Capital Gains Tax Calculator
This capital gains tax calculator estimates the tax owed on an investment gain at your own applicable rate — since capital gains rates depend heavily on your country, income level, and how long you held the asset, this calculator lets you apply the specific rate that matches your situation rather than guessing at a one-size-fits-all figure.
The original purchase price, including any fees.
What you received from the sale, after any selling fees.
See the notes below for typical rates by market and holding period — capital gains rates depend on your country, income, and how long you held the asset.
Estimated capital gains tax
$1,800
How to use this capital gains tax calculator
- 1Cost basis and sale proceeds: what you paid (including fees) and what you received (after fees).
- 2Your applicable tax rate: use the market notes below to find your rate based on your country, holding period, and income — then enter it here for an accurate result.
Understanding your results
Capital gain is the raw profit before tax. Capital gains tax applies your specific rate to that gain. Net proceeds after tax is what you actually keep — the number that matters most for your real financial planning.
The formula
Tax = (Sale proceeds − Cost basis) × Your tax rateThe gain is simply sale proceeds minus cost basis (with no gain — and no tax — if the sale price doesn't exceed the cost basis). Multiplying that gain by your applicable rate gives the tax owed. The complexity in capital gains tax isn't the arithmetic — it's determining the right rate, which is why this calculator lets you supply it directly rather than guessing.
A worked example
A $20,000 cost basis sold for $32,000 gives a $12,000 gain. At a 15% rate (a common US long-term capital gains rate for middle-income filers), the tax is $1,800, leaving $30,200 in net proceeds.
Notes for the UK, US and India
**US**: Long-term gains (assets held over 1 year) are taxed at 0%, 15%, or 20%, depending on taxable income; short-term gains (held under 1 year) are taxed as ordinary income at your marginal tax bracket. **UK**: Capital Gains Tax is 10% (basic-rate taxpayers) or 20% (higher/additional-rate) on most assets — 18%/24% for residential property — after a £3,000 annual tax-free allowance (2024/25). **India**: Long-term gains on listed equity above ₹1,25,000/year are taxed at 12.5% (post-July 2024 Budget); short-term equity gains are taxed at 20%. All figures should be confirmed against current official guidance, since rates and thresholds change.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn't this calculator ask which country I'm in?+
Capital gains rules genuinely differ by country, income level, asset type and holding period — rather than build a simplified (and potentially misleading) auto-lookup, this calculator lets you enter your own correct rate from the market notes above or your tax advisor, then handles the actual gain and tax math precisely.
Does holding period really matter that much?+
In the US, yes significantly — short-term gains (under 1 year) are taxed as ordinary income, often at a much higher rate than the preferential long-term rates. In the UK and India, the distinction also affects the applicable rate, though differently — check current rules for your market.
Are there any tax-free allowances I should know about?+
Yes — many countries offer an annual tax-free capital gains allowance (e.g. the UK's £3,000 for 2024/25). If your total gain for the year is below that allowance, you may owe no tax at all — check your country's current threshold before applying a rate to the full gain shown here.
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