Your Sale Details
What you sold the investment for, before fees.
What you originally paid (plus any reinvested dividends, fees that increased basis, etc.).
Over 12 months = long-term (preferential rates). 12 months or less = short-term (ordinary rates).
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Your Capital Gains Tax Breakdown
Equity compensation? Run it through the right calculator.
RSUs, ISOs, and stock sales are taxed differently. Pick the tool that matches your event.
RSU Calculator
Vest income + sell-to-cover shortfall + capital-gains projection if you hold.
Calculate RSU vestISO/AMT Calculator
Federal AMT exposure, exemption phaseout, and your AMT crossover point.
Calculate AMTStock-Comp Tax Guide
RSU vs NSO vs ISO vs capital gains — how each is taxed in plain English.
Read the guideHow Capital Gains Tax Works in 2026
When you sell stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, real estate, or cryptocurrency for more than you paid, the difference is a capital gain. The IRS taxes capital gains at one of two rate sets: long-term rates (preferential — 0%, 15%, or 20%) if you held the asset more than one year, or ordinary income rates (10%–37%) if you held it one year or less. The hold-period rule is strict — even one day under a year disqualifies you from long-term treatment.
For 2026, the long-term capital gains brackets (single filer) are: 0% on gains that keep your taxable income at or below $48,350; 15% on gains up to $533,400; 20% above. MFJ thresholds are $96,700 and $600,050. The math is layered — your gain stacks on top of your ordinary income, so a small additional gain can cross a bracket and push some of it into the higher rate.
On top of the federal capital gains rate, high earners owe the Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) — a 3.8% surtax on investment income (capital gains, dividends, interest, rental income) when MAGI exceeds $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (MFJ). NIIT applies to the lesser of (a) net investment income or (b) MAGI over the threshold.
Cryptocurrency sales are capital gains events. The IRS treats crypto (Bitcoin, Ethereum, stablecoins, NFTs, etc.) as property under Notice 2014-21 — meaning every sale, swap (e.g. trading ETH for SOL), or use to buy goods/services triggers a taxable event. Hold period rules apply identically to stocks: under one year = short-term ordinary rates, over one year = long-term preferential rates. Crypto-to-crypto trades are particularly easy to miss; many holders accumulate dozens of small short-term gains they don't realize they owe tax on.
States vary widely. Most states tax capital gains as ordinary income at the regular state rate (no preferential LTCG rate). California has the highest top rate at 13.3%, Hawaii 11%, New York 10.9%, New Jersey 10.75%. Nine states have no income tax (and therefore no state cap-gains tax on stocks or crypto) — TX, FL, NV, WA*, WY, SD, AK, TN, NH. Washington is special: it has a 7% capital-gains-only tax that applies to long-term gains over ~$270K (real estate and retirement accounts are exempt; crypto IS subject to it).
Selling RSU shares or exercising ISOs? RSU calculator → · ISO/AMT calculator →
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between long-term and short-term capital gains?
It's the hold period. Long-term means you held the asset for MORE than one year (one year + one day or more). Short-term means one year or less. Long-term gains get preferential rates (0%, 15%, or 20% federal); short-term gains are taxed as ordinary income at your marginal rate (up to 37% federal). The difference can easily be 15–20 percentage points — for a $100K gain, that's $15K–$20K saved by waiting an extra day past the 1-year mark.
How is my cost basis calculated?
Cost basis is what you paid for the asset, adjusted for certain events. For stocks: purchase price + commissions + reinvested dividends (which increase basis). For RSUs: the fair market value on the vest date (which was already taxed as ordinary income). For NSO exercises: the spread already taxed as ordinary income + the strike price you actually paid. For real estate: purchase price + improvements − depreciation. Wrong basis is the #1 reason people overpay capital gains tax.
What is NIIT and when does it apply?
Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) is a 3.8% surtax on top of regular capital gains tax. It applies if your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) exceeds $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (MFJ). The tax is the lesser of: (a) all your net investment income, or (b) your MAGI in excess of the threshold. NIIT applies to capital gains, dividends, interest, royalties, and passive rental income — but NOT to wages, active business income, or distributions from retirement accounts.
How are capital losses treated?
Capital losses first offset capital gains dollar-for-dollar. If you have $20K of gains and $30K of losses, you net to a $10K loss. Up to $3,000/year of net capital losses ($1,500 if MFS) can offset ordinary income. Anything beyond that carries forward indefinitely to future years until used up. Watch out for the wash-sale rule — buying the same or substantially identical security within 30 days before or after the sale disallows the loss.
What state has the highest capital gains tax?
California, at a marginal 13.3% top rate. Hawaii (11%), New York (10.9% + NYC local), New Jersey (10.75%), Oregon (9.9%), and Minnesota (9.85%) round out the top six. The lowest-tax states for cap gains are the nine no-income-tax states: TX, FL, NV, WA*, WY, SD, AK, TN, NH. Washington has a special 7% LTCG tax above ~$270K but exempts real estate and retirement accounts. Note: state of residency at the time of the sale generally determines which state taxes the gain.
Is crypto a capital gain? How is cryptocurrency taxed?
Yes. The IRS treats cryptocurrency as property under Notice 2014-21, so every disposal is a capital gains event — selling crypto for cash, swapping one crypto for another (e.g. ETH → SOL), or using crypto to buy goods/services. Hold period rules are identical to stocks: under one year = short-term ordinary rates (10–37%), over one year = long-term preferential rates (0%, 15%, or 20%). Cost basis is what you paid in USD when you acquired the crypto. The biggest gotcha: crypto-to-crypto trades each create separate taxable events that holders frequently miss, leading to large unreported short-term gains at filing time. NFTs follow the same rules but may face higher 28% collectibles rate if held over a year.
How is Bitcoin taxed differently from stocks?
It isn't, for most purposes. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are taxed identically to stocks under federal capital gains rules — same long-term/short-term hold periods, same brackets (0/15/20%), same NIIT 3.8% surtax for high earners. The differences are practical, not statutory: (1) crypto exchanges' tax reporting (Form 1099-DA arrives in 2026 for 2025 trades) is newer and often less accurate than brokerage 1099-B; (2) wash-sale rules currently DON'T apply to crypto (you can sell at a loss and rebuy immediately for tax-loss harvesting — though Congress could close this loophole); (3) staking rewards, airdrops, and mining income are taxed as ORDINARY income at receipt, not as capital gains.
Do I owe tax if I just hold crypto?
No. Holding (HODLing) crypto is not a taxable event. Tax is triggered only on disposal — selling, swapping, spending, or gifting above the annual exclusion ($19,000 in 2026). Receiving staking rewards, airdrops, or mining income IS taxable as ordinary income at fair market value at the time of receipt. Moving crypto between your own wallets is also not taxable.