📈 Capital Gains Tax Calculator
Compare short-term vs. long-term capital gains tax using official 2026 IRS rates.
How Capital Gains Stack on Your Income
Long-term capital gains don't have their own separate tax bracket in isolation — they "stack" on top of your other taxable income. Your ordinary income fills up the brackets first, and then the capital gain is taxed starting from wherever that income leaves off. This means a gain can span more than one rate: part taxed at 0%, part at 15%, for example, depending on where the boundary falls.
2026 Long-Term Capital Gains Rate Thresholds
0% rate up to $49,450 taxable income (single) / $98,900 (married filing jointly); 15% rate up to $545,500 (single) / $613,700 (MFJ); 20% above that. Short-term gains are simply taxed as ordinary income at your regular federal bracket (10%-37%).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this include state tax?
No — this calculator shows federal tax only. Many states also tax capital gains, often at the same rate as
ordinary income, which would be an additional amount on top of what's shown here.
What counts as a "capital asset"?
Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, real estate (beyond certain primary-residence exclusions), and other investment
or property types generally qualify. Different rules can apply to specific asset classes (e.g. collectibles,
qualified small business stock) — this calculator uses the standard rates and does not model those exceptions.
Guide: understanding your result
- Assets held more than one year get long-term rates of 0%, 15% or 20%; gains on assets held one year or less are taxed as ordinary income.
- Higher earners may also owe the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (joint).
- Your gain is the sale price minus your cost basis (purchase price plus certain costs).
Worked example
Buying shares for $10,000 and selling them for $16,000 creates a $6,000 gain. Held over a year by a single filer whose taxable income stays below $49,450, the federal rate on that gain is 0%; in the 15% band it is $900.
2026 long-term capital gains thresholds (taxable income)
| Filing status | 15% rate starts at | 20% rate starts at |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $49,450 | $545,500 |
| Married filing jointly | $98,900 | $613,700 |
| Head of household | $66,200 | $579,600 |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Forgetting reinvested dividends when calculating cost basis, which overstates the gain.
- Selling a few days before the one-year mark and paying ordinary rates.
Official sources
Examples are calculated live from the same data the calculator uses and are for education only — they are not financial, tax or investment advice.
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