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The Global Insight

How do I avoid capital gains tax on commercial property?

Author

James Olson

Updated on March 07, 2026

One tax savings strategy that many investors utilize to defer capital gains until future years is Section 1031 like-kind exchanges. Section 1031 like-kind exchanges are used by commercial real estate investors who dispose of their real estate investment property and acquire another investment property of a like kind.

How do you calculate capital gains on a home sale?

In case of short-term capital gain, capital gain = final sale price – (the cost of acquisition + house improvement cost + transfer cost). In case of long-term capital gain, capital gain = final sale price – (transfer cost + indexed acquisition cost + indexed house improvement cost).

Do I have to pay taxes on a house I inherited and sold?

The bottom line is that if you inherit property and later sell it, you pay capital gains tax based only on the value of the property as of the date of death. Her tax basis in the house is $500,000.

Who qualifies for lifetime capital gains exemption?

throughout the 24-month period immediately before the sale, and the shares must not have been owned by anyone other than you or someone related to you during the 24-month period immediately before the sale. If both tests are satisfied, you may be able to claim the exemption on your tax return in the year of the sale.

What are the capital gains on selling a vacation home?

An annual depreciation of $5,000 for 10 years on that $200,000 vacation home you rented out, would be $50,000 in total depreciation. If you sell the house for $300,000, you’ll pay capital gains on $150,000: your $100,000 gain plus the $50,000 in depreciation that gets subtracted from the basis.

How long do you have to live in a home before selling it?

If you live in a home two of the five years before you sell it, it is considered your permanent residence by the IRS. States have varying residence requirements, so it’s best to check with the one in which you live.

What happens when you sell your vacation home?

So if you lost money on stocks and bonds, sell them when you sell your house to offset some of your house gain. If you leave a vacation home to children or others in your will, their basis becomes what the home is worth when they inherit it.

When do you have to sell your home to claim the whole exclusion?

The law applies to sales after May 6, 1997. To claim the whole exclusion, you must have owned and lived in your home as your principal residence an aggregate of at least two of the five years before the sale (this is called the ownership and use test).