Capital Gains Tax Calculator
Calculate capital gains tax on stocks, crypto, and real estate for US, UK, Germany, France, Canada, and Australia — short-term vs long-term rates.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
Calculate your capital gains tax
Enter purchase and sale details, then calculate — results appear on the right (and scroll into view).
Asset details
Calculate tax owed and net profit
US
Net profit after tax
$5,000
+50.0% return · tax $0
$5,000
1.2y
426 days
0.00%
Long-term
$0
Estimates only — confirm unusual situations with a tax professional.
Capital Gains Tax Rates by Country — 2026 Quick Reference
Short-term vs long-term rates for common asset types
| Country | Short-term rate | Long-term rate | LT threshold | Annual exempt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States | Ordinary income (10–37%) | 0%, 15%, or 20% | >1 year (more than 365 days) | None (losses $3K/yr) |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 18% / 24% | 18% / 24% (same) | None — rate depends on income band, not holding period | £3,000 per year |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 26.375% flat | 26.375% flat | None for financial assets (real estate: 10 yr exempt) | €1,000 per year |
| 🇫🇷 France | 31.4% PFU (2026) | 31.4% PFU (same) | None for stocks/crypto — PFU applies uniformly | None standard |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | 50% inclusion | 50% inclusion | None (same rate; >$250K gains: 66.67% inclusion in 2026) | LCGE for qualified assets |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | Full marginal (up to 45%+levy) | 50% discount (≥12 months) | At least 12 months | None (losses carry forward) |
Rates are for stocks/crypto unless noted. UK rates updated October 30, 2024 (Autumn Budget). France 31.4% PFU effective January 1, 2026 (was 30%). Germany real estate held 10+ years: exempt. Canada: gains above $250K/year taxed at 66.67% inclusion from 2026. Use the calculator above for your exact numbers.
How Capital Gains Tax Works
The basics of capital gains tax
Capital gains tax (CGT) is a tax on the profit from selling an asset for more than you paid. Common assets include stocks, cryptocurrency, real estate, and collectibles. You pay CGT on the gain, not the full sale price.
The formula is simple: Capital Gain = Sale Price − Cost Basis. The cost basis is typically what you originally paid (plus any acquisition costs). The applicable tax rate depends on your holding period, income level, asset type, and country.
Capital losses (selling for less than you paid) can offset capital gains. In the US, up to $3,000 of net losses can reduce ordinary income per year, with unused losses carried forward indefinitely.
Held less than the threshold (US: 1 yr). Taxed at ordinary income rates — up to 37% in the US.
Held longer than the threshold. Preferential rates: US 0–20%, AU 50% discount. UK/Germany/France have fixed rates regardless of holding period.
Losses offset gains. US: $3,000/yr can offset ordinary income. Remainder carries forward.
Holding Period Requirements by Country
How long you must hold an asset to qualify for long-term (lower) rates
🇺🇸 United States
Taxed as ordinary income — your regular income tax bracket, up to 37% for top earners. IRS rule: held for 'more than 1 year' is required for long-term.
Preferential rates: 0% (income up to $49,450 single / $98,900 MFJ), 15% (most taxpayers), 20% (top earners). Plus 3.8% NIIT for high earners.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
UK CGT rates do NOT depend on how long you held the asset. Since October 30, 2024: basic rate 18%, higher/additional rate 24% for most assets.
Gains up to £3,000/year are tax-free. Residential property: also 18%/24%. Business Asset Disposal Relief: 14% (from April 2025), rising to 18% (April 2026).
🇩🇪 Germany
All capital gains from stocks, funds, and bonds: flat 26.375% Abgeltungsteuer (25% + 5.5% solidarity surcharge), regardless of holding period. €1,000 Sparer-Pauschbetrag exempt.
Private real estate held more than 10 years is fully exempt from capital gains tax. Held 10 years or less: taxed at progressive income tax rates (not the flat 26.375%).
🇫🇷 France
The PFU (Prélèvement Forfaitaire Unique) of 31.4% (from 2026; previously 30%) applies to stocks, funds, and crypto regardless of holding period. Composed of 12.8% income tax + 18.6% social charges.
Real estate gains use progressive income tax + 17.2% social charges. Reductions apply after 5 years of holding; full exemption after 22 years (income tax) and 30 years (social charges).
🇨🇦 Canada
50% of capital gains are included in taxable income (inclusion rate), taxed at your marginal rate. No distinction between short and long-term.
The Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption (LCGE) shields up to ~$1.25M of gains on qualified small business shares and farm/fishing property.
🇦🇺 Australia
Taxed at full marginal income tax rate — up to 45% for high earners plus 2% Medicare levy.
50% CGT discount — only half your gain is included in taxable income. Effective rate is roughly half your marginal rate.
