North Carolina Tax Deductions
Income tax deductions are expenses that can be deducted from your gross pre-tax income. Using deductions is an excellent way to reduce your North Carolina income tax and maximize your refund, so be sure to research deductions that you mey be able to claim on your Federal and North Carolina tax returns. For details on specific deductions available in North Carolina, see the list of North Carolina income tax deductions.
Tax Free Precious Metals
Unfortunately, there is no way to avoid the sales tax on precious metals bought in North Carolina. However, a tax-free way to purchase gold or silver is through an overseas storage company, which will keep your precious metals in their vault. You will pay tax only if you have it shipped to your address. Buying precious metals online is another way of avoiding state taxes.
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Entrepreneurship In North Carolina
There is no lack of support for entrepreneurship in North Carolina. Both the NC IDEA and the CED are organizations with missions focused on the success of local small businesses and the associated economic growth while the EDPNC aims to bring in new business to the state.
The NC IDEA offers grants and programs to business owners at all stages of development. In partnership with the NC BEC, they will also focus on addressing the challenges for Black entrepreneurs in the state.
The North Carolina Council for Entrepreneurial Development also aims to build up the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The CED fosters connections between emerging business owners and investors and/or mentors to build a network of shared resources and support.
The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina is an organization focused on bringing and building new businesses to the state. Their land incentives and support programs are built with the purpose to help businesses succeed.
Among other industries, the following industries in particular thrive in the state::
- Aerospace & Defence
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What Is The Capital Gains Tax On Real Estate In Nc
North Carolina does not have a separate capital gains rate like the U.S. system has. Rather, capital gains are taxable as ordinary income the same as any other income you have. Also, if you owned the property for one year or less, any taxable gain will be treated as ordinary income for both Federal and state tax purposes.
Having said that N.C. has conformed to federal with respect to the IRC Sec. 121 exclusion of gain on the sale of a principal residence. See below to see if you qualify for a pro-rata exclusion.
Under IRC Sec. 121 if as of the date of sale you have owned and used a property as your principal residence for 24 out of the last 60 months, then you can exclude up to $250,000 of gain if filing a single or MFS return.
If you have owned or used your property as your principal residence for less than 24 months, you may not use the Sec. 121 exclusion unless you meet a qualified exception. You may use a pro-rata exclusion if the reason you are selling is related to a job change, for medical reasons or for some other unforeseen circumstance . See below for a more expanded explanation of the allowable exceptions. The pro-rata portion of the exclusion is calculated by dividing the number of days you both owned and occupied the property as your principal residence by 730 days . Multiply the resulting percentage by $250K if single or $500K if MFJ.
Some States Have Tax Preferences For Capital Gains

The federal government taxes income generated by wealth, such as capital gains, at lower rates than wages and salaries from work. The highest-income taxpayers pay 40.8 percent on income from work but only 23.8 percent on capital gains and stock dividends.
While most states tax income from investments and income from work at the same rate, nine states Arizona, Arkansas, Hawaii, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Carolina, Vermont, and Wisconsin tax all long-term capital gains less than ordinary income. These tax breaks take different forms. Typically, these states allow taxpayers to exclude some or all of their capital gains income from their taxable income, but others levy a lower rate than the state tax on ordinary income or provide a credit equal to a percentage of the taxpayers capital gains. In addition, a handful of states provide breaks only for capital gains on investments in in-state businesses, and a few states target preferences to investments in specific industries, like farming in Iowa and Wisconsin.
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What Is Capital Gains Tax
Capital gains tax is the tax you pay after selling an asset that has increased in value. Assets subject to capital gains tax include stocks, real estate, cryptocurrency, and businesses. You pay capital gains tax on the profit you made from the sale.
Most investment income is considered a capital gain, but there are some exceptions. Dividends are counted as ordinary income, for example, but qualified dividends are treated as a capital gain.
For example, if you buy a stock for $100 and sell it for $150, you have a capital gain of $50. You’d pay capital gains tax on that $50. Capital gains are an essential part of understanding how investing and taxes work.
There are exclusions for certain types of capital gains that can help you reduce your taxes. The home sale exclusion is one of the most common. If you’ve owned and used your house as your main home for at least two out of five years prior to its date of sale, you can exclude up to $250,000 in capital gains if you’re a single filer or $500,000 if you’re filing jointly with your spouse.
