Capital Gains Tax Calculator (US)
Calculate US long-term and short-term capital gains tax on stocks, real estate, and other assets.
Shows federal tax owed based on your income bracket.
Capital Gains Tax, US Federal
When you sell an asset for more than you paid, the profit is a capital gain. The US taxes capital gains at different rates depending on how long you held the asset and your total taxable income.
Short-term vs Long-term:
| Holding period | Tax treatment |
|---|---|
| 12 months or less | Short-term: taxed as ordinary income (10%–37%) |
| More than 12 months | Long-term: taxed at preferential rates (0%–20%) |
2024 Long-term capital gains tax rates (single filers):
| Taxable Income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $47,025 | 0% |
| $47,026 – $518,900 | 15% |
| Over $518,900 | 20% |
2024 Long-term capital gains tax rates (married filing jointly):
| Taxable Income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $94,050 | 0% |
| $94,051 – $583,750 | 15% |
| Over $583,750 | 20% |
Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT): An additional 3.8% applies if your MAGI (Modified Adjusted Gross Income) exceeds:
- $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly)
How capital gain is calculated: Capital Gain = Sale Price − Cost Basis − Selling Expenses
The cost basis is what you originally paid, including commissions and fees. Improvements to real estate also increase basis.
State taxes: This calculator covers federal only. Most states also tax capital gains. Add your state’s top rate to the federal estimate:
| State category | Add to federal |
|---|---|
| No state income tax (TX, FL, WA, NV, AK, WY, TN, NH, SD) | +0% |
| Low (AZ, CO, MI, NC, ND, OH, PA, UT) | +3-5% |
| Mid (most states) | +5-7% |
| High (NY, NJ, OR, MN, HI) | +8-10% |
| Highest (California) | +13.3% |
Washington charges a 7% capital gains tax on gains above $250K despite having no income tax. Many states do NOT distinguish long-term from short-term gains, taxing both at ordinary income rates.
Holding-period worth-waiting math. If you’re close to the 12-month line on a holding period, waiting often saves a lot. A $25,000 gain at a 24% federal bracket pays $6,000 federal short-term, but only $3,750 (15%) long-term: a $2,250 federal savings on the same gain just for crossing the one-year mark. The savings climb sharply at higher brackets: a 37% short-term gain falls to 20% (or 23.8% with NIIT) long-term.
Tax-saving tips most people miss:
- Use the 0% LTCG bracket. If you’re in a low-income year (early retirement, sabbatical, gap year, business loss year), long-term gains up to the bracket threshold are taxed at 0% federal. Sell winners and immediately re-buy to step up basis at zero cost.
- Tax-loss harvesting. Sell losing positions before year-end to offset gains. Up to $3,000 of net losses can deduct from ordinary income; excess carries forward indefinitely.
- Step-up basis at death. Assets inherited at death have their cost basis reset to market value, eliminating all unrealized capital gains for heirs. This is the single biggest tax break in the US code.
- 1031 exchange (real estate only). Defer gains on investment property by reinvesting proceeds in a like-kind property within 180 days.
- Hold one extra day past 12 months. The IRS counts from the day after purchase, so plan accordingly if you’re near the cutoff.
Important: This is an estimate for planning purposes only. Consult a tax professional for advice specific to your situation. Real-estate sales may include depreciation recapture; high earners may face AMT or the additional NIIT.
How we build and check this calculator
This calculator runs entirely in your browser, so the numbers you enter stay on your device. The math behind it is written by hand and tested against worked examples and standard references before the page goes live.
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