Capital Gains Tax Calculator
Enter your other income and gains to estimate 2026 federal capital gains tax -- short-term at ordinary rates, long-term at 0/15/20%, plus the 3.8% NIIT where it applies.
Wages, etc., after deductions -- not including any gains.
Held one year or less; taxed at ordinary rates.
Held more than one year; taxed at 0/15/20%.
Interest, dividends, rental -- for the 3.8% NIIT.
For the NIIT threshold test.
Total tax
$20,512.00
Tax on ordinary income + ST gains
$14,512.00
Long-term capital gains tax
$6,000.00
Net Investment Income Tax (3.8%)
$0.00
| Long-term gains by rate | Amount | Tax |
|---|---|---|
| 0% | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 15% | $40,000.00 | $6,000.00 |
| 20% | $0.00 | $0.00 |
How it's calculated
Short-term gains are added to your other taxable income and run through the same bracket engine as the Tax Bracket Calculator. Long-term gains then stack on top:
LTCG rate tier = where (other taxable income + short-term gains) through (+ long-term gains) falls against the 0/15/20% thresholds
The 3.8% NIIT applies on top, to the smaller of your net investment income or the amount your MAGI exceeds the threshold for your filing status.
Worked example
The calculator's own defaults: a single filer with $90,000 of other taxable income and $40,000 of long-term gains.
| Tax on ordinary income (no short-term gains here) | $14,512.00 |
| Long-term gains taxed at 0% | $0.00 |
| Long-term gains taxed at 15% | $40,000.00 → $6,000.00 tax |
| Net Investment Income Tax | $0.00 |
| Total tax | $20,512.00 |
Because $90,000 of ordinary income already sits above the $49,450 0% ceiling for a single filer, the gain lands entirely in the 15% band here -- none of it reaches 20%. Plug the same numbers into the calculator above and it reconciles to the cent.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between short-term and long-term capital gains?
A gain on an asset held one year or less is short-term and taxed at your ordinary income tax rate, the same brackets as your wages. A gain on an asset held more than one year is long-term and taxed at the preferential 0%, 15% or 20% rates instead -- which is why holding an investment past the one-year mark, when possible, often matters more for tax purposes than the size of the gain itself.
How does the 0/15/20% long-term rate actually work?
Long-term gains "stack" on top of your other taxable income to determine which rate applies. If your ordinary income already fills up the 0% bracket, your gains start getting taxed at 15% right away; if your ordinary income alone exceeds the 15% ceiling, all your gains are taxed at 20%. It's not a cliff -- a gain that straddles a threshold is split, with each portion taxed at its own rate, exactly like the ordinary brackets.
What are the 2026 capital gains thresholds for single filers?
For 2026, single filers pay 0% on long-term gains up to $49,450 of total taxable income (including the gain), 15% up to $545,500, and 20% above that. Other filing statuses have different thresholds -- see the calculator above. Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 (2026 long-term capital gains thresholds).
What is the Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT)?
An additional 3.8% surtax on investment income (including capital gains) for higher earners -- it applies to the smaller of your net investment income or the amount your modified AGI exceeds $200,000 (single/head of household) or $250,000 (married filing jointly). These thresholds are fixed by statute and have not changed since the tax began in 2013.
Does this calculator include state capital gains tax?
No -- this covers federal tax only. Most states that tax income also tax capital gains, usually at the same rates as ordinary income, with no separate preferential rate the way the federal system has. Check your state's rules separately.
This is an estimate from the inputs you enter and the published rates above, not tax advice, and this site is not affiliated with the IRS, any state revenue department, or the Social Security Administration. Real tax bills involve credits, deductions and filing details this tool can't model -- see the Terms.