Capital Gains Tax Calculator (2026)
Estimate your 2026 federal long-term capital gains tax. Enter your gain, your other taxable income and filing status to see the 0%, 15% or 20% rate that applies, plus any Net Investment Income Tax.
Estimate your 2026 long-term capital gains tax
How 2026 long-term capital gains tax works
When you sell an asset you have held for more than a year at a profit, you owe long-term capital gains tax. This long term capital gains tax calculator uses the 2026 IRS thresholds to find whether your gain is taxed at 0%, 15% or 20%. Unlike wages, gains get preferential rates, but the rate depends on your total income.
The key idea this capital gains tax estimator models is stacking: your gain sits on top of your ordinary income. If your ordinary income already fills the lower bands, more of your gain is pushed into the 15% or 20% band. That is also why a real estate capital gains tax calculator matters when you sell property: a large gain can spill into the 20% band even if your salary is modest. For a primary residence, remember the IRS home-sale exclusion (up to $250,000 single / $500,000 married) may remove much of the gain before this calculation, which is important context for any capital gains on home sale calculator.
High earners may also owe the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax. This tool adds NIIT when your modified income exceeds $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly), which is the same logic used in a full capital gains tax on sale of property estimate.
2026 long-term capital gains thresholds
| Rate | Single (taxable income over) | Married filing jointly |
|---|---|---|
| 0% | $0 | $0 |
| 15% | $49,450 | $98,900 |
| 20% | $545,500 | $613,700 |
Head-of-household breakpoints are $66,200 (15%) and $579,600 (20%). Short-term gains (assets held one year or less) are taxed as ordinary income instead.
How to use this calculator
- Enter your long-term capital gain. Type your net profit on assets held more than a year. This long term capital gains tax calculator handles stocks, mutual funds and real estate gains.
- Enter your other taxable income. Add your ordinary taxable income. The capital gains tax estimator stacks the gain on top of it, because that position sets your 0%, 15% or 20% rate.
- Choose your filing status. Enter 1 for Single, 2 for Married filing jointly, or 3 for Head of household to apply the correct 2026 thresholds.
- Review the rate and any NIIT. The result shows your capital gains tax and flags the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax if your income is high enough to trigger it.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as a long-term capital gain in this calculator?
A gain on an asset you owned for more than one year before selling. Assets held one year or less produce short-term gains, which are taxed at ordinary income rates rather than the 0/15/20% long-term rates this capital gains tax calculator uses.
Why does my other income change the capital gains rate?
Because long-term gains stack on top of ordinary income. The more ordinary income you have, the higher in the brackets your gain lands. That is why this capital gains tax estimator asks for both numbers.
Does this real estate capital gains tax calculator handle a home sale?
It estimates tax on a taxable gain, but it does not apply the primary-residence exclusion automatically. If the home was your main residence, subtract up to $250,000 (single) or $500,000 (married joint) of eligible gain first, then enter the remainder.
What is the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax?
An extra 3.8% tax on investment income for higher earners, applied when modified adjusted gross income exceeds $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly). The calculator adds it automatically when your income crosses the threshold.
Are state taxes on capital gains included?
No. Many states tax capital gains as ordinary income on top of the federal amount. Check your state Department of Revenue, or use a state tax calculator, for the full picture.