Capital Gains Tax Calculator
Estimate US federal tax on a capital gain for 2026, and compare long-term and short-term results.
Results
| Item | Value |
|---|
Quick Answer
Long-term gains on assets held over a year are taxed at 0%, 15% or 20%. For 2026, a single filer pays 0% up to $49,450 of taxable income, 15% up to $545,500, and 20% above that. With $60,000 of taxable income, a $20,000 long-term gain costs $3,000 in federal tax.
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Table of Contents
How This Capital Gains Tax Calculator Works
A capital gain is the profit from selling an asset for more than you paid. Long-term gains stack on top of your other taxable income, so part of a gain can fall into one rate and the rest into another. This calculator splits the gain across each rate.
Quick explanation: tax = gain at 0% + gain at 15% + gain at 20%.
- Taxable income: your income after deductions, before this gain.
- Long-term: held for more than one year.
- Short-term: held for one year or less, taxed as ordinary income.
2026 Thresholds and Formulas
| Filing status | 0% up to | 15% up to |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $49,450 | $545,500 |
| Married filing jointly | $98,900 | $613,700 |
| Married filing separately | $49,450 | $306,850 |
| Head of household | $66,200 | $579,600 |
Income above the 15% limit is taxed at 20%. The gain sits on top of your other taxable income when these limits are applied.
Worked Example
A married couple filing jointly has $80,000 of taxable income and a $40,000 long-term gain.
- $18,900 fills the space up to $98,900, taxed at 0%
- The other $21,100 is taxed at 15%, which is $3,165
- Total long-term tax = $3,165
What This Estimate Leaves Out
- State tax: many states also tax capital gains.
- Net investment income tax: this can apply at higher incomes.
- Losses: capital losses can offset gains.
- Special rules: collectibles, some real estate gains and home sales have their own rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Long-term rates are 0%, 15% and 20%, depending on your taxable income and filing status.
More than one year. Assets held for one year or less are short-term.
They are taxed as ordinary income, at your normal tax rates.
Yes, on the part of your gain that falls under the 0% limit. For a single filer in 2026, that limit is $49,450 of taxable income.
No. It estimates federal tax only.
References & Sources
| Source | Used For | Link |
|---|---|---|
| IRS, Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (Internal Revenue Bulletin 2025-45) | 2026 capital gains thresholds. | https://www.irs.gov/irb/2025-45_IRB |
| IRS, Topic no. 409, Capital gains and losses | Long-term and short-term rules. | https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc409 |