Background:
Capital gains are profits from the increase in value between the purchase price and the sale price of assets such as real estate, stocks or bonds. The Supreme Court has ruled that capital gains are not to be considered as income. Consequently, they have their own tax rates. The current federal tax rate for capital gains for assets held less than one year (Short Term) is 28%. For assets held more than one year (Long Term) the federal tax rate is 15%.