Capital Gains Tax Rate Calculator
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Gross Capital Gain/Loss:
$0.00
Estimated Tax Rate:
0%
Estimated Tax Owed:
$0.00
Net Profit (After Tax):
$0.00
function calculateCapitalGains() {
// 1. Get Input Values
var purchasePrice = parseFloat(document.getElementById("purchasePrice").value) || 0;
var salePrice = parseFloat(document.getElementById("salePrice").value) || 0;
var fees = parseFloat(document.getElementById("transactionFees").value) || 0;
var income = parseFloat(document.getElementById("annualIncome").value) || 0;
var status = document.getElementById("filingStatus").value;
var period = document.getElementById("holdingPeriod").value;
// 2. Calculate Gross Gain
var grossGain = salePrice – purchasePrice – fees;
// 3. Logic for Tax Rate Calculation
var taxRate = 0;
if (grossGain > 0) {
if (period === "short") {
// Short Term Capital Gains are taxed as Ordinary Income
// Simplified 2024 Tax Brackets for calculation estimation
// Note: This estimates the marginal rate for the gain
if (status === "single" || status === "married_separate") {
if (income <= 11600) taxRate = 0.10;
else if (income <= 47150) taxRate = 0.12;
else if (income <= 100525) taxRate = 0.22;
else if (income <= 191950) taxRate = 0.24;
else if (income <= 243725) taxRate = 0.32;
else if (income <= 609350) taxRate = 0.35;
else taxRate = 0.37;
} else if (status === "married_joint") {
if (income <= 23200) taxRate = 0.10;
else if (income <= 94300) taxRate = 0.12;
else if (income <= 201050) taxRate = 0.22;
else if (income <= 383900) taxRate = 0.24;
else if (income <= 487450) taxRate = 0.32;
else if (income <= 731200) taxRate = 0.35;
else taxRate = 0.37;
} else if (status === "head_household") {
if (income <= 16550) taxRate = 0.10;
else if (income <= 63100) taxRate = 0.12;
else if (income <= 100500) taxRate = 0.22;
else if (income <= 191950) taxRate = 0.24;
else if (income <= 243700) taxRate = 0.32;
else if (income <= 609350) taxRate = 0.35;
else taxRate = 0.37;
}
} else {
// Long Term Capital Gains Rates (0%, 15%, 20%)
// Based on 2024 IRS thresholds
if (status === "single") {
if (income <= 47025) taxRate = 0.0;
else if (income <= 518900) taxRate = 0.15;
else taxRate = 0.20;
} else if (status === "married_joint") {
if (income <= 94050) taxRate = 0.0;
else if (income <= 583750) taxRate = 0.15;
else taxRate = 0.20;
} else if (status === "head_household") {
if (income <= 63000) taxRate = 0.0;
else if (income <= 551350) taxRate = 0.15;
else taxRate = 0.20;
} else if (status === "married_separate") {
if (income <= 47025) taxRate = 0.0;
else if (income niitThreshold) {
taxRate += 0.038;
}
}
// 4. Calculate Final Numbers
var taxOwed = grossGain > 0 ? grossGain * taxRate : 0;
var netProfit = grossGain – taxOwed;
// 5. Update UI
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("cgResults");
var displayGross = document.getElementById("displayGrossGain");
var displayRate = document.getElementById("displayTaxRate");
var displayTax = document.getElementById("displayTaxOwed");
var displayNet = document.getElementById("displayNetProfit");
resultDiv.style.display = "block";
// Formatting currency
var formatter = new Intl.NumberFormat('en-US', {
style: 'currency',
currency: 'USD',
});
displayGross.innerText = formatter.format(grossGain);
if(grossGain < 0) {
displayGross.classList.add("cg-loss");
displayNet.classList.add("cg-loss");
displayRate.innerText = "N/A (Loss)";
} else {
displayGross.classList.remove("cg-loss");
displayNet.classList.remove("cg-loss");
displayRate.innerText = (taxRate * 100).toFixed(1) + "%";
}
displayTax.innerText = formatter.format(taxOwed);
displayNet.innerText = formatter.format(netProfit);
}
Understanding Your Capital Gains Tax Rate
Calculating your capital gains tax liability is a critical step in managing your investment portfolio, selling real estate, or trading assets. Unlike standard income, profit made from the sale of assets is taxed differently depending on how long you held the asset and your overall taxable income.
How is Capital Gain Calculated?
The mathematical formula for determining your capital gain is straightforward:
Capital Gain = Selling Price – (Purchase Price + Transaction Fees)
The "Purchase Price" combined with fees is often referred to as your Cost Basis. If the result is positive, you have a capital gain. If negative, you have a capital loss, which can often be used to offset other gains on your tax return.
Short-Term vs. Long-Term Holding Periods
The duration you hold an asset significantly impacts your tax rate:
- Short-Term (< 1 Year): If you sell an asset within a year of buying it, the profit is taxed as ordinary income. This means it is subject to your standard federal income tax bracket (ranging from 10% to 37%).
- Long-Term (> 1 Year): If you hold an asset for more than one year, you qualify for preferential tax rates. These are typically 0%, 15%, or 20%, depending on your filing status and income level.
2024 Long-Term Capital Gains Tax Brackets
For the 2024 tax year, the thresholds for long-term capital gains rates are as follows:
| Tax Rate |
Single Filers |
Married Filing Jointly |
Head of Household |
| 0% |
Up to $47,025 |
Up to $94,050 |
Up to $63,000 |
| 15% |
$47,026 – $518,900 |
$94,051 – $583,750 |
$63,001 – $551,350 |
| 20% |
Over $518,900 |
Over $583,750 |
Over $551,350 |
Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT)
High-income earners may be subject to an additional 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax. This applies if your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) exceeds:
- $200,000 for Single or Head of Household
- $250,000 for Married Filing Jointly
- $125,000 for Married Filing Separately
This calculator automatically checks if your income exceeds these thresholds and adds the 3.8% surcharge to your estimated tax rate where applicable.
Example Calculation
Let's say you are a single filer with an annual income of $80,000. You purchased stocks for $5,000 and sold them 18 months later for $8,500. You paid $50 in brokerage fees.
- Gross Gain: $8,500 (Sale) – $5,000 (Cost) – $50 (Fees) = $3,450.
- Tax Rate: Since your income ($80,000) falls between $47,026 and $518,900, your long-term capital gains rate is 15%.
- Tax Owed: $3,450 × 0.15 = $517.50.
- Net Profit: $3,450 – $517.50 = $2,932.50.