Disposing of Capital Assets

When you sell, scrap, or otherwise remove a capital asset from your business, you'll have to report the change to the IRS and pay tax on any gain from the sale.

The good news is that long-term capital gains are taxed at a lower rate than other income, and if you have a loss on the property, you can deduct it.

Save Money In some cases, if you trade business property for other business property of the same asset class, you do not need to recognize a taxable gain or loss. Instead, you'll be treated as making a nontaxable like-kind exchange, in which the tax basis of the old property becomes the tax basis of the new property. Consult your tax advisor for more details if you think you may want to arrange a like-kind exchange, since there are some very complicated rules to follow.

When you dispose of a capital asset, your gain (or loss) is computed by subtracting your adjusted tax basis for the property from your net proceeds on the sale.

Your proceeds from the sale include the cash you receive in the sale, the fair market value of any property or services you receive, and the value of any of your existing mortgage, loans, and other debts that are assumed by the buyer. From these proceeds you may subtract any costs you had in carrying out the sale such as brokers' commissions, advertising expenses, appraisal fees, legal fees, surveys, abstract and recording fees, title insurance, and transfer or stamp taxes.

Your adjusted tax basis is generally your original cost for the property, plus the cost of any improvements or additions, and minus any depreciation you claimed or casualty losses you've deducted.

Here's what you need to know about capital gains:

• special tax rates that apply to long-term capital gains
• how to calculate net capital gains, and how to deduct a loss
• how the recapture rules limit the application of capital gains tax breaks
• what happens in a foreclosure or involuntary conversion
• installment sale rules that can save taxes in some situations
• special rules for stock of qualified small business corporations
• how to report sales of capital assets on your tax return