Capital Gains Tax Calculator
Estimate the federal long-term capital gains tax on an investment sale, plus your rate bracket and what you keep after tax.
Reviewed by the CalcCafe editorial team · Last updated 1 July 2026 · How we test our tools
Example
Say you have a $20,000 long-term gain and $60,000 of other taxable income. Your total is $80,000, which falls in the 15% long-term bracket, so the tax is 20,000 × 15% = $3,000, leaving $17,000 in net proceeds. If your total income were under $48,350 the same gain would be taxed at 0%.
How it works
Total income = other taxable income + capital gain. The long-term rate is 0% if total ≤ $48,350, 15% if total ≤ $533,400, otherwise 20%. Tax = gain × rate ÷ 100, and net proceeds = gain − tax.
Good to know
When you sell an asset you have held longer than a year — stocks, a fund, crypto, or a second property — the profit is a long-term capital gain, and the federal government taxes it at its own set of preferential rates rather than your ordinary-income rate. This calculator estimates that federal tax for a single filer using the 2025 brackets, and shows which rate band you land in along with the money you actually keep.
The key idea that trips people up is that the rate depends on your total taxable income, not just the size of the gain. The gain stacks on top of your other income, and where that combined figure falls decides whether the gain is taxed at 0%, 15%, or 20%. That is why a modest gain for a lower earner can be completely tax-free, while the same gain for a high earner is taxed at 20%. Enter your gain and your other taxable income and the tool places the total in the right band automatically.
Keep in mind this is a simplified estimate covering federal long-term rates only. It does not model short-term gains (assets held a year or less, taxed as ordinary income), state capital gains taxes, the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax that can apply to higher earners, the way a gain can straddle two brackets, or special rates for collectibles and certain real-estate depreciation. Filing status other than single will also shift the thresholds.
Use the result to ballpark what you might owe and to see roughly how much of a sale you get to keep, then confirm the exact figure with current IRS instructions or a tax professional before you make decisions. Tax rules change, and your full return can include deductions and credits this simple model does not.
Frequently asked questions
How is long-term capital gains tax calculated?
For federal purposes your long-term gain is added to your other taxable income, and the combined total determines whether the gain is taxed at 0%, 15%, or 20%. The tax is the gain multiplied by that rate; this tool does the placement and math for you.
What is the difference between short-term and long-term gains?
Gains on assets held one year or less are short-term and taxed as ordinary income at your regular rate. Assets held longer than a year qualify as long-term and get the lower 0/15/20% rates this calculator estimates.
Is my data uploaded anywhere?
No — this calculator runs entirely in your browser. Your inputs never leave your device, and it works offline once loaded.
Is this calculator free?
Yes, completely free with no sign-up and no limits.
People also ask
What is the capital gains tax rate for 2025?
For a single filer in 2025, long-term gains are taxed at 0% when total taxable income is up to about $48,350, 15% up to about $533,400, and 20% above that. These thresholds are set by the IRS and adjust each year.
How can I pay 0% on capital gains?
If your total taxable income including the gain stays at or below the 0% threshold (about $48,350 for single filers in 2025), your long-term gain can be taxed at 0% federally. Timing sales in lower-income years is a common strategy.
Do I pay capital gains tax on top of income tax?
Long-term gains are taxed under their own 0/15/20% schedule rather than at your ordinary rate, but the gain still counts toward your total income when deciding which capital-gains band applies. State taxes and the Net Investment Income Tax may add more.
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Sources & references
These tools follow our methodology and provide educational estimates only — verify important figures with a qualified professional.