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Capital gains tax calculator (US, 2026)
How much federal tax you will owe on what you make (and lose) selling stocks, ETFs or funds, and on your dividends and interest. With the official 2026 IRS brackets.
2026 long-term capital gains brackets (taxable income)
| Filing status | 0% | 15% | 20% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | up to $49,450 | $49,450 – $545,500 | over $545,500 |
| Married filing jointly | up to $98,900 | $98,900 – $613,700 | over $613,700 |
| Head of household | up to $66,200 | $66,200 – $579,600 | over $579,600 |
Estimate of US federal income tax only, for tax year 2026 (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32). It does not include state taxes, the alternative minimum tax or special rates (28% on collectibles, 25% on real estate depreciation recapture). The 3.8% NIIT uses an approximate modified adjusted gross income (your other taxable income plus the standard deduction). Not tax advice.
How investment income is taxed in the US
When you sell a stock, ETF or fund for more than you paid, the profit is a capital gain. If you held it more than a year it is long-term and gets lower rates (0%, 15% or 20%); if not, it is short-term and taxed like your salary. Qualified dividends get the long-term rates; interest is ordinary income. Losses offset gains, up to $3,000 of a net loss reduces your other income each year, and the rest carries forward. Higher earners also pay the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax. Accounts like a 401(k) or an IRA follow their own rules.
Frequently asked questions
How are capital gains taxed in 2026?
Gains on investments held more than one year are long-term and taxed at 0%, 15% or 20% depending on your taxable income. For a single filer: 0% up to $49,450, 15% up to $545,500 and 20% above; married filing jointly: $98,900 and $613,700. Gains on investments held one year or less are short-term and taxed as ordinary income, at 10% to 37%.
Are dividends taxed the same way?
Qualified dividends (most dividends from US companies and many foreign ones, if you meet the holding period) are taxed at the long-term capital gains rates. Non-qualified dividends and interest are taxed as ordinary income.
What is the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax?
An extra 3.8% on investment income (gains, dividends and interest) when your modified adjusted gross income is above $200,000 (single or head of household) or $250,000 (married filing jointly). These thresholds are set by law and are not adjusted for inflation.
How do capital losses work?
Losses first offset gains of the same kind (short-term against short-term, long-term against long-term) and then the other kind. If you end the year with a net loss, you can deduct up to $3,000 from your other income ($1,500 if married filing separately) and carry the rest forward to future years, with no time limit. A carryover keeps its short- or long-term character.
What is the wash sale rule?
If you sell at a loss and buy the same or a substantially identical security within 30 days before or after the sale, you cannot deduct that loss now: it is added to the cost basis of the new shares.
Does this include state taxes?
No. Most states also tax capital gains, usually as ordinary income, and a few have no income tax. This calculator only estimates federal income tax.
Illustrative simulation with general information: not investment or tax advice.