Texas is one of nine states with no state income tax. Regardless of how much profit you realize from selling your home, Texas will not tax a penny of it. The only tax exposure comes at the federal level, and most homeowners are protected by generous exemptions.
If you lived in your Arlington home as your primary residence for at least two of the past five years, the IRS allows you to exclude capital gains of up to $250,000 (single filers) or $500,000 (married filing jointly). For most Tarrant County homeowners, this exclusion wipes out any federal tax obligation entirely.
Example: You purchased your home for $180,000 and sell for $310,000. Your gain is $130,000 — well within the $250,000 exclusion. Federal taxes owed: zero.
If you inherited the property, the cost basis steps up to fair market value on the date of death. This is one of the most valuable tax provisions in real estate. If your parent purchased the home for $55,000 in 1978 and it was worth $285,000 when they passed, your basis is $285,000. Selling at or near that value produces little to no taxable gain.
The primary residence exclusion does not apply to investment properties. If you are selling a rental property, capital gains tax applies:
Investors may defer taxes using a 1031 like-kind exchange, reinvesting proceeds into another qualifying property within strict IRS timelines.
Tax situations are individual. We are real estate buyers, not tax advisors. A qualified CPA can help you optimize timing, maximize exemptions, and plan for any tax obligation before you close.
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