Capital Gains Tax Calculator (2026)
Estimate US capital gains tax from purchase price, sale price, holding period and tax rate.
United States Calculator
Adjust Your Inputs
Move the sliders or type exact numbers. Results update instantly.
Instant Estimate
Your Results
Capital Gain
$39,000
Based on your selected capital gains calculator assumptions. Try different sliders to compare scenarios.
Estimated Tax
$5,850
Net Gain After Tax
$33,150
These are planning estimates, not tax, legal or investment advice. Country rules, lender policies and tax rates can change.
How to Use the Capital Gains Calculator
Enter cost basis
Input original purchase price plus brokerage fees and reinvested dividends.
Enter gross sale proceeds
Input sale price minus selling commissions and transfer fees.
Apply capital gains tax rate
Select 0%, 15%, or 20% for long-term assets (>1 year) or ordinary income rates for short-term.
Formula & Calculation Methodology
Capital Gain = Sale Price - Cost Basis - Selling CostsThis calculator uses standard United States financial formulas, IRS thresholds, and amortization schedules. All results compute instantly in your browser with zero data stored or transmitted.
Calculation Examples & Scenarios
$40,000 Long-Term Stock Gain ($90,000 Salary)
$50,000 cost basis sold for $90,000 ($40,000 gain held over 1 year), 15% long-term capital gains rate.
$10,000 Short-Term Crypto Trade (Held Under 1 Year)
$10,000 short-term profit taxed as ordinary income at 24% marginal bracket.
Key Benefits
- Exposes the dramatic tax savings of holding investments for more than 1 year
- Models the 0%, 15%, and 20% federal long-term capital gains tax brackets
- Assists with tax-loss harvesting calculations to offset investment gains
Common Use Cases
- Investors rebalancing taxable brokerage portfolios or selling index funds
- Cryptocurrency traders calculating tax liabilities on coin-to-coin or fiat disposals
- Homeowners evaluating capital gains exclusions on second homes or rental properties
Short-Term vs. Long-Term Capital Gains Tax Rates (2026)
Assets held for one year or less are classified as short-term capital gains and taxed at your regular federal income tax bracket (up to 37%). Assets held for more than one year qualify for preferential long-term capital gains rates: 0%, 15%, or 20%, depending on your taxable income.
Single filers earning up to approximately $48,350 and married couples earning up to $96,700 pay 0% federal capital gains tax on long-term holdings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Assets held for one year or less are short-term gains, taxed at ordinary federal income tax rates (up to 37%). Assets held for more than one year qualify for lower long-term preferential rates of 0%, 15%, or 20%.
For 2026, single filers pay 0% on long-term gains up to ~$48,350; 15% on gains between ~$48,350 and ~$533,400; and 20% on taxable gains exceeding ~$533,400.
The 3.8% NIIT applies to net investment income (including capital gains, dividends, and rental income) for single filers with MAGI over $200,000 or married couples over $250,000.
Capital losses can offset capital gains dollar-for-dollar. If your net losses exceed capital gains, you can deduct up to $3,000 against ordinary income per year, carrying excess losses forward indefinitely.
Under Section 121, homeowners can exclude up to $250,000 (single) or $500,000 (married filing jointly) of capital gains from the sale of their primary home if they lived in it for at least 2 of the prior 5 years.
Related United States Calculators
AMT Calculator
Estimate alternative minimum tax exposure from regular tax, AMTI and exemption assumptions.
Bonus Tax Calculator
Estimate bonus withholding using a supplemental federal withholding rate, FICA and state tax.
California Paycheck
Calculate net California take-home pay after federal taxes, FICA, California progressive state tax, and SDI.
Estate Tax Calculator
Estimate federal estate tax exposure after exemption, deductions and taxable estate value.
Federal Tax Calculator
Estimate US federal income tax using filing status, income and deductions.
FICA Calculator
Estimate employee FICA tax for Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes.
Florida Paycheck
Calculate net Florida take-home pay with 0% state income tax, federal tax withholdings, and FICA.
Freelance Tax Calculator
Estimate freelance taxes after business expenses, self-employment tax and income tax reserve.