Tax & Salary
Capital Gains Tax Calculator
Estimate 2026 U.S. federal tax on a short-term or long-term capital gain using sale details, income, filing status, capital losses, and optional NIIT.
Best for: Estimate 2026 U.S. federal tax on short-term or long-term capital gains after basis, losses, income, filing status, and optional NIIT.
Your result
2026 federal capital gains tax estimate
- Estimated federal tax
- $8,700.00
- Net capital gain
- $58,000.00
- Effective federal rate on gain
- 15%
- Estimated proceeds after federal tax
- $139,300.00
Estimated gain and federal tax
This planning estimate excludes state tax, depreciation recapture, collectibles, qualified small business stock, home-sale exclusions, and transaction-specific rules.
Capital Gains Tax Calculator: formula, examples, and planning guide
Federal capital gains tax depends on the size of the gain, holding period, taxable income, filing status, capital losses, and whether the net investment income tax applies.
How the 2026 capital gains tax estimate works
Net capital gain equals sale price minus cost basis, selling costs, and entered capital losses. A gain on an asset held for more than one year is generally modeled at long-term federal rates; a gain held one year or less is modeled as additional ordinary income.
Long-term gains stack on top of taxable ordinary income. This means the gain may cross the 0%, 15%, and 20% bands rather than being taxed at one rate.
2026 federal long-term capital gains thresholds
The IRS publishes maximum taxable-income amounts for the 0% and 15% long-term capital gains bands. Gain above the 15% ceiling is generally modeled at 20%.
| Filing status | 0% band maximum | 15% band maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $49,450 | $545,500 |
| Married filing jointly | $98,900 | $613,700 |
| Head of household | $66,200 | $579,600 |
Important exclusions from this estimate
Capital-gains rules are transaction-specific. The estimate does not model state tax, depreciation recapture, collectibles, qualified small business stock, wash sales, installment sales, home-sale exclusions, or every netting rule.
- Confirm cost basis, including eligible adjustments, before relying on the result.
- Use the optional NIIT input only as a simplified planning estimate.
- Consult a qualified tax professional for a sale with material tax consequences.
How to use this capital gains tax calculator
Use this 2026 capital gains tax calculator to estimate how gain type, other taxable income, capital losses, filing status, and the Net Investment Income Tax can interact. It is a federal planning illustration and does not prepare a tax return.
- 1
Enter sale proceeds and cost basis
Include eligible basis adjustments and selling expenses when determining the economic gain.
- 2
Add holding period, income, and losses
Classify the gain and enter other taxable income, filing status, and available capital losses.
- 3
Review tax layers separately
Compare regular federal capital-gain tax with optional NIIT and account for state tax outside the model.
Worked planning example
Example: compare selling this year with next year
Set up
Model a long-term gain on top of expected 2026 taxable income and available losses.
Compare
Reduce other income or split the sale into a later year and compare the estimated federal tax.
Takeaway
Capital-gain rates are applied in the context of other income, so timing can change the marginal tax on a sale.
Verify basis and tax-year assumptions before selling
Basis records, loss limitations, holding period, state rules, and special asset rates can materially change actual tax.
- Confirm acquisition dates and adjusted basis.
- Review loss carryforwards and wash-sale rules.
- Model state and local tax separately.
Calculation methodology and assumptions
The calculator subtracts cost basis, selling costs, and entered capital losses from sale proceeds. Long-term gains are stacked on estimated taxable ordinary income and taxed at the 2026 federal 0%, 15%, and 20% thresholds. Short-term gains are estimated as incremental ordinary income tax. Optional NIIT is a simplified estimate.
Frequently asked questions
How are short-term capital gains taxed?
Net short-term gains are generally taxed at ordinary federal income-tax rates rather than preferential long-term rates.
Does a long-term gain all use one tax rate?
Not necessarily. The gain can stack across federal 0%, 15%, and 20% bands based on filing status and taxable income.
What does this calculator exclude?
It does not fully model state tax, depreciation recapture, collectibles, qualified small-business stock, home-sale exclusions, or every special rule.
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