It’s also worth noting that only a realized gain can be a capital gain. If you have a stock that goes up in value, but you don’t sell it, that’s an unrealized gain and isn’t taxed.
Essential Information About Taxes On Inherited Homes In North Carolina
Image by Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash
Whether youre planning ahead for your heirs or have recently inherited property yourself, it can be confusing and stressful to determine whether or how much taxes on your inherited home could be. Being aware of the differences between capital gains tax, estate taxes, and other fees or tax on inherited property could be beneficial after the owners death. Knowing the tax rules and any other cost associated with the property could make an impact on how much profit heirs could make if they decide on selling the inherited property.
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What Are Rule Exceptions
The above-stated rates and calculator can be applied to most assets, however, there are a few exceptions to the rule. Collectible Assets such as coins, metals, and fine art are taxed at 28% as their long-term capital gains tax rate. The short-term capital gains tax rate is determined using the income tax rate.
Capital Gain Calculation In Four Steps
Looking for a capital gains tax calculator? When you file with H& R Block Premium, theres a capital gains tax calculator built right in. Once youve added the information about your asset, youll see a results page that outlines your total gain or loss. Of course, you could also get help from our tax pros when you file.
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Of Your Earnings May Be In The 0% Bracket
Even if a couple’s taxable income is above $83,350, part of their earnings may still fall into the 0% long-term capital gains bracket, Brown said.
Let’s say the same retired couple had $30,000 in tax-exempt interest, $25,000 of regular income and $100,000 in long-term capital gains and dividends.
In this case, their gross income is $125,000 and taxable income is $97,700. Since the $27,300 standard deduction exceeds the $25,000 of regular income, the $97,700 is entirely long-term capital gains and dividends.
This means $83,350 is taxed at the 0% rate and the couple owes 15% long-term capital gains taxes on the remaining $14,350.
“That’s the benefit of the 0% bracket,” Brown said.
What You Should Know
- Capital gains tax is the tax paid on profits you make from selling an investment for more than it was purchased for
- Short-term capital gains are when you buy an investment and sell it in a year or less
- Long-term capital gains are when you hold an investment for more than a year after purchased
- Short-term capital gains are treated as income and are taxed at your marginalincome tax ratebut long-term capital gains are taxed at a rate of 0%, 15%, or 20% depending on your total income
- Capital losses can be used to offset capital gains and can be carried forward to future tax years
- Policies on how capital gains are treated vary by state
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Capital Gains Tax Rates By State
Investors must pay capital gains taxes on the income they make as a profit from selling investments or assets. The federal government taxes long-term capital gains at the rates of 0%, 15% and 20%, depending on filing status and income. And short-term capital gains are taxed as ordinary income. Some states will also tax capital gains. A financial advisor could help you figure out your tax liability and create a tax plan to maximize your investments.
Jeffrey S Jones Phd Cfa Cfp Cpa Department Head Finance And General Business Department Missouri State University

Are there signs that capital gains taxes will be increased to balance the federal debt incurred by issuing stimulus payments?
I think potentially all forms of taxation are currently on the table, particularly to help offset the cost of the recent stimulus efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It seems, however, that the Biden administration would most likely attempt to raise federal capital gains tax rates for only higher income earners.
If the government expresses interest in raising capital gains taxes, could we see a stock sell-off in response? How might that affect the greater economy?
History has shown us that while there can be a stock sell-off in response to anticipated higher future tax rates for capital gains, the sell-off is not as big as one might expect. This article has some nice data to illustrate this point.
The fact that such a large portion of the US equity is held by institutional investors helps mitigate this effect. Additionally, even if there is a sell-off, it tends to be short-lived.
I would expect any impact on the economy to be minimal.
Do you foresee the elimination of 0% capital gains tax rates? How many people might be affected by this, and how might that affect long-term participation in the markets?
I do not foresee the elimination of the 0% capital gains rate for lower-income earners.
Any interest by the Biden administration to raise capital gains tax rates seems to be targeted at the upper-income earners.
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Tax Policy In North Carolina
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Tax policy in North Carolina |
Tax rates in 2017 |
North Carolina generates the bulk of its tax revenue by levying a personal income tax and a sales tax. The state derives its constitutional authority to tax from Article V of the state constitution.
