Capital gains tax 2026 is the federal tax on profit from selling an asset. The rate depends on how long you held it. Hold more than one year and you get long-term rates of 0%, 15%, or 20%. Hold one year or less and the gain is taxed as ordinary income.
What is the 2026 capital gains tax?
A capital gain is the profit when you sell an asset for more than you paid. The holding period sets the rate.
- Long-term: held more than one year. Taxed at 0%, 15%, or 20% on a separate schedule from your wages.
- Short-term: held one year or less. Taxed at your ordinary 2026 income brackets (10% to 37%).
The one-year line is the single most important number for your rate. Holding even a day longer can move a gain from the 37% top ordinary rate to the 20% top long-term rate.
What are the 2026 long-term capital gains brackets?
Long-term gains use their own taxable-income thresholds, not the ordinary brackets. For 2026 the cutoffs are below.
| Rate | Single | Married filing jointly | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | Up to $49,450 | Up to $98,900 | Up to $66,200 |
| 15% | $49,450 to $545,500 | $98,900 to $613,700 | $66,200 to $579,600 |
| 20% | Above $545,500 | Above $613,700 | Above $579,600 |
The bands stack on your other taxable income. A single filer at the edge of the 0% band gets the next dollar of long-term gain taxed at 15%.
How are short-term gains taxed in 2026?
Short-term gains get no break. They are added to your ordinary income and taxed at the 2026 brackets, which run from 10% to 37%. There is no separate short-term schedule.
Here is the 2026 ordinary single-filer schedule that applies to a short-term gain.
| Rate | Taxable income (single) |
|---|---|
| 10% | Up to $12,400 |
| 12% | $12,400 to $50,400 |
| 22% | $50,400 to $105,700 |
| 24% | $105,700 to $201,775 |
| 32% | $201,775 to $256,225 |
| 35% | $256,225 to $640,600 |
| 37% | Above $640,600 |
The chart below shows the single-filer long-term schedule as three stacked tiers. The 0% band is small next to the wide 15% band that covers most filers.
When does the 3.8% NIIT apply?
Higher earners can owe an extra layer. The Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) adds 3.8% on net investment income when your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) clears a fixed line.
- Single: NIIT can apply above $200,000 MAGI.
- Married filing jointly: NIIT can apply above $250,000 MAGI.
These NIIT thresholds are set by statute and are not adjusted for inflation. Over time, more taxpayers cross them. A top-bracket long-term gain can therefore face 20% plus 3.8%.
For the ordinary-income side of your return, see our 2026 tax brackets guide.
How do you calculate your 2026 capital gains tax?
Work it out in five steps.
- Find your gain: sale price minus your cost basis.
- Check the holding period: more than one year is long-term, one year or less is short-term.
- For long-term gains, stack the gain on your taxable income and apply the 0% / 15% / 20% thresholds.
- For short-term gains, apply your ordinary 2026 bracket (10% to 37%).
- Add 3.8% NIIT if your MAGI is above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (MFJ).
Run the numbers with the US capital gains calculator or check your full bill with the US income tax calculator. To trim taxable income first, review our top 2026 tax deductions.