Capital Gains & Investment Tax Calculators (2026)
Investment returns are only meaningful after taxes. These free calculators estimate how much you actually keep from capital gains, cryptocurrency, and real estate sales — using 2026 federal tax rates. Long-term gains are taxed at 0%, 15%, or 20%. Short-term gains are taxed as ordinary income.
Jump to: Calculators · Capital gains rates · FAQs
Investment tax calculators (2026)
- Capital gains tax calculator Estimate tax on stocks, ETFs, or other asset sales — short-term vs long-term rates, with NIIT for high earners. Enter cost basis and sale price to see net proceeds.
- Crypto tax calculator Estimate tax on cryptocurrency trades, sales, and conversions — applies capital gains rates based on holding period. Covers Bitcoin, Ethereum, and all crypto assets.
- Home sale tax calculator Estimate capital gains tax on real estate after the $250k/$500k primary residence exclusion. Covers both primary homes and investment properties.
Capital gains tax rates for 2026
Long-term capital gains rates (assets held over 12 months)
| Filing Status | 0% Rate | 15% Rate | 20% Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | Up to $49,450 | $49,451 – $545,500 | Over $545,500 |
| Married Filing Jointly | Up to $98,900 | $98,901 – $613,700 | Over $613,700 |
| Head of Household | Up to $66,200 | $66,201 – $579,600 | Over $579,600 |
The 3.8% NIIT can apply when MAGI exceeds $200,000 for single/head-of-household filers or $250,000 for married filing jointly. It is calculated on the lesser of net investment income or the MAGI excess, so 23.8% is a possible combined top rate rather than an automatic rate on every long-term gain. See the IRS NIIT guidance.
Short-term vs long-term: tax comparison on a $50,000 gain
| Holding Period | Tax Treatment | Illustrative Rate | Tax on $50,000 Gain | After-Tax Proceeds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 12 months | Ordinary income (short-term) | 22% | ~$11,000 | ~$39,000 |
| Over 12 months | Long-term capital gains | 15% | ~$7,500 | ~$42,500 |
| Over 12 months (low income) | Long-term capital gains | 0% | $0 | $50,000 |
These are flat-rate illustrations. Actual long-term capital-gain tax uses taxable-income stacking, so a gain can span more than one rate band. The 2026 0%/15% thresholds above are published in IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32. Use the capital gains tax calculator for a simple scenario estimate.
Crypto tax rates (2026)
Cryptocurrency is treated as property by the IRS. The same capital gains rates apply: short-term crypto gains (held under 12 months) are taxed as ordinary income; long-term gains (held over 12 months) qualify for the 0%/15%/20% preferential rates. Receiving crypto as payment is generally income at fair market value, and mining or staking rewards can create ordinary income when the taxpayer has dominion and control. For 2026 broker sales, Form 1099-DA is also part of the reporting workflow; see the crypto tax calculator for current reporting details.
Home sale exclusion (2026)
A qualifying main-home seller can exclude up to $250,000 of gain, or up to $500,000 on a qualifying married joint return. Ownership, use, and look-back requirements apply, and a reduced exclusion may be available in certain qualifying circumstances. Use the home sale tax calculator to model the exclusion and review the eligibility rules.
Related calculators
- RSU tax calculator Estimate tax when RSUs vest — ordinary income at vesting, capital gains on subsequent appreciation
- Stock option tax calculator NSO vs ISO tax analysis — exercise and sale scenarios with capital gains breakdown
- Retirement withdrawal tax calculator Estimate taxes on IRA and 401k withdrawals — taxed as ordinary income, not capital gains
- Marginal vs effective tax rate How bracket stacking works — relevant for years with large capital gains events
Filing taxes with investment income?
Investment sales can involve Form 8949, Schedule D, Form 1099-B, Form 1099-DA, or special home-sale rules depending on the transaction. These tools can help with common filing workflows:
TurboTax↗ — can help with supported capital-gain, digital-asset, equity-compensation, and home-sale workflows
H&R Block↗ — file with a tax professional for complex investment or real estate situations
FreeTaxUSA↗ — supports Schedule D filing for many common capital-gain situations
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Investment tax: FAQs
What is the capital gains tax rate for 2026?
For 2026, long-term capital gains (assets held over 12 months) are taxed at 0%, 15%, or 20% depending on taxable income. Single filers pay 0% up to $49,450, 15% up to $545,500, and 20% above that. The 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) can also apply when MAGI exceeds $200,000 for single/head-of-household filers or $250,000 for married filing jointly; NIIT is based on the lesser of net investment income or the MAGI excess. Short-term gains (held 12 months or less) are taxed as ordinary income at your marginal rate (10%–37%). Use the capital gains tax calculator to estimate your specific tax.
What is the difference between short-term and long-term capital gains?
Short-term capital gains apply to assets sold within 12 months of purchase and are taxed as ordinary income at your marginal federal rate (10%–37%). Long-term capital gains apply to assets held over 12 months and are taxed at preferential rates of 0%, 15%, or 20%. Holding an asset for at least one year and one day before selling can significantly reduce the tax owed on the same gain — on a $50,000 gain at 22% marginal rate, switching from short-term to long-term saves approximately $3,500 in federal tax.
Do I pay tax on cryptocurrency gains?
Yes. The IRS treats cryptocurrency as property. Selling, trading, or converting crypto are taxable events subject to capital gains tax. Short-term crypto gains (held under 12 months) are taxed at ordinary income rates. Long-term gains (held over 12 months) qualify for the preferential 0%/15%/20% rates. Receiving crypto as payment is generally ordinary income at fair market value; mining or staking rewards can create ordinary income when you have dominion and control. Broker-reporting rules now also use Form 1099-DA for many digital-asset dispositions. Use the crypto tax calculator to estimate tax on any cryptocurrency transaction.
Is selling a home taxable?
Home sales may be partially or fully excluded from capital gains tax. Single filers can exclude up to $250,000 of gain; married filing jointly can exclude up to $500,000 when the Section 121 requirements are met. Ownership, use, and 2-year look-back rules apply, with additional spouse-level rules for the full $500,000 married-joint exclusion. Investment properties generally do not qualify unless the property meets the main-home rules for the relevant period. Use the home sale tax calculator to estimate your tax after exclusion.
What is the Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT)?
The Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) is 3.8% of the lesser of net investment income or the amount modified adjusted gross income exceeds the statutory threshold. The threshold is $200,000 for single/head-of-household filers and $250,000 for married filing jointly. Because NIIT can apply on top of a 20% long-term capital-gain rate, 23.8% is a possible combined top federal rate on affected gain.
How does tax-loss harvesting reduce investment taxes?
Tax-loss harvesting involves selling investments at a loss to offset capital gains from other sales in the same tax year. Losses first offset gains of the same type (short-term vs long-term), then gains of the other type, then a net capital loss can generally offset up to $3,000 of other income per year ($1,500 if married filing separately). Unused losses carry forward to future tax years. This strategy can significantly reduce your capital gains tax bill in years with large realized gains. TurboTax↗ imports Form 1099-B data and applies loss carryforwards automatically.