🇺🇸 Stocks · Crypto · Real Estate · 2026

Capital Gains Tax Calculator 2026

Short-term vs long-term · 0/15/20% brackets · All filing statuses · State tax · Compare strategies

⚡ Key Insight: Holding an investment just one more day past 1 year can slash your tax rate from 22% (short-term) to 15% (long-term). On a $50,000 gain, that’s $3,500 saved by waiting 24 hours.
Tax Owed
$0
federal + state
Net Proceeds
$0
after tax
Effective Rate
0%
of total gain
Asset Type & Holding Period
⚡ Short-Term
Held under 1 year · Taxed as ordinary income
🌿 Long-Term
Held over 1 year · Preferential rates 0/15/20%
Your Numbers
$
$
$
Used to determine your tax bracket
0% for TX, FL, NV, WA, WY

How Capital Gains Tax Works in 2026

Capital gains tax is owed when you sell an asset for more than you paid. The tax rate depends on how long you held the asset and your total taxable income. Long-term gains (held over 1 year) are taxed at significantly lower rates — the biggest legal tax break available to investors.

2026 Long-Term Capital Gains Rates (Single)

  • 0% — Taxable income up to $47,025 · Married up to $94,050
  • 15% — Single $47,026–$518,900 · Married $94,051–$583,750
  • 20% — Single over $518,900 · Married over $583,750
  • +3.8% NIIT — Additional tax on investment income over $200K (single) / $250K (married)

Short-Term Rates — Ordinary Income Tax

Short-term gains (held under 1 year) are taxed at your ordinary income rate — the same as your salary, ranging from 10% to 37%. This is why holding just one more day past the 1-year mark can save thousands.

What is capital gains tax on real estate?+
If you sell your primary home, you can exclude up to $250,000 of gains ($500,000 for married couples) if you've lived there for at least 2 of the last 5 years. Gains above this exclusion are taxed at long-term rates. Investment properties qualify for long-term rates after one year. Depreciation recapture (Section 1250) is taxed at 25%.
Can I use capital losses to offset gains?+
Yes — called tax-loss harvesting. Capital losses offset capital gains dollar for dollar. If losses exceed gains, you can deduct up to $3,000 against ordinary income per year, with excess carried forward indefinitely. The wash-sale rule prevents repurchasing the same security within 30 days. Crypto currently has no wash-sale rule.
How do I legally reduce capital gains tax?+
(1) Hold over 1 year for long-term rates. (2) Tax-loss harvest — sell losers to offset winners. (3) Use tax-advantaged accounts: Roth IRA, 401k, HSA. (4) Time your sale in a low-income year to hit the 0% rate. (5) Donate appreciated stock to charity — avoid the gain entirely. (6) Use the $250K/$500K home sale exclusion.
What is inherited property step-up basis?+
Inherited assets receive a stepped-up cost basis to the fair market value on the date of death. If you inherit stock worth $100,000 that the deceased bought for $10,000, your basis is $100,000. Sell immediately: zero capital gains tax. This is one of the most powerful estate planning tools in the US tax code.
📌 2026 Long-Term Rates
Single < $47,0250%
Single $47K–$518K15%
Single > $518,90020%
MFJ < $94,0500%
MFJ $94K–$583K15%
NIIT surcharge+3.8%
💡 Tax Saving Strategies
→Hold over 1 year — 22% becomes 15%, saving $3,500 on a $50K gain
→Tax-loss harvest — sell losers to offset winners, up to $3K/yr extra
→Time sales in low-income years to qualify for the 0% rate
→Donate appreciated stock — avoid the gain entirely and get a deduction
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