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The Global Insight

Do I need to pay tax if I sell my flat?

Author

Christopher Davis

Updated on March 14, 2026

If a property is sold within three years of buying it, any profit from the transaction is treated as a short-term capital gain. If you sell after three years, the profit is treated as long-term capital gains and taxed at 20% after indexation.

Do home sellers pay tax?

Capital gains tax (CGT) is payable when you sell an asset that has increased in value since you bought it. For residential property it may be 18% or 28% of the gain (not the total sale price). Usually, when you sell your main home (or only home) you don’t have to pay any CGT.

How can I avoid paying taxes on property sale?

However, you can substantially reduce it by using one of the following methods:

  1. Exemptions under Section 54F, when you buy or construct a Residential Property.
  2. Purchase Capital Gains Bonds under Section 54EC.
  3. Investing in Capital Gains Accounts Scheme.
  4. Purchase Capital Gains Bonds under Section 54EC.

What kind of taxes do I have to pay when I Sell my House?

There are three types of taxes to consider when selling your home: Capital gains tax; Property tax; Real estate transfer tax; If I sell my house, do I pay capital gains tax? Some homeowners will owe capital gains tax on selling a home if they don’t qualify for an exclusion or special circumstance.

How long can you rent a house before you have to pay taxes?

You could rent the home and live there for two years, then purchase it and own it for the remaining three years while living elsewhere. You can use this capital gain exclusion to avoid tax on a home sale over and over provided that you meet these rules. How Are Gains or Losses Calculated?

Do you have to pay tax on sale of second home?

If you bought at $500,000 and you sell for $400,000, Levine said, “the answer is ‘too bad’—you don’t get any tax benefit from that.” If you sell property that is not your main home (including a second home) that you’ve held for at least a year, you must pay tax on any profit at the capital gains rate of up to 15 percent.

Do you have to pay tax on capital gains when you sell property?

With long-term capital gains, you get the benefit of a reduced tax rate that typically doesn’t exceed 20%. If you’re selling a residence or investment property you’ve held on to for at least a year, you’ve effectively lowered your capital gains tax. Does the capital gains tax apply only to real estate? No.