Capital Gains Tax Calculator US
Calculate federal capital gains tax on stock sales. Short-term gains taxed at ordinary income rates. Long-term gains at 0%, 15%, or 20% based on your income.
Calculate Your Tax
Check brackets below for exact rate.
What this calculator does
- Calculates capital gain from your stock sale
- Applies short-term (10-37%) or long-term (0%, 15%, 20%) rates
- Factors in your income bracket for accurate tax estimate
- Shows net profit after federal tax
How to Use
Enter cost basis
Total amount paid including any commissions
Enter sale proceeds
Amount received from selling shares
Add number of shares
Quantity of shares sold in this transaction
Select holding period
Over 1 year = long-term, under = short-term
Choose income bracket
Determines your applicable tax rate
View results
See gain, federal tax, and net profit
Example
You bought 50 shares of Apple (AAPL) at $150 per share in January 2023. You sold them at $200 per share in March 2025 (held for over 2 years). Your taxable income puts you in the 15% long-term capital gains bracket.
Since you held the shares for more than 1 year, this qualifies for the lower long-term rate. State taxes may apply depending on where you live.
US Capital Gains Tax Rates (2024)
Long-Term Capital Gains (held > 1 year)
| Tax Rate | Single Filers | Married Filing Jointly |
|---|---|---|
| 0% | Up to $47,025 | Up to $94,050 |
| 15% | $47,026 – $518,900 | $94,051 – $583,750 |
| 20% | Over $518,900 | Over $583,750 |
Short-Term Capital Gains (held ≤ 1 year)
Taxed as ordinary income at your marginal tax rate:
| Tax Rate | Single Filers | Married Filing Jointly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | Up to $11,600 | Up to $23,200 |
| 12% | $11,601 – $47,150 | $23,201 – $94,300 |
| 22% | $47,151 – $100,525 | $94,301 – $201,050 |
| 24% | $100,526 – $191,950 | $201,051 – $383,900 |
| 32% | $191,951 – $243,725 | $383,901 – $487,450 |
| 35% | $243,726 – $609,350 | $487,451 – $731,200 |
| 37% | Over $609,350 | Over $731,200 |
Note: High earners may also owe 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) on capital gains.
Frequently Asked Questions
Key Terms
Cost Basis
The original purchase price of an asset plus any commissions or fees. Used to calculate capital gain or loss.
Long-Term Gain
Profit from selling an asset held for more than one year. Taxed at preferential rates of 0%, 15%, or 20%.
Short-Term Gain
Profit from selling an asset held for one year or less. Taxed as ordinary income at your marginal rate.
NIIT
Net Investment Income Tax. An additional 3.8% tax on investment income for high earners.
Wash Sale
Selling a security at a loss and buying the same security within 30 days. The loss is disallowed for tax purposes.
Tax-Loss Harvesting
Selling losing investments to offset gains and reduce tax liability. Must avoid wash sale rules.
Related Tools
TradingKite
Use this calculator inside your US tax workflow.
TradingKite connects capital gains estimates, wash sale checks, holdings review, and filing-ready exports so the calculation becomes part of a repeatable decision flow.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for educational purposes only. It calculates federal tax only—state taxes vary. Tax laws change frequently. Consult a qualified tax professional or CPA for advice specific to your situation.
