Capital Gains Tax Calculator: Estimate Your 2026 Tax
Estimate the federal tax on selling stocks, funds or crypto in 2026, see how much of the gain falls into the 0%, 15% and 20% brackets and when the 3.8% net investment income tax applies.
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Key takeaways
- Gains on assets held more than one year are taxed at 0%, 15% or 20%; gains on assets held one year or less are taxed as ordinary income at up to 37%.
- In 2026 the 0% rate applies to taxable income up to $49,450 for single filers and $98,900 for married couples filing jointly.
- Long-term gains stack on top of your other taxable income, so one sale can be taxed partly at 0% and partly at 15%.
- Higher earners may also owe the 3.8% net investment income tax above $200,000 of income ($250,000 for joint filers).
When you sell an investment for more than you paid, the profit is a capital gain, and how much tax you owe depends on how long you held it, your other income and your filing status. This capital gains tax calculator estimates the 2026 federal tax on a single sale of stocks, ETFs, mutual funds or crypto. It shows which rates apply to which part of the gain, adds the net investment income tax if it applies and, for short-term gains, how much waiting would save.
Capital gains tax calculator
2026 federal rates only. The net investment income tax check uses taxable income plus the standard deduction as an approximation of MAGI. Collectibles, real estate depreciation recapture and state taxes are not included.
Short-term vs. long-term capital gains
The holding period starts the day after you buy and includes the day you sell. Hold for more than one year and the gain is long-term; one year or less and it is short-term.
| Short-term | Long-term | |
|---|---|---|
| Holding period | One year or less | More than one year |
| Tax rates | Your ordinary income rate, 10% to 37% | 0%, 15% or 20% |
| Where it is reported | Form 8949 and Schedule D of Form 1040 | |
Some long-term gains have special maximum rates: gains on collectibles such as coins and art can be taxed at up to 28%, and the part of a real estate gain that reflects earlier depreciation at up to 25%. The calculator does not cover those cases.
2026 long-term capital gains brackets
The brackets apply to taxable income including the gain, after deductions.
| 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 |
| Married filing separately | $49,450 | $306,850 | $306,850 |
How the gain stacks on your income
Your ordinary income fills the brackets first; the long-term gain sits on top. Only the part of the gain that lands above a threshold is taxed at the higher rate. Four 2026 examples for single filers:
| Other taxable income | Long-term gain | How it is taxed | Federal tax on the gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $5,000 | All at 0% (total stays under $49,450) | $0 |
| $30,000 | $20,000 | $19,450 at 0%, $550 at 15% | $82.50 |
| $60,000 | $5,000 | All at 15% | $750 |
| $500,000 | $50,000 | $45,500 at 15%, $4,500 at 20%, plus 3.8% NIIT | $9,625 |
If the $5,000 gain at $60,000 of income were short-term instead, it would be taxed at the 22% ordinary rate: $1,100 instead of $750.
The 3.8% net investment income tax
The net investment income tax (NIIT) adds 3.8% on the smaller of your net investment income or the amount by which your modified adjusted gross income exceeds $200,000 (single and head of household), $250,000 (married filing jointly) or $125,000 (married filing separately). These thresholds are fixed in law and not adjusted for inflation. Example: a married couple with $200,000 of taxable income who realize a $100,000 long-term gain owe $15,000 at 15%, plus NIIT of about $3,124, because their income including the standard deduction ends up about $82,200 over the threshold.
Capital losses
If you sell for less than your cost basis, the loss first offsets capital gains of the same year. If losses exceed gains, up to $3,000 a year ($1,500 if married filing separately) can reduce your ordinary income, and the rest carries forward to future years with no time limit. Selling losing positions on purpose to offset gains is called tax-loss harvesting. Watch the wash sale rule: if you buy the same or a substantially identical security within 30 days before or after the sale, the loss is disallowed for now and added to the basis of the new shares.
Cost basis: the number that decides your gain
Your gain is the sale price minus the cost basis, which is what you paid plus commissions and other purchase costs. Reinvested dividends add to the basis because you already paid tax on them; forgetting them means paying tax twice. Brokers report basis on Form 1099-B for shares bought since 2011. For inherited assets, the basis is generally the value on the date of death, and for gifts, usually the giver's basis.
Ways to reduce capital gains tax legally
- Hold for more than a year to qualify for the lower long-term rates.
- Use the 0% bracket. In a low-income year, such as early retirement or a career break, you may be able to realize gains tax-free at the federal level.
- Harvest losses to offset gains, within the wash sale rules.
- Invest through tax-advantaged accounts. Sales inside a 401(k) or IRA are not taxed; see 401(k) vs. Roth IRA.
- Donate appreciated shares held more than a year to charity instead of cash, which can avoid the gain entirely if you itemize.
- Sell your home under the exclusion. Up to $250,000 of gain ($500,000 for married couples) on a main home you owned and lived in for two of the last five years is excluded.
Crypto, funds and state taxes
The IRS treats cryptocurrency as property, so the same short-term and long-term rules apply when you sell, trade or spend it; see Bitcoin taxes explained. Mutual funds can pass capital gains distributions to you even if you did not sell, one reason ETFs are often more tax-efficient, as explained in ETF vs. mutual fund. Most states tax capital gains as regular income, a few have no income tax, and some have special rules, so add your state on top of this federal estimate.
Frequently asked questions
How much tax will I pay on a $10,000 capital gain?
It depends on your income and holding period. A single filer with $60,000 of other taxable income would owe $1,500 on a long-term gain (15%) or $2,200 on a short-term gain (22%). With $30,000 of other income, most of a long-term gain would fall into the 0% bracket.
Do I pay capital gains tax if I reinvest the money?
Yes. Selling triggers the tax even if you buy something else right away. Only sales inside retirement accounts and a few special cases, such as like-kind exchanges of real estate, defer the tax.
What is the capital gains tax rate for 2026?
0%, 15% or 20% for long-term gains, depending on taxable income, and ordinary income rates of 10% to 37% for short-term gains, plus the 3.8% NIIT for higher earners.
When is capital gains tax paid?
On your annual return for the year of the sale. Large gains can require quarterly estimated payments to avoid an underpayment penalty; see quarterly estimated taxes.
Are capital gains added to my income and pushing me into a higher bracket?
Long-term gains are added on top of your ordinary income for determining their rate, but they do not change the tax rate on your wages. Short-term gains are taxed exactly like wages.
