What is the difference between short-term and long-term capital gains?

Short-term gains apply to assets held for one year or less and are taxed at your ordinary income tax rate (10%–37%). Long-term gains apply to assets held for more than one year and are taxed at preferential rates of 0%, 15%, or 20% depending on your taxable income.

Does this include state capital gains tax?

No. This calculator covers only federal capital gains tax. Most states also tax capital gains; you will need a separate state-level calculation for your full tax liability.

What income is used to determine the long-term rate?

The IRS uses your total taxable income (including the gain) to determine which long-term bracket applies. This calculator adds your gain to your base income when looking up the bracket threshold.

Does the calculator include the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT)?

No. High earners (income above $200,000 single / $250,000 MFJ) may owe an additional 3.8% NIIT on investment income. That surcharge is not included here.

Are the 2024 brackets used here official?

Yes. The calculator uses the IRS 2024 tax year brackets as published by the IRS for both ordinary income (short-term) and preferential long-term capital gains rates.

What does "taxable income before the gain" mean?

Enter your taxable income after all deductions (standard or itemized) but before adding the capital gain. The calculator will add the gain on top to find the correct bracket.

USA Capital Gains Tax Calculator

Name: USA Capital Gains Tax Calculator
Availability: InStock
Author: Nham Vu

Estimate your US federal capital gains tax for 2024 — enter your filing status, taxable income, and gain to see your exact rate and tax owed.

Your Tax Details

Filing Status

Taxable Income (before this gain)

Capital Gain Amount

Gain Type

Long-Term

Held > 1 year

Short-Term

Held ≤ 1 year

Fill in your details and click Calculate Tax

Summary

Estimate your US federal capital gains tax for 2024 — enter your filing status, taxable income, and gain to see your exact rate and tax owed.

How it works

Select your filing status (Single, Married Filing Jointly, Married Filing Separately, or Head of Household).
Enter your taxable income excluding the capital gain.
Enter the capital gain amount and select whether it is short-term or long-term.
The calculator applies the correct 2024 IRS brackets to determine your rate.
Your estimated federal tax on the gain and effective rate are displayed instantly.

Use cases

Estimate taxes before selling stocks, ETFs, or mutual funds.
Compare the tax impact of selling now versus waiting for long-term treatment.
Plan year-end tax-loss harvesting strategies.
Understand how investment income affects your overall tax bracket.
Evaluate the tax cost of selling a rental property or second home.
Quickly check if your income qualifies for the 0% long-term rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-06-25 · Reviewed by Nham Vu