What tax do you pay when buying and selling a house?
James Williams
Published Mar 21, 2026
Capital gains tax
Capital gains tax (CGT) is payable when you sell an asset that has increased in value since you bought it. The rate varies based on a number of factors, such as your income and size of gain. For residential property it may be 18% or 28% of the gain (not the total sale price).
Is house down payment tax deductible?
Your mortgage down payment is a cash payment you make to the mortgage company that reduces the amount of the mortgage loan relative to the purchase price of the home. You cannot deduct any portion of your house payment that reduces the principal amount of the mortgage, so none of your down payment is tax-deductible.
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 are property taxes determined when a house is sold?
State and local property tax assessments tax homeowners on the value of their home, as determined by an assessor using local market information and recent sales prices if the home was sold. Property taxes are assessed using a rate – usually known as a mil, or 1/1000th of a cent per $1 in value – against the assessed value of the home.
Why did my property tax go up when I bought a new house?
All permitted work you do on your home can — and likely will — increase your property taxes, and will do so without fail if you add square footage. Look for comps both to the home you are considering buying as well as for those that might resemble a renovated residence later down the line.
How does the sale of a house affect your tax return?
However, you can include them in your cost basis, which is basically the value of a home for tax purposes. Down the road, if you sell your home, your cost basis will be a factor in figuring out your gain or loss on the sale. Your gain or loss in turn may affect how much (if any) tax you’ll owe on the money you receive from the sale.