Difference between Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax

All taxpayers are mandated by law to file an income tax return at the end of each fiscal year to determine their tax liabilities. There are several types of taxes that the government collects on the generated income. In this article, we will highlight how Income Tax is different from Capital Gains Tax.

What is Income Tax?

Income tax is a direct taxation applied by the state or federal government on its citizens or permanent residents, determined by the amount of income or profits made inside the state or federal government's borders. A tax return detailing one's income and expenses for a certain fiscal year is needed by law to calculate one's tax liability for that year. Income taxation is a crucial source of revenue for governments.

Earnings at the end of the fiscal year determine your tax bracket and, by extension, the amount of tax you owe for that year. Individuals, whether salaried or self−employed and businesses of all sizes must pay income tax. The government should have the last say on matters like these. Salary, wages, interest, royalties, rental income, and product sales are only a few of the forms of income that must be reported and taxed.

What is Capital Gains Tax?

A capital gain is an increase in the market value of an investment or other capital item. Realization occurs when the asset is sold for more than originally purchased, turning the gain into cash. Selling an appreciated asset like stocks, bonds, or real estate nets you with a capital gain. This extra cash might be put back into the business or used for personal use. If you spent $300 on an asset and then sold it for $400, you made a $100 profit on the sale. Profit made from selling investments is subject to taxation, thus the term "capital gains."

The gain or profit made from the sale of an asset that is classified as capital is taxable since it is considered "income." There is no tax due on the increase in value of an asset if it is held until death or donated to charity. But the law says you can't collect any money until the deal is done. A capital gain or loss is not reported until a sale or exchange occurs.

Differences: Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax

The following table highlights how Income Tax is different from Capital Gains Tax −

Income Tax	Capital Gains Tax
An income tax is a kind of direct taxation in which the government takes a cut of the earnings of its citizens or permanent residents. Salary, wages, interest, royalties, rental income, and product sales are only a few of the forms of income that must be reported and taxed.	One must pay a capital gains tax on the gains made from the sale or transfer of any capital asset. This includes stocks, bonds, shares, property, and so on. Simply speaking, capital gains tax is part of the overall income tax system.
Your income for the fiscal year is used to calculate your income tax bracket, which determines your income tax liability. Tax rates are lower for those with lower earnings than for those with greater incomes who can afford to pay higher rates.	The capital gains tax rate is based on how long you owned the asset before selling it. Investment gains that have been kept for a longer time frame are taxed at a lower rate than those that have been retained for a shorter time frame. It's possible that, depending on your income level, your long−term capital gains tax rate might be as low as zero percent and as high as twenty percent.

Conclusion

Having a job that pays a regular salary means that a certain percentage of your annual income will be subject to taxation, depending on which of the numerous tax brackets you happen to be in.

In contrast, capital gains are the earnings you get from the sale or transfer of any capital asset. This includes but is not limited to stocks, bonds, shares, mutual funds, and real estate. Thus, capital gains are taxed in the same way as other forms of income. Short−term capital gains are taxed differently than long−term capital gains.