Short-Term Capital Gains vs. Long-Term Capital Gains – What’s the Difference?

Have you ever wondered why gains are separated between long-term and short-term when you receive your 1099 at tax time? There is a very good reason for that, and one you might want to consider more carefully when investing.

Short-term capital gains are derived if you hold an investment one year or less before disposing of it.  Short-term gains are taxed as “ordinary income,” the same rate you pay on wages or business profits.

Long-term capital gains, on the other hand, are generally taxed no higher than 20% and could be taxed at 0%, depending on your income. See the table below:

Exceptions to the long-term capital gains tax rate are collectibles such as art, jewelry, and precious metals.  These are taxed at 28% regardless of your income.  Bear in mind, though, that tax rates on ordinary income range from 10% to 37%.

Be sure to keep this information in mind when managing your investments. It could make a BIG difference come tax time!

About The Author

Abraham Finberg

Managing Partner

420 CPA AB FinWright

Abraham Finberg MBA, CPA, managing partner at AB FinWright, has been a leader in the cannabis sphere since 2009, counseling clients in all phases of business advisory and tax, from start-up through M&A and IPO.

About The Author

Rachel Wright

Managing Partner

420 CPA AB FinWright

Rachel Wright, MST, CPA, managing partner at AB FinWright, specializes in cannabis accounting and taxation for multi-state and multinational entities, advising clients on everything from internal controls to the bottom-line implications of mixed local, state, federal and international statutes of taxation.

For all your taxation challenges in cannabis, feel free to reach out to me or any of the other team members at 420CPA and share with us your business challenges. We have been helping cannabis companies since 2009.