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The Global Insight

Can you take a loss on sale of inherited property?

Author

Robert Miller

Updated on March 07, 2026

If you sell an inherited house for less than its appraised value, you can claim a loss on your taxes, in many circumstances. Since tax law only allows a certain amount of losses each year, you may have to carry over part of the loss to next year and potentially more years until the full balance has been claimed.

How do you calculate capital gains on inherited property?

Calculate your capital gain (or loss) by subtracting your stepped up tax basis (fair market value of the home) from the purchase price. Report the sale on IRS Schedule D. This is the form for documenting capital gains or losses. Copy the gain or loss over to Form 1040.

Do I pay capital gains tax if I sell an inherited property?

If you were to sell the property, there could be huge capital gains taxes. Fortunately, when you inherit property, the property’s tax basis is “stepped up,” which means the basis would be the current value of the property. If you sell the property right away, you will not owe any capital gains taxes.

Do I pay capital gains tax when I sell an inherited property?

Do I have to report sale of inherited home?

After you’ve completed your calculations from the sale of the home, you must report the gain or loss on your personal income tax return. You must report the sale of the property in the calendar year in which you sold it, not the year you inherited the home.

Do you pay capital gains tax if you sell an inherited property?

Beneficiaries inherit the assets at their probate value. This means that when they sell or give the asset away, they will pay Capital Gains Tax on the increase in value from when the person died to when it was sold or given away.

What are the tax rules for selling inherited property?

The capital gains and loss tax rules apply to anything you sell to make money, including stocks, cars, and real estate. When it’s inherited property, the tax rules apply in certain specific ways. If you want the lowest tax rates, you’ll generally need to keep the property for at least a year.

Is it bad to inherit a house and sell it?

The truth is that inheriting property can be taxing—both emotionally and financially. The amount you must pay when you sell an inherited property can indeed take a toll on your bottom line. But before we discuss the details, let’s take a closer look at what capital gains tax actually is.

Is it normal for a family member to inherit property?

Inheriting a property from a parent or family member can be an emotional experience. During times of loss, the last thing you want to deal with is the property side of things However, it’s not an unusual experience, with 36% of people set to inherit property in their lifetimes.

Do you have to establish FMV when selling inherited property?

However, if the asset is sold by the beneficiary recipient, then you must establish the FMV of that property on the date the original owner passed, *NOT* the date you inherited it. Then, if you sell the property for more than that FMV on the date the original owner passed]