✓ Updated for 2025 & 2026 IRS figures · June 2026

Capital Gains Tax Calculator (Stocks, Crypto & Property)

Selling stocks, crypto, or property? Calculate your 2025 or 2026 capital gains tax with the correct 0%, 15%, and 20% long-term rates, short-term ordinary rates, and the 3.8% net investment income tax — exactly as they stack on your other income.

Long-term vs. short-term: the one-year line worth thousands

Hold an asset more than one year before selling and your profit is a long-term capital gain, taxed at preferential rates of 0%, 15%, or 20%. Sell at one year or less and it's a short-term gain, taxed as ordinary income at rates up to 37%. For someone in the 24% bracket, waiting a few extra weeks to cross the one-year mark cuts the tax on a gain by more than a third.

2026 long-term capital gains brackets

Rate	Single — taxable income	Married filing jointly	Head of household
0%	Up to $49,450	Up to $98,900	Up to $66,200
15%	$49,450 – $545,500	$98,900 – $613,700	$66,200 – $579,600
20%	Over $545,500	Over $613,700	Over $579,600

For tax year 2025, the 0% rate covers taxable income up to $48,350 (single) and $96,700 (joint); the 20% rate starts at $533,400 and $600,050 respectively.

How gains "stack" on your other income

The most misunderstood part: long-term gains sit on top of your ordinary taxable income. If your salary uses up taxable income to $40,000 and you realize a $30,000 long-term gain in 2026 as a single filer, the first $9,450 of the gain fills the rest of the 0% zone (up to $49,450) and is completely tax-free; the remaining $20,550 is taxed at 15%. This calculator does the stacking automatically and shows each slice.

The 3.8% net investment income tax (NIIT)

High earners pay an extra 3.8% on investment income once modified AGI exceeds $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly). It applies to the lesser of your net investment income or the amount above the threshold — turning the top capital gains rate into an effective 23.8%.

Crypto, home sales, and other special cases

Cryptocurrency is property in the eyes of the IRS: every sale, swap, or purchase made with crypto is a taxable event with the same long/short-term rules.
Your primary home: up to $250,000 of gain ($500,000 married) is excluded if you owned and lived in it for 2 of the last 5 years.
Tax-loss harvesting: capital losses offset gains dollar-for-dollar, plus up to $3,000 of ordinary income per year; the rest carries forward indefinitely.
Collectibles (art, gold coins) have their own 28% maximum rate.

In a low-income year — a sabbatical, early retirement, between jobs — single filers can realize nearly $50,000 of long-term gains at a 0% federal rate in 2026. This "gain harvesting" resets your cost basis for free.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the capital gains tax rates for 2026?

Long-term gains: 0% up to $49,450 of taxable income (single) or $98,900 (joint), 15% in the middle range, and 20% above $545,500 (single) or $613,700 (joint). Short-term gains are taxed at ordinary rates of 10–37%. High earners may add the 3.8% NIIT.

How long do I need to hold stock to pay long-term rates?

More than one year — at least a year and a day from purchase to sale. One year exactly or less is short-term and taxed at your ordinary income rate.

Is crypto taxed like stocks?

Yes. The IRS treats cryptocurrency as property, so the same 0%/15%/20% long-term and ordinary short-term rates apply. Swapping one coin for another or paying with crypto are also taxable sales.

Can I really pay 0% on capital gains?

Yes — if your taxable income including the gain stays below $49,450 (single) or $98,900 (married filing jointly) in 2026, your long-term gains are federally tax-free. The calculator shows exactly how much of your gain fits in the 0% zone.

Do I pay capital gains tax when I sell my house?

Usually not. Up to $250,000 of profit ($500,000 for married couples) on a primary residence is excluded if you owned and lived in the home for at least 2 of the past 5 years. Gains beyond the exclusion use long-term rates.