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Estimate capital gains tax on investments (short vs long-term rates).
📈 US capital gains: held more than 1 year = long-term (0/15/20% by 2026 taxable income). Held 1 year or less = short-term (ordinary income rate). Gains stack on top of ordinary income for bracket purposes (long-term brackets and the short-term marginal rate are based on income plus gain). Simplified — excludes NIIT and state tax.
When you sell an investment for more than you paid, the profit is a capital gain and is taxed. How long you held the asset dramatically changes the rate. This estimator applies US federal rules.
The difference is huge. A $10,000 gain in the 24% bracket: short-term costs $2,400 in tax; long-term costs $1,500 (a 37% tax saving). For high earners near the top bracket, holding 1+ years can save thousands.
You bought 100 shares at $50 ($5,000 total) and sell them at $80 ($8,000) after 14 months. Your gain is $3,000, and because you held over a year it qualifies as long-term. If your taxable income puts you in the 15% long-term bracket, you owe $450 in federal tax. Had you sold just a few weeks earlier, before the one-year mark (short-term), while in the 24% ordinary bracket, the same gain would cost $720 — holding past the one-year mark saved $270.
Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Calculated results are estimates based on the inputs you provide; actual figures may vary. Always consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.
The Capital Gains Tax Estimator lets you figure out capital gains taxinstantly, without reaching for a spreadsheet or doing the math by hand. Whether you're planning a budget, checking a loan, or working through homework, the tool applies the correct formula behind the scenes and shows the result the moment you enter your numbers.
Unlike a static chart or table, this calculator adapts to your exact inputs. You can adjust any value and see the outcome update in real time, which makes it easy to compare scenarios — for example, "what if the rate were 1% lower?" or "what if I paid an extra $50 a month?"
Common uses: people reach for this tool when they need to find a capital gains tax estimator, short vs long term gains, stock capital gains calculator, or crypto tax by holding period.
Browser-based tools like this one have a few real advantages over installed software or manual methods:
The Capital Gains Tax Estimator is based on the following formula:
Gain = sale − basis Tax = Σ (bracket share of gain × bracket rate) Net = gain − tax
Variables: Gain = Capital gain ($) sale = Sale price ($) basis = Purchase price plus buying and selling costs ($) bracket share = Slice of the gain falling inside each long-term bracket ($) bracket rate = Rate for that slice (0%, 15%, or 20% for long-term gains) Net = After-tax gain ($)
Basis is usually the purchase price plus costs. Long-term gains (held more than 1 year) stack on top of your ordinary income and each 0%/15%/20% bracket is applied to the slice of the gain falling inside it, so the rate shown is a blended effective rate; short-term gains are added to ordinary income and taxed at those brackets.
Worked example: Step 1: basis = $50,000, sale = $70,000 → gain = $20,000, held more than 1 year so it is long-term. Step 2: single filer with $40,000 of taxable ordinary income; the 0% bracket reaches $47,025, leaving $7,025 of headroom. Step 3: first $7,025 of the gain is taxed at 0% → $0 tax. Step 4: remaining $12,975 of the gain is taxed at 15% → 12,975 × 0.15 = $1,946. Result: tax is about $1,946 (a blended effective rate of about 9.7%), leaving a net gain of about $18,054.
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