benefit income; or modified AGI in excess of $25,000 |
| 3 | More than 34,000 | Lesser of— 85 percent of benefit income; or amount from line 2 plus 85 percent of modified AGI in excess of $34,000 |
Your new year paycheck might have different withholding amounts for federal taxes. Effective Jan 1 2024, IRS has updated the federal tax brackets. The rates remain at 0%, 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, or 37% but the ranges have been adjusted for inflation.
