Capital Gains Tax Calculator (ADHD-Friendly)
See how much tax you'll owe when selling investments. Quick, simple capital gains estimate without the confusion.
You want to sell an investment and need to know how much tax you'll owe. That's it. Enter what you paid, what you're selling for, how long you've held it, and your rough tax bracket. Get one number: estimated tax. You don't need to understand the entire tax code — you just need to know what to set aside for the IRS. If the tax seems high, consider waiting until you've held the asset for over a year to get the lower long-term rate. But first, just see the number.
Calculator
Common use cases
- Quick tax estimate before selling
- Knowing how much to set aside for taxes
- Deciding whether to sell now or hold longer
- Getting one clear answer without deep research
How to use
- Enter your cost basis (what you paid)
- Enter the sale price
- Select short or long-term holding
- Choose your tax bracket
- See estimated capital gains tax
FAQ
What qualifies as long-term?
Assets held longer than one year qualify for lower long-term capital gains rates (0%, 15%, or 20%).
Can I offset gains with losses?
Yes, capital losses can offset gains. Excess losses (up to $3,000/year) can offset ordinary income.
What about the 3.8% Medicare surtax?
High earners may owe an additional 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax on capital gains.
What's the key thing to know?
Hold for over a year if possible — long-term rates (0-20%) are much lower than short-term rates (up to 37%).
This calculator provides illustrative estimates for planning purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice.