Capital Gains Tax Calculator

Estimate the federal tax on selling an investment, using 2026 long-term and short-term rates.

By the CalculateBright team · Updated · How we calculate

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    How to use the Capital Gains Tax calculator

    1. Enter your numbers. Fill in purchase price, sale price, held for, other income, filing status.
    2. Read your results. Results update instantly. The headline shows the estimated federal tax on this gain; the breakdown and table below show the details.

    Short-term vs. long-term

    Gains on assets held one year or less are short-term and taxed as ordinary income at your bracket rate. Assets held more than one year get the lower long-term rates of 0%, 15% or 20%.

    2026 long-term capital gains brackets

    Based on taxable income (Rev. Proc. 2025-32):

    • Single: 0% up to $49,450; 15% to $545,500; 20% above.
    • Married filing jointly: 0% up to $98,900; 15% to $613,700; 20% above.
    • Head of household: 0% up to $66,200; 15% to $579,600; 20% above.
    Gains are stacked on top of your other taxable income; each slice is taxed at the rate for its bracket.

    Net investment income tax

    An extra 3.8% applies to the smaller of your investment income or the amount your modified AGI exceeds $200,000 (single/HOH) or $250,000 (joint). These thresholds aren’t indexed for inflation.

    Home sales

    Up to $250,000 of gain ($500,000 joint) on a primary home you owned and lived in for 2 of the last 5 years is excluded. Subtract it before entering your gain.

    Worked example

    With these inputs: purchase price (cost basis) $20,000; sale price $35,000; held for More than 1 year; other income (wages etc.) $85,000; filing status Single.

    The calculator gives an estimated federal tax on this gain of $2,250 (15.0% of the $15,000 gain). Other results: gain $15,000, long-term rate(s) applied $2,250, NIIT (3.8%) $0, after-tax profit $12,750.

    What your results mean

    The estimate is the extra federal tax caused by this sale, given your other income. The effective rate shows the share of your gain that goes to federal tax.

    Tips

    • Check purchase dates: one extra day can turn short-term into long-term.
    • Use losses elsewhere in your portfolio to offset gains.
    • Remember state income tax, which most states apply to capital gains.

    Frequently asked questions

    What is the capital gains tax rate for 2026?

    0%, 15% or 20% for long-term gains depending on taxable income; short-term gains use ordinary rates up to 37%.

    How much tax on a $10,000 long-term gain?

    For single filers whose taxable income stays between $49,450 and $545,500, 15% ($1,500).

    How can I reduce capital gains tax?

    Hold over a year, harvest losses to offset gains, give appreciated stock to charity, or realize gains in low-income years when the 0% rate applies.

    Do capital losses help?

    Losses offset gains first, then up to $3,000 of ordinary income a year; the rest carries forward.

    Is crypto taxed the same way?

    Yes. The IRS treats digital assets as property, so selling or spending them triggers capital gains or losses.

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