📈 Capital Gains Tax Calculator
Calculate the 2026 US federal tax on selling a stock, fund, crypto or property – long-term 0/15/20% rates vs. short-term ordinary rates, including the 3.8% NIIT.
Quick answer: Selling for $35,000 a stock bought for $20,000 gives a $15,000 gain; held over a year, a single filer with $75,000 of other income pays $2,250 (15%) in 2026 federal capital gains tax – versus $3,300 if held a year or less.
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Capital Gains Tax Calculator inputs
Result
Long-term capital gains tax
$2,250.00
15% of your $15,000.00 gain
| Sale price | $35,000.00 |
| Cost basis | −$20,000.00 |
| Capital gain | $15,000.00 |
| Federal tax at 0/15/20% rates | $2,250.00 |
| Net investment income tax (3.8%) | $0.00 |
| Total tax on the gain | $2,250.00 |
| You keep | $32,750.00 |
- Taxed at 0%
- $0
- Taxed at 15%
- $15,000
- Taxed at 20%
- $0
- Saved vs. short-term
- $1,050.00
2026 federal rates for single filers with the standard deduction. State tax and collectibles (28%) / real-estate depreciation recapture (25%) rates are not included.
Short-term vs. long-term
| Short-term (≤ 1 year) | Long-term (> 1 year) | |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,300.00 | $2,250.00 |
| NIIT (3.8%) | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Total tax | $3,300.00 | $2,250.00 |
| Effective rate on gain | 22% | 15% |
2026 long-term capital gains brackets – single
| Rate | Taxable income (including the gain) |
|---|---|
| 0% | up to $49,450 |
| 15% | $49,450 – $545,500 |
| 20% | over $545,500 |
| +3.8% NIIT | MAGI over $200,000 |
How to use the capital gains tax calculator
- Enter what you paid (your cost basis, including commissions) and what you sold for.
- Choose whether you held the asset more than one year.
- Enter your other income for the year and your filing status – the gain is stacked on top of it, which decides your rate.
The formula
Capital gain = Sale price − Cost basis
Short-term: tax = income tax on (other income + gain) − income tax on other income alone.
Long-term: the gain fills the 0%, 15% and 20% bands starting from where your ordinary taxable income ends.
NIIT = 3.8% × min(Gain, MAGI − threshold)
Worked example
A single filer earning $75,000 sells shares for $35,000 that cost $20,000 – a $15,000 gain. After the $16,100 standard deduction, ordinary taxable income is $58,900, already above the $49,450 top of the 0% band, so the whole gain is taxed at 15%: $2,250. Had the shares been held a year or less, the gain would be taxed at the 22% bracket rate: $3,300. Waiting saves $1,050. MAGI of $90,000 is below $200,000, so no NIIT applies.
2026 long-term capital gains tax rates
| Rate | Single | Married filing jointly | Head of household | Married filing separately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | up to $49,450 | up to $98,900 | up to $66,200 | up to $49,450 |
| 15% | $49,450 – $545,500 | $98,900 – $613,700 | $66,200 – $579,600 | $49,450 – $306,850 |
| 20% | over $545,500 | over $613,700 | over $579,600 | over $306,850 |
Thresholds are taxable income including the gain. Collectibles are taxed at up to 28% and unrecaptured real-estate depreciation at up to 25%, which this calculator does not model; nor does it include state tax.
Sources: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 §4.03 and IRS Topic No. 409 / 559 (irs.gov).
Estimates for educational purposes, not financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 2026 long-term capital gains tax brackets?
For 2026, long-term gains are taxed at 0% up to $49,450 of taxable income for single filers ($98,900 married filing jointly, $66,200 head of household), 15% up to $545,500 ($613,700 joint, $579,600 head of household) and 20% above that.
How are short-term capital gains taxed?
Gains on assets held one year or less are taxed as ordinary income at your regular 10%–37% bracket rates, stacked on top of your other income.
What is the 3.8% net investment income tax?
NIIT is an extra 3.8% on the smaller of your net investment income and the amount your MAGI exceeds $200,000 (single or head of household), $250,000 (married filing jointly) or $125,000 (married filing separately). These thresholds are not indexed for inflation.
How do I avoid or reduce capital gains tax?
Hold investments more than a year, harvest losses to offset gains, sell in a lower-income year to use the 0% bracket, give appreciated shares to charity, and use tax-advantaged accounts. Up to $250,000 ($500,000 joint) of gain on a main home is also excluded if you meet the 2-of-5-year rule.
Can capital losses reduce my taxes?
Yes. Losses offset gains first, then up to $3,000 a year ($1,500 married filing separately) of other income. Unused losses carry forward to future years.