03/05/2018
I had a client today selling his home for the first time and didn't understand how capital gain works...Many people mistakenly believe that their gain is simply the profit on the sale ("We bought it for $100,000 and sold it for $650,000, so that's a $550,000 gain (500K allowed for married, 250K for single), and we're $50,000 over the exclusion, right?"). That is incorrect, It's not so simple -- a good thing, since the fine print can work to your benefit in such instances.
Your gain is actually your home's selling price, minus deductible closing costs, selling costs, and your tax basis in the property. (Your basis is the original purchase price, plus purchase expenses, plus the cost of capital improvements, minus any depreciation and minus any casualty losses or insurance payments.)
Deductible closing costs include points or prepaid interest on your mortgage and your share of the prorated property taxes.
Examples of selling costs include real estate broker's commissions, title insurance, legal fees, advertising costs, administrative costs, escrow fees, and inspection fees.
So, for example, if you and your spouse bought a house for $100,000 and sold for $650,000, but you'd added $20,000 in home improvements, spent $5,000 fixing the place up for the sale, and paid the real estate brokers at least $25,000, the exclusion plus those costs would mean you'd owe no capital gains tax at all on the scenario given.
For more information, see IRS Publication 551, Basis of Assets, and look for the section on real property, your CPA also can help you with this calculations before you put your home on the market for sale.