Capital Gains Tax Calculator: After-Tax Profit (2026)
Estimate capital gain, a simplified federal tax amount, and after-tax gain when selling stocks, cryptocurrency, real estate, or other investments. Long-term gains held more than one year can fall into the 0%, 15%, or 20% federal rate bands; short-term gains are taxed at ordinary-income rates.
On this page: Calculator · 2026 capital gains rates · How it works · FAQs
Capital gains tax calculator
Enter adjusted cost basis, net sale proceeds, and an estimated federal tax rate to model your gain, estimated tax, and gain after tax.
This is a flat-rate planning estimate. Long-term gains held more than one year use 0%, 15%, or 20% rate bands, while short-term gains use ordinary-income rates. The 3.8% NIIT, when applicable, is based on the lesser of net investment income or MAGI above the statutory threshold — not automatically on every dollar of gain.
Total capital gain: $
Capital gains tax: $
After-tax profit: $
Effective tax rate: %
Have multiple investment sales to report? TurboTax↗ can help prepare supported brokerage transactions and Form 8949.
Capital gains tax rates for 2026
Long-term capital gains rates (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 |
For individuals, the 3.8% NIIT applies to the lesser of net investment income or the amount MAGI exceeds $200,000 for single/head-of-household filers or $250,000 for married filing jointly. The thresholds are not indexed for inflation. Short-term gains use ordinary-income rates. See the IRS NIIT guidance.
Illustrative short-term vs long-term tax on a $15,000 gain
| Holding Period | Tax Treatment | Illustrative Rate | Tax on $15,000 Gain | After-Tax Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 12 months | Ordinary income (short-term) | 22% | $3,300 | $11,700 |
| Over 12 months | Long-term capital gains | 15% | $2,250 | $12,750 |
| Over 12 months (low income) | Long-term capital gains | 0% | $0 | $15,000 |
These rows are flat-rate illustrations, not a tax-return calculation. Long-term capital gains stack on top of other taxable income, so one gain can cross the 0%, 15%, and 20% boundaries rather than being taxed entirely at one rate. The 2026 thresholds above come from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.
How capital gains tax is calculated
This calculator determines your capital gain by subtracting your cost basis (purchase price plus any transaction fees) from your sale price, then applies your estimated capital gains tax rate:
- Capital gain = Sale price − Cost basis
- Tax owed = Capital gain × Tax rate
- After-tax profit = Capital gain − Tax owed
Transaction fees paid at purchase or sale can be added to your cost basis or subtracted from sale proceeds, reducing your taxable gain. For example, if you bought for $20,000 plus $100 in fees, your cost basis is $20,100.
Asset-specific notes
- Stocks and ETFs — standard short/long-term rules apply; wash-sale rule prevents claiming losses on repurchased identical securities within 30 days
- Cryptocurrency — the same general capital-gain holding-period rules apply. Most ordinary cryptocurrency is not stock or securities for Section 1091 wash-sale purposes, but some digital assets (such as tokenized securities treated as stock/securities) can be subject to wash-sale reporting; trading one crypto asset for another is generally a taxable disposal
- Real estate (primary home) — $250,000 exclusion for single filers / $500,000 for married filing jointly if home was primary residence 2 of last 5 years; use the home sale tax calculator
- Investment property — no exclusion; gain is fully taxable; unrecaptured Section 1250 gain can be taxed at a maximum 25% rate and other depreciation rules can also apply
- RSUs and stock options — vest-date value already taxed as ordinary income; only appreciation above that is a capital gain; see the RSU tax calculator
Filing taxes with investment gains?
Many investment sales are reported on Form 8949 and summarized on Schedule D, although IRS rules allow some transactions to be reported directly on Schedule D. These tools can help with common filing workflows:
TurboTax↗ — can import supported brokerage transactions and help prepare Form 8949
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.
Related calculators
- Crypto tax calculator Estimate tax on cryptocurrency sales and trades, including current digital-asset reporting rules
- Home sale tax calculator Estimate capital gains tax on real estate after the $250k/$500k primary residence exclusion
- RSU tax calculator Estimate capital gains on RSU shares held after vesting — cost basis = vest-date FMV
- Stock option tax calculator Estimate capital gains on ISO and NSO shares after exercise
- Marginal vs effective tax rate How capital gains stack with ordinary income to determine your bracket
Capital gains tax calculator: FAQs
How do I calculate capital gains tax?
Capital gains tax = (sale price minus cost basis) × applicable tax rate. First determine your gain: sale price minus purchase price (cost basis, including fees). Then apply the rate: long-term rate (0%, 15%, or 20%) if held over 12 months, or your ordinary income rate (10–37%) if held 12 months or less. Example: bought at $20,000, sold at $35,000 = $15,000 gain. At 15% long-term rate: $2,250 tax, $12,750 after-tax profit.
What is the capital gains tax rate for 2026?
For 2026, long-term capital gains rates are 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. Short-term gains (held 12 months or less) are taxed as ordinary income at your marginal rate (10–37%). 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 calculated on the lesser of net investment income or MAGI above the threshold, so it is not automatically 3.8% of the full gain.
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 (10–37%). Long-term capital gains apply to assets held over 12 months and are taxed at 0%, 15%, or 20%. Holding an asset for at least one year and one day before selling qualifies it for the lower long-term rate — on a $10,000 gain at 22% vs 15%, this saves $700 in federal tax. On a $100,000 gain at 37% vs 20%, the savings are $17,000.
Does this calculator work for stocks and crypto?
Yes. This calculator works for any investment asset — stocks, ETFs, cryptocurrency, real estate, and other taxable investments. Enter the appropriate tax rate based on your holding period and income level. For crypto-specific guidance including wash-sale rules and taxable event types, use the crypto tax calculator.
Does capital gains tax apply to real estate?
Yes. A qualifying main-home sale can exclude up to $250,000 of gain, or up to $500,000 on a qualifying married joint return, under Section 121. Ownership, use, and look-back rules apply. Gain that is not excluded can be taxable, and investment/rental real estate can also have unrecaptured Section 1250 gain taxed at a maximum 25% rate plus other depreciation rules. Use the home sale tax calculator for real-estate-specific guidance.
Can capital losses offset capital gains?
Yes. Short-term and long-term gains and losses are netted under Schedule D rules. If total capital losses exceed total capital gains, individuals can generally deduct up to $3,000 of net capital loss against other income each year ($1,500 if married filing separately), with unused losses carried forward. Wash-sale rules clearly apply to stock and securities; for digital assets, treatment depends on whether the asset is stock or securities for tax purposes.
Is this calculator tax or financial advice?
No. This tool provides general estimates for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, legal, or financial advice. Consult a tax professional for advice specific to your investment situation.