Capital gains are profits from selling investments, stocks or property, and they're one of the most important issues in the 2016 candidates' tax plans.
The tax rate on capital gains is currently pretty low compared to taxes on income. That means the money someone makes off their investments is taxed at a lower rate than money someone makes off an everyday job.
George W. Bush reduced the top rate on capital gains to 15 percent starting in 2003.
And then starting in 2013, the top rate rose to 23.8 percent as part of budget agreements in Congress.
Now, Democratic and Republican presidential hopefuls are laying out what they think should be done with capital gains tax rates.
Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley would like to put capital gains tax and income tax on level ground. Sanders says income taxes could be as much as 52 percent for the wealthiest Americans. (Video via NBC)
Hillary Clinton would also tax some capital gains at the income tax rate but only those that are taken out quickly. Currently, the longer you hold an investment, the lower the taxes are on capital gains. Clinton's plan would extend that timeline, so you would have to hold an investment longer to see the lower tax. (Video via Hillary for America)
The Republicans fall into a few different categories with their plans. There are those who think there shouldn't be any tax on capital gains whatsoever — Jim Gilmore, Mike Huckabee and Marco Rubio.
Both Jeb Bush and Donald Trump want to lower the top capital gains tax from 23.8 percent to 20 percent. John Kasich would reduce the long-term rate to 15 percent. (Videos via Donald J. Trump for President, Inc., Jeb 2016 and Kasich for America)
And finally, there are the Republicans who are calling for a flat tax rate, which they would also apply to capital gains. Among them: Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, Rand Paul and Rick Santorum.
This video includes images from Getty Images.
