Capital Gains Tax Calculator: After-Tax Investment Profit (2026)
Estimate how much capital gains tax you owe and how much profit you keep after tax when selling stocks, cryptocurrency, real estate, or other investments. Long-term gains (held over 12 months): 0%, 15%, or 20%. Short-term gains (held 12 months or less): taxed as ordinary income at 10–37%.
On this page: Calculator · 2026 capital gains rates · How it works · FAQs
Capital gains tax calculator
Enter your cost basis, sale price, and estimated capital gains tax rate to see your gain, estimated tax, and after-tax profit.
Long-term rate (held 12+ months): 0%, 15%, or 20% depending on income. Short-term rate (held under 12 months): your marginal income tax rate (10–37%). High earners add 3.8% NIIT above $200k single / $250k married. See the rate table below if unsure which rate to use.
Total capital gain: $
Capital gains tax: $
After-tax profit: $
Effective tax rate: %
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 $48,350 | $48,351–$533,400 | Over $533,400 |
| Married Filing Jointly | Up to $96,700 | $96,701–$600,050 | Over $600,050 |
| Head of Household | Up to $64,750 | $64,751–$566,700 | Over $566,700 |
High earners also owe 3.8% NIIT (Net Investment Income Tax) on investment income above $200,000 single / $250,000 married. Maximum effective long-term rate: 23.8%. Short-term gains are taxed at your ordinary income marginal rate: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, or 37%.
Short-term vs long-term: tax impact on a $15,000 gain
| Holding Period | Tax Treatment | Rate (Single, $75k total income) | 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 |
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 — same capital gains rates apply; wash-sale rule does NOT currently apply to crypto; trading one crypto for another is a taxable event
- 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; depreciation recapture at 25% also applies
- 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?
Capital gains require Form 8949 and Schedule D. These tools handle investment tax reporting automatically:
- TurboTax — imports brokerage transactions and generates Form 8949 automatically
- H&R Block — file with a tax professional for complex investment or real estate situations
- FreeTaxUSA — handles Schedule D capital gains at low cost
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Related calculators
- Crypto tax calculator Estimate capital gains tax on cryptocurrency — same rates, no wash-sale rule
- 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 $48,350, 15% up to $533,400, and 20% above that. Short-term gains (held 12 months or less) are taxed as ordinary income at your marginal rate (10–37%). High earners above $200,000 (single) also owe the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) on investment income — bringing the maximum effective long-term rate to 23.8%.
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, but primary residences qualify for an exclusion. Single filers can exclude up to $250,000 of gain; married filing jointly can exclude up to $500,000 — if the home was your primary residence for at least 2 of the last 5 years. Gain above the exclusion is taxed at long-term rates. Investment properties do not qualify for the exclusion and also face depreciation recapture tax at 25%. Use the home sale tax calculator for real estate-specific estimates.
Can capital losses offset capital gains?
Yes. Capital losses offset capital gains of the same type first (short-term vs long-term), then gains of the other type, then up to $3,000 of ordinary income per year. Unused losses carry forward indefinitely. This strategy — selling losing positions to offset gains — is called tax-loss harvesting. Unlike stocks, cryptocurrency is not subject to the wash-sale rule, so you can sell crypto at a loss and immediately repurchase the same asset.
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.