Capital Gains Tax Calculator 2026
Enter your ordinary income and capital gains to estimate your 2026 federal capital gains tax, including short-term and long-term rates.
Assumes standard deduction of $16,100. Federal tax only; excludes state taxes.
2026 Capital Gains Tax Estimate
Total Tax on Capital Gains
$3,000
Effective rate: 15.0% · Net after tax: $17,000
Short-Term Tax
—
No ST gains entered
Long-Term Tax
$3,000
15% LTCG rate
Net Investment Tax
—
Below NIIT threshold
Net After-Tax Gains
$17,000
of $20,000 total
How Capital Gains Tax Works in 2026
When you sell a capital asset — stocks, bonds, real estate, or cryptocurrency — for more than you paid, the profit is a capital gain and is subject to federal tax. How much you owe depends on two things: how long you held the asset and how much other income you have in the same year.
Short-term capital gains (assets held one year or less) are taxed as ordinary income at the same progressive rates as your wages — from 10% up to 37% in 2026. There is no preferential rate, which is why holding an asset beyond the one-year mark before selling can dramatically cut your tax bill.
Long-term capital gains (assets held more than one year) are taxed at preferential rates of 0%, 15%, or 20% in 2026. The rate depends on your total taxable income. Single filers with taxable income below $48,350 pay 0%; above $533,400 pay 20%. Married couples filing jointly pay 0% below $96,700 and 20% above $600,050. Most middle-income taxpayers fall in the 15% bracket, making long-term investing one of the most tax-efficient strategies available.
High earners may also owe the Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) — a 3.8% surtax on net investment income for taxpayers whose modified adjusted gross income exceeds $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly). This pushes the maximum effective federal rate on long-term gains to 23.8%.
This calculator correctly stacks your ordinary income against the capital gains brackets: your wages fill the lower brackets first, and your long-term gains start where ordinary income ends. See the income tax calculator for your full ordinary income tax estimate, or the investment calculator to project future portfolio growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 2026 long-term capital gains tax rates?
For 2026, long-term capital gains are taxed at 0%, 15%, or 20% based on your total taxable income. Single filers pay 0% when taxable income stays below $48,350; 15% on gains within the $48,350–$533,400 range; and 20% on gains above $533,400. Married filing jointly thresholds are roughly double: 0% below $96,700 and 20% above $600,050. Head of household filers use a 0% threshold of $64,750.
How are short-term capital gains taxed?
Short-term capital gains — from assets held one year or less — are taxed as ordinary income at your regular marginal bracket rate, which ranges from 10% to 37% in 2026. There is no preferential tax treatment. Holding an investment for more than one year before selling qualifies it for the much lower long-term capital gains rates of 0%, 15%, or 20%.
What is the Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT)?
The NIIT is a 3.8% surtax on net investment income — including capital gains, dividends, and interest — for taxpayers whose modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) exceeds $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly). It applies to the lesser of your net investment income or the amount by which your MAGI exceeds the threshold. Combined with the 20% long-term rate, this brings the maximum federal capital gains rate to 23.8%.
Can I offset capital gains with capital losses?
Yes. Capital losses from selling assets at a loss directly offset capital gains. Net long-term losses offset long-term gains first, then short-term gains. If your total losses exceed your gains, you can deduct up to $3,000 of net losses against ordinary income per year and carry forward any excess to future tax years. This is the basis for tax-loss harvesting — intentionally realizing losses to offset taxable gains.