2 Capital Gains and Losses

soulful soul, drill bubblegum dance

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Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Your stocks and bonds, they're capital treasures
Real estate and gems beyond all measures
But inventory from your daily trade
And business property don't make the grade
Section twelve twenty-one defines the line
Between what's capital and what's confined

[Chorus]
Hold it long, hold it strong, past a year you'll find
Zero fifteen twenty rates for patient minds
Three thousand loss, wash sale cross, don't buy back too soon
Capital gains play different games beneath the taxing moon

[Verse 2]
Short-term profits face the highest bracket
Like ordinary income, Uncle Sam will whack it
But patient investors reap rewards so sweet
Zero percent for those whose income's neat
Fifteen percent for middle-class delight
Twenty percent when wealth reaches new height

[Chorus]
Hold it long, hold it strong, past a year you'll find
Zero fifteen twenty rates for patient minds
Three thousand loss, wash sale cross, don't buy back too soon
Capital gains play different games beneath the taxing moon

[Bridge]
Collectibles climb to twenty-eight percent
Stamps and coins and art, their profits bent
Unrecaptured depreciation hits twenty-five
While QSBS exclusion keeps small business alive
Section twelve-oh-two protects your qualifying stock
Million dollar shelter from the taxman's knock

[Verse 3]
Thirty days before and thirty after
Wash sale rule prevents tax disaster
Losses vanish when you repurchase quick
Adding basis to your newest pick
Net your gains against your painful losses
Three thousand yearly limit, that's what boss is

[Final Chorus]
Hold it long, hold it strong, past a year you'll find
Zero fifteen twenty rates for patient minds
Three thousand loss, wash sale cross, don't buy back too soon
Capital gains play different games beneath the taxing moon

[Outro]
Section twelve twenty-one through twenty-two
Capital asset rules will see you through

← 1 Basis and Amount Realized | 3 Recapture and Characterization →