What are the 2025 federal long-term capital gains tax rates?

For 2025: 0% if your taxable income (including gains) is below $47,025 (single), $94,050 (MFJ), or $63,000 (head of household). 15% rate applies up to $518,900 single / $583,750 MFJ. 20% rate applies above those thresholds. These thresholds are adjusted for inflation annually. On top of these rates, the 3.8% NIIT applies to investment income when MAGI exceeds $200K single / $250K MFJ (NOT inflation-indexed).

What is the Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT)?

The NIIT is an additional 3.8% tax on net investment income (including capital gains) for taxpayers whose Modified Adjusted Gross Income exceeds $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (MFJ). The NIIT is computed on the LESSER of: your net investment income, or the amount by which your MAGI exceeds the threshold. These thresholds have never been inflation-indexed since the tax was enacted in 2013, meaning more taxpayers fall into NIIT each year due to income growth and inflation.

How does stacking affect my capital gains tax rate?

Capital gains "stack" on top of ordinary income. Your ordinary income fills the lower tax brackets first, and capital gains are taxed starting from where ordinary income leaves off. A single filer with $40,000 in wages and $30,000 in LTCG: the first $7,025 of gains falls in the 0% zone (below $47,025), and the remaining $22,975 is taxed at 15%. This stacking effect is critical for tax planning.

Can I offset capital gains with capital losses?

Yes. Capital losses must first offset capital gains of the same type (long-term losses against long-term gains; short-term against short-term). Excess losses offset gains of the other type. If total losses exceed total gains, you can deduct up to $3,000 of net losses against ordinary income per year. Unused losses carry forward indefinitely. Enter your NET capital gain (after losses) in this calculator.

Is cryptocurrency taxed at capital gains rates?

Yes. The IRS treats cryptocurrency as property, not currency. Selling or exchanging crypto triggers capital gains or losses — short-term if held 12 months or less (ordinary rates), long-term if held more than 12 months (preferential LTCG rates). Using crypto to buy goods, converting between cryptocurrencies, and receiving crypto as income (mining, staking rewards) are all taxable events.

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Capital Gains Tax Calculator — Federal LTCG Rates + NIIT + State

Calculate federal capital gains tax (0/15/20%), NIIT (3.8%), and state capital gains tax. See your combined effective rate on long-term and short-term gains.

By The FinCalc TeamUpdated May 31, 2026

Long-term capital gains — profits from selling assets held more than one year — are taxed at preferential federal rates of 0%, 15%, or 20%, far below the 37% top ordinary income rate. But there's also the Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) of 3.8% for high earners, plus state capital gains taxes that can add up to 13.3% more in California. Combined, a California resident in the top federal bracket can face a 37.1% effective rate on long-term gains. This calculator computes your exact federal LTCG rate, NIIT exposure, and state tax — giving you the true combined cost of realizing capital gains.

How Capital Gains Tax Rates Work

Long-term capital gains tax has two layers at the federal level plus potential state taxes:

Federal LTCG Rate Brackets (2025, single filer):

| Total Taxable Income | Federal LTCG Rate | |---------------------|-------------------| | Up to $47,025 | 0% | | $47,026 – $518,900 | 15% | | Above $518,900 | 20% |

MFJ thresholds are approximately double ($94,050 / $583,750).

NIIT (3.8% additional): Applies on the lesser of: (1) net investment income or (2) MAGI above $200K single / $250K MFJ. NIIT is effectively a surcharge on top of the LTCG rate, bringing the top combined federal rate to 23.8%.

State tax: Most states add their ordinary income rate on top. California's 13.3% top rate means a California filer in the federal 20% bracket pays 20% + 3.8% + 13.3% = 37.1% combined on long-term gains — higher than the 37% federal ordinary income rate.

Stacking example:

$120,000 ordinary income + $50,000 LTCG = $170,000 total (single)
LTCG stacks from $120K to $170K → all in the 15% federal bracket
Plus 3.8% NIIT if MAGI > $200K (not triggered in this example)

When to Use This Calculator

Use this calculator when:

Planning stock sales — Before selling appreciated positions, calculate the tax cost at different timing scenarios (this year vs. next year, before or after other income events).
Tax-loss harvesting — Quantify how many losses you need to offset specific gains to reduce your tax bill.
Evaluating state residency — Californians in the 20%+3.8%+13.3% zone save $37K on every $100K of LTCG by moving to a zero-tax state. This calculator makes that comparison concrete.
RSU and equity compensation planning — RSUs vest as ordinary income, but selling vested shares creates capital gains. Model the tax cost of holding vs. immediately selling.
Real estate sale planning — Long-term capital gains on investment property are taxed at LTCG rates (plus 25% depreciation recapture separately). Combine with the Section 121 calculator for primary residences.

Understanding the Inputs

Filing Status: Your filing status determines the income thresholds for each LTCG bracket. The 0% rate applies to single filers with total income below $47,025 (2025); for MFJ, the threshold is $94,050. The 20% rate applies for single filers above $518,900; MFJ above $583,750. NIIT thresholds are $200K single and $250K MFJ — also not inflation-indexed.
Ordinary Income (AGI excl. capital gains): Your income from wages, business, interest, dividends, pensions, and other ordinary income sources — NOT including capital gains. Capital gains "stack" on top of ordinary income. If your ordinary income alone puts you at $100,000 and you have $50,000 in long-term gains, the gains are taxed starting from the $100,000 level — some at 15%, some potentially at 20%.
Long-Term Capital Gain: Your net long-term capital gain from assets held more than 12 months: stocks, ETFs, real estate, collectibles, crypto, business interests, etc. Enter the NET amount — gains minus capital losses already applied, including any capital loss carryforward from prior years.
Short-Term Capital Gain: Net short-term capital gain from assets held 12 months or less. Short-term gains are taxed at your ordinary income marginal rate — no preferential LTCG rate applies. Enter 0 if you have no short-term gains.
State: Most states tax long-term capital gains as ordinary income at their standard income tax rates. California (13.3%), New Jersey (10.75%), Minnesota (9.85%), and Oregon (9.9%) have high state rates that dramatically increase the combined tax cost. Florida, Texas, Nevada, and Wyoming have no state income tax. Washington state taxes LTCG above $262,000 at 7%.

Frequently Asked Questions

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The FinCalc Team

Personal Finance Experts

The FinCalc team is a group of personal finance writers, analysts, and engineers dedicated to building accurate, transparent financial calculators. Every formula is verified against industry standards and explained in plain language.

Last reviewed and updated: May 31, 2026