The 20 counties where taxpayers netted the highest capital gains

The more value that investors can receive in the form of long-term capital gains rather than ordinary income, the less they will pay back to Uncle Sam.

Those in the 20 counties below ranked by the average net capital gains reported on their federal returns to the IRS are getting above-average appreciation on their assets with much lower tax rates, generally, than their incoming income, according to a study last month by advisor lead generation and client matchmaking service SmartAsset. The mix of areas known for a large concentration of wealthy residents and regions that don't immediately come to mind as a home to lots of rich people offered only more evidence of the investment industry's national scope.

For financial advisors and their clients, the list provided geographic insights into the potential wealth management client base in the areas, and a reminder of important state-level variations in taxes that could affect portfolios and after-tax yields.

"Net capital gains represent the profits a taxpayer recognizes from selling a capital asset after offsetting capital losses. These gains are often created by highly appreciated assets," Kathy Buchs, a senior tax advisor, team leader and managing director with Cleveland, Ohio-based registered investment advisory firm MAI Capital Management, said in an email.

"We take geography into account when advising clients to sell an asset or consider tax loss harvesting due to state income tax ramifications," Buchs continued. "For example, California is a high-tax state that does not have preferential rates for capital gains. Therefore, it tends to be much more expensive to recognize gains in that state as compared to others." 

That difference in tax rules at the state level raises the possibility of strategies such as an incomplete gift non-grantor trust that, in some areas, could "eliminate the state taxation of the trust-owned portfolio," said Richard Austin, an executive director for estate and business planning with San Diego and Waltham, Massachusetts-based RIA firm Integrated Partners. In some cases, investors can even offset their capital gains for federal tax purposes based on losses in other holdings, he noted in an email.

"Tax efficiency significantly impacts the performance of a client's portfolio by maximizing the after-tax return on investments," Austin said. "Investing across different countries and regions can reduce portfolio volatility. Markets in different parts of the world often have low correlation, meaning they don't always move in the same direction at the same time. If one market experiences a downturn, others might perform well, potentially stabilizing overall returns and the potential for future capital gains. State-specific tax rates impact tax efficiency of a portfolio. The difference in state income taxes creates a significant layer of complexity in achieving tax efficiency for a client's portfolio."

Even though any type of data presents the possibility of noise factors affecting any particular region, the study "highlights that taking geography into account is essential when advising clients on their asset allocations," said Michelle Ash, a senior wealth advisor with the Jacksonville, Florida-based office of RIA firm Mercer Advisors.

"Net capital gains is measured when a person is selling assets, and so it requires past investment success to be in that position," Ash said in an email. "It's no surprise to me that Florida would be the top state by this metric. Florida has no state income, inheritance or estate taxes, and so it's a beneficial place to live when you're selling assets. These Florida traits also attract a lot of retiring individuals who may be selling assets like homes and businesses when they retire or move."

In focusing on capital gains, SmartAsset sought to home in on the areas where investors netted the most gains with preferential rates compared to ordinary income, according to the report's author, SmartAsset Director of Economic Analysis Jaclyn DeJohn.

"Net capital gains, the profits from selling assets like stocks, real estate or businesses, are a key measure of investment success and regional wealth," DeJohn wrote. "Overall, high net capital gains can signal robust markets and affluent populations, with realized gains potentially boosting local economies through tax revenues and spending." 

Besides the listing below, here are some of the other interesting takeaways from the study:

• Three Georgia counties, Chattahoochee, Quitman and Taliaferro, displayed the smallest average net capital gains, at $2,400 or less. Fewer than 10% of returns in the counties had net capital gains.
  

• At the state level, West Virginia tax returns had the lowest average net capital gains at $14,612, followed by Wisconsin with $19,590 and Iowa with $20,220.
  

• On the other end of the spectrum among the states, federal returns out of Florida ($84,911), Wyoming ($84,246), Nevada ($77,491), the District of Columbia ($58,733) and Texas ($52,926) reported the highest average net capital gains.
  

Scroll down the slideshow for the ranking of the top 20 counties in the U.S. in terms of average net capital gains. To see a list of the top 10 cities with the highest income among retirees, click here. For the group of the top 20 metropolitan areas where financial advisors' median pay increased the most last year, follow this link.

Note: The below rankings are based on a report by SmartAsset called, "Where Americans Earn the Most From Investments." The study crunched the latest tax return data for the 2022 tax year released by the IRS across 3,022 U.S. counties and for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The data include average net capital gains and investment-yield figures like taxable and tax-exempt interest and ordinary and qualified dividends.