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Capital Gains Tax & Profit Calculator

Compute federal capital gains tax liabilities on stocks, crypto, and real estate.

Quick Answer:Assets held longer than one year qualify for lower long-term capital gains tax rates (0%, 15%, or 20%), while short-term gains are taxed at ordinary income rates.

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How to Use the Capital Gains Tax Calculator: Short vs Long-Term Rates

1Input your original asset purchase cost basis and final selling price.
2Select your holding period (Long-Term > 1 Year or Short-Term ≤ 1 Year).
3Enter your annual taxable income and tax filing status.
4Inspect your calculated capital gains tax owed, effective tax bracket, and net cash proceeds.

Formula & How It Works

Capital Gains Tax Calculation

Capital Gain = Selling Price - Purchase Basis | Tax = Gain × Applicable Rate

Applies federal statutory capital gains brackets and NIIT thresholds.

Worked Examples

$15,000 Stock Gain Held for 3 Years

Input: Purchase: $15,000, Sale: $32,000, Long-Term, Income: $95,000, Single

Explanation: Because the stock was held past one year and income falls in the 15% bracket, tax is $2,550 rather than higher ordinary income rates.

Result: Capital Gain: $17,000, Tax (15%): $2,550, Net: $29,450

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT)?▼

An additional 3.8% surtax applies to net investment income for single filers with MAGI over $200,000 and married couples over $250,000.

How much capital loss can I deduct against ordinary income each year?▼

You can use net capital losses to offset all capital gains plus up to $3,000 ($1,500 if married filing separately) of ordinary income per tax year, carrying forward the rest.

What is the primary residence capital gains tax exclusion?▼

Under IRS Section 121, you can exclude up to $250,000 of capital gain ($500,000 if married) from your primary residence if you lived in it for at least 2 of the past 5 years.

How are cryptocurrency trades taxed?▼

The IRS treats cryptocurrency as property; trading crypto for cash, goods, or other crypto tokens triggers a taxable capital gain or loss event.

Quick Reference & Conversion Table

Filing Status	0% Long-Term Rate	15% Long-Term Rate	20% Long-Term Rate
Single	Up to $47,025	$47,026 – $518,900	Over $518,900
Married Filing Jointly	Up to $94,050	$94,051 – $583,750	Over $583,750
Head of Household	Up to $63,000	$63,001 – $551,350	Over $551,350

⚠️ Common Pitfalls to Avoid

•Selling an asset just shy of the 365-day holding mark, inadvertently subjecting profits to high short-term income tax rates.
•Forgetting to include brokerage commissions and reinvested dividends in your original cost basis.

💡 Practical Real-World Uses

•Tax-loss harvesting: selling depreciated assets to offset realized capital gains before year-end.
•Planning real estate sales and estimating Section 121 primary home exclusion benefits ($250k single / $500k married).

Last reviewed & updated: 2026-11-11

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