Capital Gain
-$9,992.00
Tax Rate
15%
Est. Tax Owed
$0.00
How it works
The Capital Gains Tax Estimator calculates the US federal capital gains tax liability on any asset sale — stock, real estate, cryptocurrency, or other capital asset. Enter the cost basis, sale price, holding period, and your income, and the calculator shows the exact tax owed under short-term and long-term rates.
Capital gains tax is one of the most significant and controllable components of investment tax. Holding a position for 366 days instead of 364 can shift the tax rate from 32% (ordinary income, short-term) to 15% (long-term) — a $17,000 difference on a $100,000 gain. This calculator makes those decisions quantifiable.
How to use it: enter the cost basis (original purchase price including commissions), sale price (net of commissions), asset type, and holding period (or exact dates). Enter your filing status and estimated ordinary taxable income. The calculator applies the correct federal capital gains tax rate.
2024 long-term capital gains brackets: - 0%: taxable income up to $47,025 (single), $94,050 (married filing jointly) - 15%: income $47,026–$518,900 (single), $94,051–$583,750 (MFJ) - 20%: income above those thresholds - 3.8% NIIT: additional tax if income exceeds $200,000 (single), $250,000 (MFJ)
Real estate: home sale exclusion allows $250,000 ($500,000 MFJ) of capital gains on a primary residence (if lived in 2 of last 5 years) to be excluded. The calculator applies this exclusion automatically for primary residence transactions.
State taxes: toggle state capital gains tax to add your state's rate (most states tax capital gains as ordinary income at the state rate).
Privacy: financial data runs in the browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Legal strategies: hold assets for more than 12 months to qualify for long-term rates (0–20% vs. ordinary income). Tax-loss harvesting: sell losing positions to offset gains (up to $3,000/year of net losses can offset ordinary income). Use tax-advantaged accounts (IRA, 401k) for high-growth assets. Donate appreciated stock directly to charity (no capital gains tax on the donation). Time large gains to a low-income year.
- The NIIT is a 3.8% additional federal tax on investment income (capital gains, dividends, interest) for taxpayers with modified AGI above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly). It applies to the lesser of net investment income or the AGI excess above the threshold. High earners effectively pay 23.8% on long-term capital gains (20% + 3.8% NIIT).
- The IRS treats cryptocurrency as property — every sale, exchange, or use to purchase goods is a taxable event. Gains are short-term (held < 12 months, taxed as ordinary income) or long-term (held > 12 months, taxed at capital gains rates). Crypto-to-crypto trades (BTC to ETH) are also taxable events at the time of exchange, not just USD sales.
- Inherited assets receive a 'stepped-up' cost basis equal to the fair market value at the date of death — eliminating the capital gain that accrued during the deceased's lifetime. A stock bought at $10 that is worth $100 at the owner's death passes to heirs with a $100 cost basis. If the heir sells at $100, no capital gains tax is owed. This is a significant estate planning consideration.