Short-Term Capital Gains (US)
Sold within 1 year. Taxed as ordinary income — same as your W-2 wages. Rates range from 10% to 37% depending on your total taxable income.
Example: Short-term gain
Buy $10,000 → Sell $15,000 after 8 months
Gain: $5,000 · 32% bracket → $1,600 tax
Net profit after tax: $3,400
Long-Term Capital Gains (US)
Sold after 1 year. Preferential rates of 0%, 15%, or 20% depending on taxable income. Significantly lower than short-term rates for most taxpayers.
Example: Long-term gain (same scenario)
Buy $10,000 → Sell $15,000 after 14 months
Gain: $5,000 · 15% LT rate → $750 tax
Net profit after tax: $4,250 — $850 more than ST!
US Long-Term Capital Gains Rates — 2026
Based on taxable income (after deductions)
| Rate | Single filer | Married filing jointly | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | Up to $49,450 | Up to $98,900 | Up to $66,200 |
| 15% | $49,451 – $545,500 | $98,901 – $613,700 | $66,201 – $579,600 |
| 20% | Over $545,500 | Over $613,700 | Over $579,600 |
Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32. The NIIT of 3.8% also applies to net investment income for singles with MAGI over $200,000 and MFJ over $250,000. These thresholds apply to taxable income, not just the capital gain. Standard deduction for 2026: $16,100 (single), $32,200 (MFJ).
Capital Losses — How They Help
If you sell an asset for less than you paid, you have a capital loss. Losses offset capital gains dollar-for-dollar.
- Short-term losses first offset short-term gains; long-term losses offset long-term gains.
- Net losses up to $3,000/year can reduce ordinary income (US).
- Unused capital losses carry forward indefinitely to future years.
- Wash-sale rule: losses are disallowed if you rebuy the same security within 30 days.
Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT)
The 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax applies to certain investment income (including capital gains) for high-income taxpayers:
- Singles: applies when MAGI exceeds $200,000.
- Married filing jointly: applies when MAGI exceeds $250,000.
- Applies to the lesser of net investment income OR the MAGI excess.
- This can bring effective LT CGT rate to 23.8% for top earners (20% + 3.8%).
Country-Specific Capital Gains Calculators
Calculators pre-configured for each country's rules and rates
Calculating crypto capital gains?
Use our dedicated Crypto Capital Gains Tax Calculator for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other digital assets — with IRS guidance on crypto-as-property treatment.
State capital gains tax in 2026 — the second layer most investors overlook
Federal rates are only half the picture — most states add their own tax on top
The federal rate table above shows 0–20%, but nearly all US states tax capital gains as ordinary income at their standard income tax rates — on top of the federal rate. A California investor realizing a long-term gain in the top federal bracket pays 20% federal + 3.8% NIIT + 13.3% California = 37.1% combined rate. A Florida investor in the same situation pays 20% + 3.8% = 23.8%. On a $500,000 gain, that is a $66,500 difference.
| State | Top state CGT rate | Notes | Combined (20% fed + NIIT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🏔️ California | 13.3% | Treats all gains as ordinary income — no long-term preference. 1% Mental Health Tax on income over $1M. | 37.1% |
| 🗽 New York City | 14.78% (combined) | NY State 10.9% + NYC 3.876% city tax. State alone: 10.9%. | ~34.8% |
| 🌲 Oregon | 9.9% | Taxed as ordinary income. No preferential long-term rate. | ~33.7% |
| 🏛️ New Jersey | 10.75% | Top rate applies on gains above $1M. | ~34.55% |
| 🌾 Minnesota | 9.85% | Taxed as ordinary income. | ~33.65% |
| 🌧️ Washington | 7% / 9% | 7% on gains above $278K; 9% above $1M (SB 5813, effective Jan 1, 2025). No general income tax. | ~30.8% / ~32.8% |
| ☀️ Florida | 0% | No state income tax — no state CGT. | 23.8% |
| ⭐ Texas | 0% | No state income tax. | 23.8% |
| 🎰 Nevada | 0% | No state income tax. | 23.8% |
| 🌴 Missouri | 0% (new!) | HB 594, signed July 2025 — first state to fully eliminate capital gains tax. | 23.8% |
Combined rate = 20% federal LTCG + 3.8% NIIT + state rate (for highest-bracket investor). Sources: Tax Foundation 2026 State Income Tax Rates; California FTB; Washington SB 5813 (signed May 2025); Missouri HB 594 (signed July 2025).
Tax-loss harvesting: the year-end strategy to systematically offset capital gains
How to convert losing positions into tax savings — and the wash-sale rules you must follow
Tax-loss harvesting means deliberately selling investments that have declined in value to realize capital losses, which then offset your capital gains — reducing or eliminating your tax bill. The losses are real: you sell the loser, capture the tax benefit, and either reinvest in a similar (but not identical) position or wait 31 days to repurchase the same security.
