Summary
- You likely won’t owe much in taxes on inherited property because the IRS steps up the basis to the current market value on the day you inherit the property.
- Estate taxes are different from capital gains taxes, so if the value of your estate exceeds $15 million, you might be paying estate taxes even if you don’t owe any capital gains taxes.
- Tax and estate planning can help keep more of your money in your hands.
- Unbiased can connect you to a financial advisor for advice on capital gains, taxes, estates, and more.
Do you pay capital gains tax on inherited property?
The short answer is that you likely won’t owe taxes on inherited property.
However, if you decide to sell your inherited property, you could be liable to pay capital gains.
Stepped-up basis: The concept of stepped-up basis is why you will likely pay minimal to no taxes on inherited property. Instead of paying capital gains from the original purchase price, you only pay capital gains on the property from the day you inherited it.
If you inherit property, it’s best to know how the taxes surrounding it work, and it’s best to consult with your financial advisor in deciding what to do with the property.
How much is the capital gains tax on inherited property?
The amount of capital gains you pay depends on when you sell the inherited property.
Due to the stepped-up basis, your capital gains may be minimal. If the heir sells the property, the amount subject to tax is limited to the gain that occurred since they inherited the asset.
Here’s an example.
The original owner purchased the property in 1980 for $10,000. Their basis is $10,000.
When they passed away in 2025, the property’s market value was $400,000, and the beneficiary inherited it at that value. The new basis for the beneficiary is $400,000.
Scenario 1: They sell immediately and pay $0 in capital gains tax.
You’ll likely see minimal appreciation if you sell soon after inheriting the property. That means fewer taxes (if any).
Scenario 2: They wait a year, and the home's value increases by 2%.
You’ll pay capital gains on the increase in value since inheriting the property.
- $400,000 X .02 = $8,000.
You’ll pay capital gains on the $8,000 increase in value if the property is sold. Capital gains are between 0% and 20%, depending on your income level and filing status. If you earn $100,000 per year, the capital gains rate is 15% on the $8,000 profit, or $1,200.
Scenario 3: The inheritors move in for two years.
They now qualify for the primary residence exclusion, allowing a single person to exclude up to $ 250,000 and a married couple up to $500,000 of tax-free gain above the property's value when they inherited it. They pay no capital gains taxes on the property.
Capital gains tax rates
The capital gains tax rate depends on your income and filing status. The rates of 0%, 15%, 20%, and 28% are outlined below.
| 0% | 15% | 20% | 28% |
|---|---|---|---|
| $48,350 for single and married filing separately; | More than $48,350 but less than or equal to $533,400 for single; | 20% capital gains tax rate for income amounts over the limit. | Gains from selling art, coins or other collectibles |
| $96,700 for married filing jointly and qualifying surviving spouse; and | More than $48,350 but less than or equal to $300,000 for married filing separately; | ||
| $64,750 for head of household. | More than $96,700 but less than or equal to $600,050 for married filing jointly and qualifying surviving spouse; and | ||
| More than $64,750 but less than or equal to $566,700 for the head of household. |
What’s the difference between capital gains tax and estate tax on inherited property?
Capital gains is the tax you pay when you profit from selling an asset. If you originally paid $10,000 for a home in 1980 and sold it at its current market value of $400,000 in 2026, you’ll owe capital gains on the $390,000 increase.
On inherited property, however, if the property isn’t sold and instead is passed on to heirs upon death, the IRS considers the current market value of the home as the new value. In the previous example, the stepped-up value would be $400,000, and you would not pay capital gains on the $390,000. This is called a stepped-up basis.
Estate tax is the tax paid to transfer the estate of a deceased person. It’s required when the value of your entire estate exceeds the 2026 exemption amount of $15 million. Estate tax applies to the total value of the estate minus the exemption amount, whereas paying capital gains occurs with each asset individually when they’re sold for a profit.
Other differences between the two are outlined below:
| Capital gains | Estate tax | |
|---|---|---|
| What is taxed? | Applies to the property or asset being sold for profit | Applies to the entire estate |
| When do you pay it? | When property is sold | When the estate is transferred to the beneficiary |
| Who pays? | Seller of the property | The estate pays before property or assets are transferred to the beneficiary. |
| How often is it paid? | Paid when a gain is realized | Paid once when the estate is transferred |
| Exemption | Stepped-up basis, or current market value, has no limit | Exemption is $15 million for an individual |
| Rates | Between 0% and 28% | Between 18% and 40% above the exemption |
How to avoid paying capital gains tax on inherited property
If you’re still worried about the tax bill on inherited property, there are some strategies you can employ to limit the amount of capital gains you’ll pay.
1. Sell immediately
If you sell the property immediately, you likely won’t see appreciation, which is what you pay capital gains taxes on. Thus, by selling immediately, you won’t see a tax bill. However, when you consider the stepped-up basis resets to current market value when you inherit it, capital gains are only calculated from the increase in value since you inherited the property.
2. Move in
When inherited property becomes your primary residence, you can benefit from the home sale tax exclusion, which allows you to profit up to $250,000 ($500,000 if married) without paying capital gains taxes on the sale of your home. There are rules you need to follow for this, which typically require you to live in the home for two of the previous five years to benefit from the home sale tax exclusion.
3. Rent
If you’re unsure what you want to do with the property in the long term, you may consider renting it. Renting gives you immediate income, but it’s also possible to use a 1031 exchange to defer capital gains until you’re ready to buy another property. Again, be sure to dig further into 1031 exchange rules, as primary residences typically don’t qualify.
4. Gift or disclaim the property
You can sign a disclaimer with your attorney, and the property will go to the next person in line for the inheritance. You can also give the property to charity if you desire. Talk over these strategies with your advisor.
5. Deduct expenses
When you sell the home, you can deduct selling costs from capital gains. Some selling costs may include repairs, real estate commissions, attorney fees, staging, and closing costs. You can write these selling expenses off against the capital gain to reduce taxes.
Bottom line
Thinking strategically about how you’re going to manage an inheritance is smart. The more you can employ tax and estate planning strategies, the more you can preserve the estate.
Unbiased can connect you to a professional to help guide you through the ins and outs of tax and estate planning.
Connect to a financial advisor today.