Tax policy can vary from state to state. States levy taxes to help fund the variety of services provided by state governments. Tax collections comprise approximately 40 percent of the states’ total revenues. The rest comes from non-tax sources, such as intergovernmental aid , lottery revenues and fees. The primary types of taxes levied by state governments include personal income tax, general sales tax, excise taxes and corporate income tax.
HIGHLIGHTS
The Best Way To Save On Short
There are a lot of factors that go into the decision to sell a capital asset, and tax rates are just one of them. For example, if you’re selling shares because you need the cash for an urgent expense, a higher tax rate might be a sacrifice you’re willing to make to receive the money now.
However, if your investment portfolio is part of your financial planning strategy for retirement, it’s in your best interests to know whether you’d come out better financially by paying short-term or long-term capital gains tax. In retirement, a few hundred dollars can go a long way.
To sort through the options and avoid federal tax penalties for underpayment, it’s advised that you see a Florida accountant who can explain the pros, cons, and ways to reduce your tax liability. As long as you have the documentation to back it up, the tax savings could be significant.
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Combined Capital Gains Tax Rate In North Carolina To Hit 487% Under Biden Plan
The combined state and federal capital gains tax rate in North Carolina would rise from the current 29.1 percent to 48.7 percent under President Bidens American Families Plan, according to a new study from the Tax Foundation.
That increase, which would include federal, state and local taxes on financial gains from the sale of assets in North Carolina, represented the 23rd highest levy among the 50 states, the Tax Foundations analysis said.
Nationwide, the combined average capital gains tax rate would amount to an estimated 48.4 percent under the presidents proposal, with the top federal tax rate increasing to 43.4 percent, according to the report. That compares to the current combined average rate of about 29 percent, the study said.
A total of 13 states would have a top combined capital gains tax rate above 50 percent if Bidens blueprint to help U.S. families with education costs and child care were to become law, according to the Tax Foundation.
Under a foundation tax model, the nations gross domestic product would drop 0.1 percent in the long term if the top capital gains tax rate were increased to 39.6 percent. Federal revenue would also decline, the study said, under this scenario.
Combined Capital Gains Taxes Under Biden Families Plan
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The Ultimate Guide To North Carolina Real Estate Taxes
Real estate property taxes can impact your monthly mortgage payment, or any gains on sale, but many home buyers or sellers forget to consider them when deciding whether to buy or sell. Everything you need to know about real estate taxes in North Carolina.
While not as glamorous as selecting counter tops or remodeling a bathroom, itâs important for home buyers and sellers to understand the ins and outs of property taxes.
Property taxes are often included in your monthly mortgage payment. Higher taxes equals a higher payment for a home buyer. If you sell your home, you should talk to an accountant about any taxes on gains. While your local real estate agent can provide some insight, here is an overview of property taxes in North Carolina.
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Avoiding A Capital Gains Tax On Your Primary Residence
You can sell your primary residence and avoid paying capital gains taxes on the first $250,000 of your profits if your tax-filing status is single, and up to $500,000 if married filing jointly. The exemption is only available once every two years. But it can in effect render the capital gains tax moot.
Lets say a single filer bought a home for $250,000, lived in it, and sold it for $400,000 three years later. Their profit is $150,000. But thats exempt from any capital gains tax, because its under the $250,000 threshold allowed for gains.
Of course, there are conditions. To qualify the property as your primary residence, the IRS requires that you prove that it was your main home where you lived most of the time. Youll need to show that:
- You owned the home for at least two years.
- You lived in the property as the primary residence for at least two out of the five years immediately preceding the sale.
However, there is wiggle room in how the rules are interpreted. You dont have to show you lived in the home the entire time you owned it or even consecutively for two years. You could, for example, purchase the house, live in it for 12 months, rent it out for a few years and then move in to establish primary residence for another 12 months. As long as you lived in the property as your primary residence for a total of 24 months within the five years before the homes sale, you can qualify for the capital gains tax exemption.
Do I Have To Pay Income Tax In North Carolina
You are required to file a North Carolina tax return if you receive income from North Carolina and you fall into one of the following categories:
- Resident: You have lived in North Carolina for more than 183 days during the taxable year.
- Part-Year Resident: You became a resident of North Carolina during the tax year or moved and became a resident of another state during the tax year.
- Nonresident: You did not live in North Carolina at any time during the tax year but received income from North Carolina sources.
Related: North Carolina Income Tax Calculator
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