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Capital Gains Tax Calculator
Enter what you sold for, what you paid, and how long you held it to see your capital gain, whether it's short- or long-term, and the federal, NIIT, and state tax you'll owe.
Short answer
Your capital gain is the sale price minus your cost basis. Held it one year or less? It's a short-term gain, taxed at your ordinary income rate (10%–37%). Held it more than a year? It's long-term, taxed at just 0%, 15%, or 20% depending on your income — plus a possible 3.8% NIITand your state's tax. So a $200,000 long-term gain at a $100k income costs about $30,000 federal (15%) before state tax.
Your after-tax gain
$139,600.00
$60,400.00 total tax · 30.2% effective · long-term
- Capital gain
- $200,000
- Federal capital gains tax
- −$30,000.00
- Net Investment Income Tax (3.8%)
- −$3,800.00
- State tax
- −$26,600.00
- Total tax
- −$60,400.00
What is capital gains tax?
Capital gains tax is the tax you owe on the profit when you sell an asset — a stock, a house, a fund, crypto — for more than you paid for it. The taxable profit, or capital gain, is the sale price minus your cost basis (what you paid, plus commissions and improvements). You only owe it when you selland "realize" the gain; an investment that rises but that you keep holding isn't taxed. Sell for less than your basis and you have a capital loss, which isn't taxed and can offset other gains.
How much you pay hinges on two things: how long you held the asset (short- vs long-term) and your taxable income (which sets your long-term 0/15/20% bracket). On top of the federal tax, higher earners owe the 3.8% NIIT and most states tax the gain too.
Short-term vs long-term capital gains
The single biggest lever on your capital-gains tax is the holding period. Sell within a year and the gain is short-term, stacked onto your salary and taxed at your marginal ordinary rate. Hold for a year and a day and it becomes long-term, taxed at the preferential 0/15/20% rates below — often less than half the tax. That's why waiting out the one-year mark can be worth thousands.
2026 long-term capital gains tax brackets
Long-term gains are taxed 0%, 15%, or 20% based on your total taxable income (the gain stacks on top of your other income and can straddle two bands). Short-term gains instead use the ordinary income brackets.
| Long-term rate | Single | Married filing jointly | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | Up to $49,450 | Up to $98,900 | Up to $66,200 |
| 15% | $49,450 – $545,500 | $98,900 – $613,700 | $66,200 – $579,600 |
| 20% | Over $545,500 | Over $613,700 | Over $579,600 |
State tax is extra and is estimated at your state's top marginal income-tax rate — most states tax capital gains as ordinary income.
Explore by holding period & asset
These pages pre-set the calculator and walk through the rules that apply:
- Long-term capital gains tax — held more than a year (0/15/20%).
- Short-term capital gains tax — held a year or less (ordinary rates).
- Capital gains tax rates 2026 — the full 0/15/20% bracket reference.
- Capital gains tax on real estate — including the $250k/$500k primary-residence exclusion.
- Capital gains tax on the sale of a home — the home-sale exclusion, step by step.
- Capital gains tax on stocks — shares, ETFs, and index funds.
Frequently asked questions
How is capital gains tax calculated?+
Your capital gain is the sale price minus your cost basis (what you paid, plus commissions and improvements). If you held the asset one year or less, the gain is short-term and taxed at your ordinary income-tax rate. If you held it more than a year, it's long-term and taxed at the lower 0%, 15%, or 20% rate based on your taxable income. High earners also owe the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax, and most states tax the gain too.
What's the difference between short-term and long-term capital gains?+
It's the holding period. Hold an asset for one year or less and the gain is short-term, taxed at the same rate as your salary (10%–37%). Hold it for more than a year — a year and a day — and it becomes long-term, taxed at just 0%, 15%, or 20%. That single extra day can cut the tax on a large gain by more than half, which is why timing a sale matters.
What are the 2026 long-term capital gains tax rates?+
For 2026, long-term gains are taxed at 0% while your taxable income (including the gain) stays under about $49,450 single / $98,900 married; 15% up to roughly $545,500 single / $613,700 married; and 20% above that. The rate applies band by band, so a gain can be split across the 0% and 15% brackets. These are projected 2026 breakpoints — verify against the final IRS figures.
What is the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT)?+
The NIIT is an extra 3.8% surtax on investment income — including capital gains — for higher earners. It applies to the smaller of your net investment income or the amount your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) exceeds $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly). So a gain that pushes you over the line is only partly hit, and it stacks on top of your 15% or 20% federal rate.
Do I pay state tax on capital gains?+
Usually, yes. Most states tax capital gains as ordinary income at their regular rates, so a big gain in California (up to 13.3%) or New York (up to ~10.9%) adds a lot on top of the federal tax. Nine states — Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wyoming, plus New Hampshire and Washington for most gains — have no such tax. Washington does levy a separate 7% tax on very large long-term gains.
What if I sold at a loss?+
A capital loss (sale price below your cost basis) isn't taxed — instead it works for you. You first use it to offset other capital gains, then up to $3,000 of ordinary income per year, and you carry any remaining loss forward to future years. This calculator flags a loss and applies no tax.
Is this the same as my final tax bill?+
It's a close estimate, not tax advice. The calculator uses 2026 brackets and thresholds and treats state tax as the state's top marginal rate, but your actual return can differ with deductions, other income, the alternative minimum tax, and asset-specific rules (collectibles, depreciation recapture, qualified small-business stock). Confirm with a tax professional before you rely on it.
This tool is an estimate, not tax advice. It uses projected 2026 brackets and thresholds and treats state tax as your state's top marginal rate; your actual tax can differ with deductions, other income, the AMT, and asset-specific rules (collectibles, depreciation recapture, QSBS). Consult a tax professional before you rely on it.