Tax saved: $2,250
You cannot repurchase the "same or substantially identical" security within 30 days before or after the loss sale. If you do, the loss is disallowed and added to the new position's cost basis. Solution: buy a similar-but-different ETF (e.g., sell VTI, buy ITOT) or wait 31 days.
The IRS wash-sale rule currently applies only to securities — not to cryptocurrency. A crypto investor can sell Bitcoin at a loss, immediately repurchase Bitcoin, and still claim the tax loss. This may change: legislation to apply wash-sale rules to crypto has been proposed but not enacted as of 2026.
Key rules and deadlines: All harvesting for a tax year must be completed by December 31. Short-term losses offset short-term gains first, then long-term gains. Long-term losses offset long-term gains first, then short-term gains. Net losses up to $3,000/year can offset ordinary income; excess carries forward indefinitely to future tax years.
Cost basis methods: FIFO vs. specific lot identification — the IRS choice that changes your tax bill
How you designate which shares are "sold" is a legal IRS choice — and it directly determines your taxable gain
When you own multiple lots of the same stock (bought at different prices and times) and sell only some shares, the IRS requires you to identify which shares you sold. By default, brokers use FIFO (First In, First Out) — your oldest, often lowest-cost shares are treated as sold first, typically maximizing your gain. You can legally designate a different method to minimize taxes.
| Method | How it works | Gain on example sale | Tax at 15% LTCG | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIFO (default) | Oldest shares sold first | $5,000 | $750 | Default — often not optimal for minimizing tax |
| Specific ID (HIFO) | You choose highest-cost lots first | $2,000 | $300 | Minimizes gains — must designate at time of sale |
| Average Cost | Blended cost across all lots | $3,500 (est.) | $525 | Mutual funds only (IRS restriction) |
| LIFO | Newest shares sold first | Varies | Varies | Can minimize gains if newest lots are highest-cost |
Example scenario: Selling 100 shares at $100 ($10,000 proceeds)
You own two lots: 100 shares at $50 (purchased 2020) and 100 shares at $80 (purchased 2023). Both are held long-term.
Critical rule: Specific lot identification must be designated at the time of the trade — you cannot retroactively change the method after the sale. Most major brokers (Fidelity, Schwab, Vanguard, TD Ameritrade/Schwab) allow lot selection during the trade. Source: IRS Publication 550 (Investment Income and Expenses); IRS Rev. Rul. 61-97.
The capital gains tax shown above comes from the sale price, purchase price, holding period, filing status, and country you enter — not a live tax-authority feed. For US filers the calculator applies 2026 IRS progressive brackets (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32) to determine whether each dollar of gain falls in the 0%, 15%, or 20% long-term tier (or ordinary income brackets for short-term gains). Other countries use simplified flat or inclusion-rate models. Below are the exact formulas, the order of operations, and two US worked examples you can verify by hand.
Core formulas
| Metric | Formula |
|---|---|
| Capital gain | Sale price − Purchase price (after optional inflation adjustment) |
| Taxable gain | Capital gain − Primary residence exemption − Capital loss offset − Country allowance |
| Holding period (days) | ⌊(Sale date − Purchase date) ÷ 86,400,000 ms⌋ |
| Short-term (US) | Sale date < one calendar year after purchase date |
| Long-term (US) | Sale date ≥ one calendar year after purchase date → 0% / 15% / 20% preferential rates |
| Federal tax (US, progressive) | Σ (amount in each bracket × bracket rate ÷ 100) |
| State tax (US) | Taxable gain × state rate ÷ 100 (added to federal) |
| Effective tax rate | (Federal tax ÷ Taxable gain) × 100 |
| Net profit after tax | (Sale price − Purchase price) − Total tax owed |
Order of operations
Currency conversion (if applicable)
Converted purchase price = Original purchase price × Exchange rateOnly runs when purchaseCurrency and saleCurrency differ. The purchase price is converted to the sale currency; the sale price is already in the sale currency.
Inflation adjustment (EU countries, optional)
Adjusted purchase price = Purchase price × (Sale-year CPI ÷ Purchase-year CPI)Available for UK, Germany, and France when toggled on. Uses historical CPI data to reduce the nominal gain by the inflation component. US, Canada, and Australia do not use this adjustment.
Calculate capital gain
Capital gain = Sale price − (Inflation-adjusted) purchase priceSimple subtraction. A negative result is a capital loss — no tax is owed, and the loss can offset future gains.
