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Capital Gains Tax Calculator
Your sale
Other taxable income is your taxable income before this gain — income after deductions, not counting the gain. Short-term gains are taxed as ordinary income, so use the marginal rate from your tax bracket (find it on your last return or a tax-bracket table). This is a federal estimate only; state tax is extra.
Example: single filer, $80,000 of other taxable income and a $50,000 long-term gain → $7,500 tax at 15%, keeping $42,500. The same gain held one year or less at a 22% marginal rate would cost $11,000.
Behind the numbers
How capital gains tax is calculated
Your gain sits on top of your other taxable income. The part of the gain that keeps your total taxable income inside the 0% band is taxed at 0%, the part up to the 15% ceiling is taxed at 15%, and anything above that is taxed at 20%. That is why two people with the same gain can owe very different amounts: the rate depends on your total income, not just the size of the gain.
Single filer, $80,000 of other taxable income, $50,000 long-term gain: the other income already fills the 0% band (up to $49,450), so the whole $50,000 gain falls in the 15% band — $50,000 × 15% = $7,500. Total taxable income is $130,000.
2026 long-term rates used
| Filing status | 0% rate up to | 15% rate up to | 20% rate above |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | $49,450 | $545,500 | $545,500 |
| Married filing jointly | $98,900 | $613,700 | $613,700 |
| Head of household | $66,200 | $579,600 | $579,600 |
Thresholds are taxable income (after deductions) for tax year 2026, from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32, section 4.03. The 3.8% net investment income tax, which can apply when modified adjusted gross income is above $200,000 ($250,000 for married couples filing jointly), is not included in this estimate.
A few comparisons
Example tax bills
| Situation | Gain | Tax |
|---|---|---|
| Single, $30,000 other income, long-term gain | $15,000 | $0 |
| Single, $80,000 other income, long-term gain | $50,000 | $7,500 |
| Single, $40,000 other income, long-term gain | $20,000 | $1,583 |
| Single, $80,000 other income, short-term gain at 22% | $50,000 | $11,000 |
Tips before you sell
Holding an asset for more than one year is what unlocks the 0%, 15% and 20% rates — sell a day early and the whole gain is taxed as ordinary income.
If your total taxable income stays under the 0% threshold, a long-term gain can be tax-free at the federal level — the first row in the examples table owes $0.
Losses offset gains: a capital loss from another sale reduces the gain taxed here, and up to $3,000 of net loss a year can offset ordinary income.
Remember state tax: most states tax capital gains as ordinary income, so add your state rate on top of the federal figure shown here.
Good to know
Capital gains questions, answered.
What is the difference between long-term and short-term capital gains?
A gain is long-term if you held the asset for more than one year before selling it; it is taxed at the preferential federal rates of 0%, 15% or 20%. A gain on an asset held one year or less is short-term and is taxed as ordinary income, at your regular marginal tax rate.
What are the 2026 long-term capital gains rates?
For tax year 2026, the 0% rate covers taxable income up to $49,450 for single filers, $98,900 for married couples filing jointly and $66,200 for heads of household. The 15% rate runs up to $545,500 single, $613,700 married filing jointly and $579,600 head of household, and the 20% rate applies above those amounts. The thresholds come from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32, section 4.03.
Does this include state tax?
No. This calculator estimates federal tax only. Most states tax capital gains as ordinary income at the state rate, so state tax is extra — check your state’s rules or add it separately.
Is this tax advice?
No. This is an estimate for planning only, based on the 2026 federal thresholds. It does not include the 3.8% net investment income tax, losses, carryovers or the special rates for collectibles and unrecaptured section 1250 gains. A tax professional can confirm your exact bill.