Capital Gains Tax Calculator: Rates, Rules & Strategies (2026)
By Wealthvieu · Updated
Capital gains tax is what you owe when you sell investments, property, or other assets for a profit. The rates and rules are different from regular income tax.
Table of Contents
2026 Capital Gains Tax Rates
Long-Term Capital Gains (Held Over 1 Year)
Tax Rate
Single Filer
Married Filing Jointly
Head of Household
0%
$0 - $48,350
$0 - $96,700
$0 - $64,750
15%
$48,351 - $533,400
$96,701 - $600,050
$64,751 - $566,700
20%
Over $533,400
Over $600,050
Over $566,700
Plus 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) if modified AGI exceeds $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married).
Short-Term Capital Gains (Held Under 1 Year)
Taxed as ordinary income at your regular rate:
Tax Bracket
Single Filer Income
Rate on Short-Term Gains
10%
$0 - $11,925
10%
12%
$11,926 - $48,475
12%
22%
$48,476 - $103,350
22%
24%
$103,351 - $197,300
24%
32%
$197,301 - $250,525
32%
35%
$250,526 - $626,350
35%
37%
Over $626,350
37%
Tax on Common Gain Amounts
Long-Term Gains at Various Income Levels (Single)
Your Salary
Capital Gain
Tax Rate
Tax Owed
NIIT
Total Tax
$40,000
$10,000
0% (under threshold)
$0
N/A
$0
$45,000
$10,000
0%/15% split
~$650
N/A
$650
$75,000
$10,000
15%
$1,500
N/A
$1,500
$75,000
$50,000
15%
$7,500
N/A
$7,500
$100,000
$100,000
15%
$15,000
N/A
$15,000
$150,000
$100,000
15%
$15,000
$3,800
$18,800
$300,000
$100,000
15%
$15,000
$3,800
$18,800
$500,000
$100,000
15%/20% split
~$18,340
$3,800
$22,140
Short-Term vs Long-Term: The Difference
$50,000 gain on stock held different periods ($100K salary, single):
Holding Period
Tax Rate
Tax Owed
Savings from Holding Longer
6 months (short-term)
24%
$12,000
—
11 months (short-term)
24%
$12,000
$0
12 months + 1 day (long-term)
15%
$7,500
$4,500 saved
5 years (long-term)
15%
$7,500
$4,500 saved
Holding just one day longer (1 year + 1 day) can save you 37.5% in taxes.
Capital Gains on Real Estate
Primary Residence Exclusion
Filing Status
Exclusion Amount
Gain Over Exclusion Taxed At
Single
$250,000
15% or 20% (long-term)
Married filing jointly
$500,000
15% or 20% (long-term)
Requirements: Must have owned and lived in the home for 2 of the last 5 years.
Real Estate Gain Examples
Purchase Price
Sale Price
Improvements
Gain
Exclusion
Taxable Gain
Tax (15%)
$300,000
$550,000
$50,000
$200,000
$250,000 (single)
$0
$0
$300,000
$700,000
$50,000
$350,000
$250,000 (single)
$100,000
$15,000
$300,000
$700,000
$50,000
$350,000
$500,000 (married)
$0
$0
$400,000
$1,200,000
$100,000
$700,000
$500,000 (married)
$200,000
$30,000
Investment Property (No Exclusion)
Item
Details
Depreciation recapture
Taxed at 25% (for straight-line depreciation claimed)
Remaining gain
Taxed at 15% or 20% long-term capital gains rate
1031 exchange
Defer ALL gains by reinvesting into like-kind property
Opportunity zones
Defer and potentially reduce gains by investing in qualified zones
Capital Gains on Cryptocurrency
Crypto is treated as property by the IRS:
Event
Taxable?
Tax Type
Buy crypto with USD
No
—
Hold crypto
No
—
Sell crypto for USD
Yes
Short or long-term capital gain/loss
Trade crypto for crypto
Yes
Taxable event (gain or loss realized)
Pay for goods with crypto
Yes
Capital gain/loss on disposal
Receive crypto as income (mining, staking)
Yes
Ordinary income at fair market value
Receive airdrop
Yes
Ordinary income at fair market value
Gift crypto
No (unless over $19,000/recipient)
Gift tax rules apply
Donate crypto to charity
No
Deduct fair market value if held over 1 year
Strategies to Minimize Capital Gains Tax
Tax-Loss Harvesting
Strategy
How It Works
Annual Benefit
Offset gains with losses
Sell losing investments to cancel out gains
Dollar-for-dollar offset
Deduct excess losses
Up to $3,000/year against ordinary income
$660-$1,110 tax savings
Carry forward
Unused losses carry forward indefinitely
Future year offsets
Wash sale rule
Cannot buy substantially identical security within 30 days
Buy similar (not same) fund
Other Strategies
Strategy
How It Works
Best For
Hold over 1 year
Qualify for 0/15/20% vs 10-37% rates
All investors
Use 0% bracket
Realize gains when income is low (gap year, early retirement)
Low-income years
Maximize retirement accounts
Gains in 401(k)/IRA are tax-deferred; Roth = tax-free
Long-term investors
Donate appreciated stock
Avoid all capital gains + get deduction
Charitable givers
Qualified Opportunity Zones
Defer and reduce gains by investing in QOZs
Large one-time gains
Installment sale
Spread gain over multiple years
Real estate sellers
1031 exchange
Swap investment property → defer all gains
Real estate investors
Step-up in basis at death
Heirs get assets at current value, gain eliminated
Estate planning
Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS)
Exclude up to $10M or 10x basis in gains
Startup founders/investors
State Capital Gains Taxes
State
Capital Gains Tax Rate
Notes
Alaska
0%
No state income tax
Florida
0%
No state income tax
Nevada
0%
No state income tax
New Hampshire
0% on gains
No tax on capital gains or wages
South Dakota
0%
No state income tax
Tennessee
0%
No state income tax
Texas
0%
No state income tax
Washington
7%
Only on gains above $270,000
Wyoming
0%
No state income tax
California
Up to 13.3%
Same as ordinary income (highest in US)
New York
Up to 10.9%
Same as ordinary income
Oregon
Up to 9.9%
Same as ordinary income
Minnesota
Up to 9.85%
Same as ordinary income
New Jersey
Up to 10.75%
Same as ordinary income
Calculating Your Cost Basis
Method
How It Works
Best For
Specific identification
Choose which shares to sell (highest basis first reduces tax)
