Short-term capital gains – property that was sold less than a year after you bought it – are taxed at the same rate as regular income, while long-term gains get a lower rate. If your taxable gain is $120,000, for example, and you're in the 25 percent tax bracket, you'd pay $30,000 if you sell after six months, The capital gains rules are different when you own real estate. There are two main tax rules you need to know about when discussing taxes on the sale of real estate. Regarding capital gains tax on real estate, report the sale of your main home only if you have a gain not excluded from your income. If you have a gain that’s not excluded, you usually must report capital gains tax on property on Schedule D: Capital Gains and Losses.. You can exclude up to $250,000 of the capital gains tax on property if all of these apply: