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Trevor A. Farrington, LUTCF®, RICP®

Regional Vice President

Financial Advisor

 

Equitable Advisors, LLC

93 Worcester Street, Suite 103

Wellesley, MA 02481

 

Phone: 617-407-2684

 

Email: trevor.farrington@equitable.com

July/August 2025

Net Investment Income Tax and Who Pays It

Business woman prepare writing a check

The net investment income tax (NIIT) affects individuals, estates, and trusts with significant investment income. In its first year (2013), about three million taxpayers were subject to the additional 3.8% net investment income tax (NIIT) in 2013. Since then, the number of affected taxpayers have more than doubled, underscoring the growing relevance of this tax.


What Qualifies as Net Investment Income (NII)
This income includes interest, dividends, capital gains, rental income, and passive income from business interests. When your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) exceeds $200,000 for single filers or $250,000 for married couples filing jointly, the 3.8% tax kicks in on your net investment income. The tax is paid in addition to any capital gains tax.


Mitigating the Impact
Consider maximizing contributions to tax- deferred accounts like IRAs or 401(k)s to lower your MAGI in the current tax year. Try tax-loss harvesting. This technique involves selling underperforming investments at a loss to offset taxable gains. Strategic selling can lower your overall capital gains and your net investment income. If you're close to the threshold income, consider deferring income to a future year or bunching deductions to keep your MAGI below the tax limits for the current year.


Consulting a tax professional who understands the complexities of high-net- worth individuals can help you develop a tax strategy tailored to your financial situation.

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Duly registered and licensed financial professionals offer securities through Equitable Advisors, LLC (NY, NY 212-314-4600), member FINRA,SIPC (Equitable Financial Advisors in MI & TN), offer investment advisory products and services through Equitable Advisors, LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor, and offer annuity and insurance products through Equitable Network, LLC (Equitable Network Insurance Agency of Utah, LLC in Ut; Equitable Network of Puerto Rico, Inc.). Equal Opportunity Employer - M/F/D/V. Equitable Advisors and its associates and affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal adviceor services. Representatives may transact business, which includes offering products and services and/or responding to inquiries, only in state(s) in which they are properly registered and/or licensed. Your connection to this website does not necessarily indicate that the sender is able to transact business in your state. The information in this website is not investment or securities advice and does not constitute an offer. For more information about Equitable Advisors, LLC you may visit https://equitable.com/crs to review the firm's Relationship Summary for Retail Investors and General Conflicts of Interest Disclosure.

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