Use TaxAct’s capital gains tax calculator to estimate your potential capital gains taxes for the tax year.

At a glance:

• Capital gains taxes apply to profits from selling stocks, Bitcoin, or large assets.

• Capital gains can be short-term (sold within a year) or long-term (sold after a year).

• Use our capital gains tax calculator to estimate your potential taxes.

If you sell stocks, Bitcoin, or a large asset (such as a car, home, or boat) for a profit, you may be on the hook to pay capital gains taxes on that income. Capital gains are broken into two categories based on the timing of their sale date. Short-term capital gains are assets sold less than a year from purchase. Long-term capital gains are assets sold more than a year from purchase.

Frequently asked questions about capital gains

What are capital assets?

Any asset you own could be considered a capital asset. That includes your primary residence, cars, stocks, or bonds. There are some exceptions and exclusions such as home sales. Couples that sell a home are excluded from paying capital gains tax on up to $500,000 in profit. Individuals can exclude up to $250,000.

What are capital gains?

When you sell an asset for a profit, that profit is generally defined as a capital gain. Conversely, selling an asset for a loss is known as a capital loss.

What is the difference between short-term and long-term capital gains?

As briefly mentioned above, the difference between a short-term and long-term capital gain is the amount of time between the purchase and the sale dates. Another way to look at it is the amount of time the asset was held by the owner.

• Short-term capital gains

  include the profits on any assets sold one year or less from the original purchase date.

• Long-term capital gains

  include the profits of assets or investments sold beyond one year of the original purchase date.

What happens if you have a mix of capital gains and capital losses?

When calculating capital gains taxes, you should first evaluate all short-term and long-term transactions separately. For transactions within a given tax year, here’s a simplified version of how to start:

1. Add all long-term gains and subtract all long-term capital losses.

2. Add all short-term gains, and subtract all short-term capital losses.

3. If both long-term and short-term capital gains are positive, evaluate each separately against relevant tax rates.

4. If both long-term and short-term capital gains are negative, your capital gains tax is $0.

5. If the sum of your long-term and short-term gains is 0, your capital gains tax is $0.

6. If one of your long-term or short-term gains is positive while the other is negative, subtract the negative from the positive. Next, evaluate the capital gains tax on the remaining amount. For example, if your long-term gains are $1,000, and your short-term losses are -$500, you should subtract the loss from the long-term profit. Then, you can calculate the long-term capital gains tax on the remaining $500.

Utilize tax calculators for tax planning

Navigating the complexities of capital gains is crucial for effective financial planning. A capital gains tax calculator proves invaluable in understanding potential tax obligations and helping investors make informed decisions. Additionally, exploring other specialized tax calculators tailored to specific financial aspects, such as income or investment portfolios, can provide a comprehensive overview of one’s tax landscape. Utilizing these tools ensures a more precise assessment and aids in strategic tax planning across various financial dimensions.