Capital Gains Tax Calculator (2026)
Sold an investment? How it is taxed depends on how long you held it. This tool estimates the 2026 federal tax on your gain — long-term at the 0/15/20% rates, short-term at your ordinary rate — and adds the 3.8% net investment income tax where it applies. Estimate only, not tax advice.
| Capital gains tax | — |
| Net investment income tax (3.8%) | — |
| Effective rate on the gain | — |
| Gain kept after federal tax | — |
2026 federal estimate only. Excludes state tax and any effect of the gain on other credits/phase-outs. Long-term rates depend on total taxable income. Not tax advice.
Quick answer: Long-term gains (held over a year) are taxed at 0%, 15%, or 20% based on your total taxable income — for a single filer, 0% under $49,450, 15% up to $545,500, and 20% above. Short-term gains (held a year or less) are taxed as ordinary income at your regular bracket, up to 37%.
Short-term vs long-term (2026)
Held ≤ 1 year → ordinary rates. Held > 1 year → 0%, 15%, or 20%.
The single biggest factor in what you owe on an investment gain is how long you held it:
- Short-term (one year or less) is taxed as ordinary income — the same brackets as your salary, up to 37%.
- Long-term (more than one year) gets the preferential rates: 0%, 15%, or 20%, depending on your total taxable income. This is why holding just past the one-year mark can dramatically cut the tax.
For 2026, a single filer pays 0% on long-term gains while total taxable income stays under $49,450, 15% up to $545,500, and 20% above that. For married-filing-jointly the breakpoints are $98,900 and $613,700. Crucially, the gain stacks on top of your other income to decide which rate applies — a large gain can push part of itself into the next rate.
The extra 3.8% many people miss
High earners also owe the Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT): an extra 3.8% on investment income once your modified AGI passes $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly). It stacks on top of the capital-gains rate, so a 15% gain can effectively cost 18.8%, and a 20% gain 23.8%. These NIIT thresholds are fixed in law and not adjusted for inflation.
What this excludes
This is a federal estimate. It does not include state capital-gains tax (which varies a lot), the interaction of a big gain with credits and phase-outs, the special rules for collectibles or real-estate depreciation recapture, or the qualified-dividend treatment. Use it to ballpark the federal bite, then confirm specifics for your situation.
Work out the gain itself on the stock profit calculator, and see the income-tax side on the tax refund estimator.
Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 (2026 brackets and capital-gains breakpoints); NIIT under IRC §1411. Update the constants each January.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital gains tax rate for 2026?
Long-term gains (held over a year) are taxed at 0%, 15%, or 20% based on your total taxable income — for a single filer, 0% under $49,450, 15% up to $545,500, and 20% above. Short-term gains (held a year or less) are taxed as ordinary income at your regular bracket, up to 37%.
How do I avoid or reduce capital gains tax?
The most common lever is holding an investment more than a year so it qualifies for the lower long-term rates instead of ordinary rates. Other approaches include harvesting losses to offset gains and keeping taxable income within the 0% long-term band. This tool estimates the tax so you can compare scenarios; it is not personal tax advice.
What is the net investment income tax?
It is an extra 3.8% tax on investment income (including capital gains) once your modified AGI exceeds $200,000 single or $250,000 married filing jointly. It is added on top of the regular capital-gains rate and its thresholds are not indexed for inflation.
Does this include state taxes?
No — it is a federal estimate only. State capital-gains taxes vary widely, from zero in some states to over 10% in others. Add your state rate separately for a full picture.
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Last updated: 2026-07-11