Finance category

Mortgage, loan, investing, tax, and money calculators.

Capital Gains Tax Calculator

Compute total capital gains tax on stocks, crypto, real estate, or other investments. Includes federal long-term/short-term, state, and the 3.8% NIIT for high-income filers.

Sale price (proceeds)

Adjusted cost basis

Held more than 1 year?

Federal capital gains rate

long-term: 0%, 15%, 20%

State capital gains rate

NIIT applies (income > threshold)?

Total capital gains tax

$9,200

20.0% of gain

Realized gain

$46,000

sale − basis

Federal + state + NIIT

$6,900 / $2,300 / $0

Net proceeds after tax

$78,800

How capital gains tax works

Long-term gains (held > 1 year) get preferential federal rates: 0%, 15%, or 20% based on income. State rates vary; NIIT adds 3.8% for high-income filers.

The federal long-term capital gains brackets for 2026: 0% up to $48,350 single ($96,700 joint); 15% up to $533,400 single ($600,050 joint); 20% above. Confirm your specific bracket.

Editorial noteMaintained by EveryCalc - Reviewed June 2026

EveryCalc calculators are designed for fast, practical estimates with transparent inputs and no required account. We use plain formulas, visible assumptions, and related tools so visitors can check the result from more than one angle.

Results are informational only. For financial, tax, legal, medical, construction, or other high-impact decisions, verify the output against primary sources or a qualified professional.

Learn more about our review process on the EveryCalc methodology page.

How this calculator works

What this page estimates

This Capital Gains Tax Calculator is built to give a quick, browser-based estimate for capital gains tax. Compute total capital gains tax on stocks, crypto, real estate, or other investments. Includes federal long-term/short-term, state, and the 3.8% NIIT for high-income filers. The inputs stay on the page during normal use, and the result should be treated as an estimate for planning, comparison, or education rather than professional advice.

Calculation approach

The calculator applies the standard relationship implied by the inputs, then formats the answer so it can be checked and reused. For finance tools, the most important step is using consistent units, rates, time periods, and assumptions before comparing the result with another calculator or outside quote.

Example workflow

For example, start with a realistic value you already know, change one input at a time, and watch how the answer moves. That makes it easier to tell whether the result is being driven by the main amount, the rate, the time period, or a unit conversion.

Practical checks

Use current, real-world numbers when the result affects money, health, tax, or legal decisions.
Run a low, base, and high case when the inputs are estimates.
Check the related calculators below when the next decision depends on a different assumption.

How to interpret the capital gains tax result

Best use

Use the result as a planning number for comparing payments, rates, returns, tax reserves, or cash-flow choices before you request a quote or make a commitment.

Cross-check

Compare the answer with the contract, lender estimate, tax form, brokerage statement, payroll record, or invoice that will control the real-world outcome.

Watch for

Do not rely on a single optimistic rate, return, or fee assumption. Money pages work best when you run low, base, and high cases and keep professional advice separate from the estimate.

This page belongs to the Finance calculator library, so the answer should be read in the context of the decision you are modeling rather than as a universal rule.

Before relying on this capital gains tax estimate

Most calculator mistakes come from the inputs, not the arithmetic. Use this short audit before you reuse the answer in a spreadsheet, quote, application, or important conversation.

Confirm source numbers

Match balances, rates, fees, taxes, income, and payment dates against the lender quote, payroll record, tax form, statement, invoice, or contract.

Separate cash flow from total cost

A lower monthly payment can still cost more over time if fees, interest, taxes, or a longer term are hidden in the structure.

Run conservative cases

Test at least one higher-cost or lower-return case before using the output for a purchase, refinance, investment, loan, or tax decision.

Rerun this page when the rate, price, term, fee, tax rule, income, expense, or expected holding period changes.

How to Use

Enter sale proceeds and adjusted cost basis.
Pick whether you held more than 1 year (long-term) or less (short-term, ordinary rates).
Enter your federal capital gains rate (0%, 15%, or 20% for long-term; ordinary rate for short-term).
Enter state rate (0% in WA/FL/TX/etc.; up to 13.3% in CA).
Toggle NIIT if your MAGI exceeds $200k single / $250k joint.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between long-term and short-term capital gains?

Long-term: held more than 1 year, taxed at 0/15/20% federal. Short-term: held ≤ 1 year, taxed as ordinary income (10–37% federal). The hold period is measured from the day after purchase to the sale date.

What is NIIT?

Net Investment Income Tax: 3.8% on net investment income for high-income filers (MAGI > $200k single / $250k joint). Applies on top of regular capital gains rates. Most high earners owe it on capital gains.

Do all states tax capital gains?

Most do. Notable exceptions: WA, FL, TX, NV, AK, SD, WY, NH, TN tax neither income nor capital gains as ordinary income (WA does have a high-end capital gains tax). CA taxes at top ordinary rate (up to 13.3%).

Can I offset gains with losses?

Yes — capital losses offset capital gains dollar-for-dollar within the same tax year. Excess losses can offset up to $3,000 of ordinary income per year, with carryforward for additional losses.