Primary residence exemption (US only)
Exempt amount = min(capital gain, $250,000) for single; $500,000 for married-jointApplies only when isPrimaryResidence is true and the property is in the US. The exempt amount is subtracted from the capital gain before tax.
Capital loss offset + country allowances
Taxable gain = Capital gain − Loss offset − Country allowanceThe entered capital loss offset reduces the taxable gain. Additionally: UK £3,000 annual exempt amount; Germany €1,000 Sparer-Pauschbetrag are automatically applied.
Determine holding period and short/long-term status
isShortTerm = sale date < purchase date + 1 calendar year (US/Australia)US: short-term if held less than one full calendar year — taxed as ordinary income. Long-term if held ≥ 1 year — preferential 0/15/20% rates. UK: holding period is tracked but does not change rates. Germany/France/Canada: no holding-period distinction.
Calculate federal (or national) tax
US: progressive brackets applied to taxable gain. Other countries: flat rate × taxable gainUS applies 2026 IRS brackets progressively. Each dollar in a bracket is taxed at that bracket's rate only. Other countries use simplified flat rates (UK 18%/24%, Germany 26.375%, France 31.4%, Canada 50% inclusion, Australia 32.5%/16.25%).
Add US state tax (if state selected)
State tax = Taxable gain × State rate ÷ 100US states tax capital gains as ordinary income (same as their income tax rate). Only applies when a state is selected. No state capital gains tax in Florida, Texas, Nevada, and 6 other states.
Worked example 1 — US long-term, single filer — stocks held ~4.5 years
Verify by hand: $49,450.00 @ 0% + $20,550.00 @ 15% = $3,082.50 federal tax
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Country / asset | US · stocks |
| Purchase price | $10,000.00 |
| Sale price | $80,000.00 |
| Purchase date | 2022-01-10 |
| Sale date | 2026-06-25 |
| Holding period (days) | 1627 |
| Short-term or long-term | Long-term (≥ 1 year) |
| Capital gain | $70,000.00 |
| Taxable gain (no offsets) | $70,000.00 |
| In 0% LT bracket (≤ $49,450) | $49,450.00 |
| In 15% LT bracket | $20,550.00 |
| Federal tax owed | $3,082.50 |
| Effective tax rate | 4.40% |
| Marginal rate | 15% |
| Net profit after tax | $66,917.50 |
Gain: $80,000.00 − $10,000.00 = $70,000.00
Brackets: $49,450.00 @ 0% + $20,550.00 @ 15% = $3,082.50 federal tax
Net: $70,000.00 − $3,082.50 = $66,917.50 net profit
Rate: Effective rate = $3,082.50 ÷ $70,000.00 = 4.40%
Worked example 2 — US short-term, single filer — stocks held ~6 months
Verify by hand: $5,000.00 fits entirely in 10% ordinary income bracket → $500.00 federal tax
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Country / asset | US · stocks |
| Purchase price | $10,000.00 |
| Sale price | $15,000.00 |
| Purchase date | 2026-01-10 |
| Sale date | 2026-06-25 |
| Holding period (days) | 166 |
| Short-term or long-term | Short-term (< 1 year) |
| Capital gain | $5,000.00 |
| Taxable gain (no offsets) | $5,000.00 |
| Bracket applied | 10% ordinary income |
| Federal tax owed | $500.00 |
| Effective tax rate | 10.00% |
| Marginal rate | 10% |
| Net profit after tax | $4,500.00 |
Gain: $15,000.00 − $10,000.00 = $5,000.00
Bracket: $5,000.00 fits entirely in 10% ordinary income bracket → $500.00 federal tax
Net: $5,000.00 − $500.00 = $4,500.00 net profit
Rate: Effective rate = $500.00 ÷ $5,000.00 = 10.00%
Note: Short-term gains are taxed as ordinary income — nearly 3× more than the long-term rate on the same $5,000 gain.
Tax rates by country (2026)
| Country | Rate |
|---|---|
| US (long-term) | 0% / 15% / 20% |
| US (short-term) | 10%–37% |
| UK | 18% / 24% |
| Germany | 26.375% |
| France | 31.4% |
| Canada | 7.5%–16.5% |
| Australia (short-term) | 32.5% |
| Australia (long-term) | 16.25% |
Official sources
References & Official Sources
Capital gains tax rates and rules based on official tax authority guidance
For Germany's Abgeltungsteuer, see the Bundesfinanzministerium (BMF). For UK rates changed in October 2024, see GOV.UK — CGT rates of tax. For US 2026 inflation adjustments, see IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32. For crypto guidance, see IRS Digital Assets.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for planning purposes only and is not tax advice. Tax laws change frequently; rates shown are based on known 2026 rules but may not reflect late-year changes. Actual tax liability depends on your full financial situation, deductions, exemptions, and applicable local rules. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice specific to your situation.