Capital Gains Tax Calculator 2026

What You Need to Know

How It Works

This calculator starts with the two numbers that matter most, what you paid for the asset and what you sold it for. Subtract your purchase price and any allowable expenses from your sale price, and what is left is your capital gain. From there, the calculation branches depending on the country you select, since every tax authority treats that gain a little differently.

Choose Canada and the tool applies the 50 percent inclusion rate, meaning only half of your gain gets added to your taxable income, then taxed at your marginal rate based on your province and income level. Choose the USA and the calculator checks your holding period first, gains on assets held over a year get the preferential long-term rates of 0, 15, or 20 percent depending on your income and filing status, while anything held a year or less is taxed as ordinary income. The UK option applies the current basic or higher rate bands depending on whether the asset is property or another investment type, and Australia applies its 50 percent discount for assets held over 12 months before taxing the remainder at your marginal rate. If your country is not listed, the Worldwide tab lets you enter your own capital gains tax rate directly, so the calculator can still work with your numbers.

Once the rate is applied, the tool shows your total tax owed, your effective rate on the full gain, and what you are left with after tax, alongside a full breakdown of every step so you can see exactly how the final number was reached.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is capital gains tax?

Capital gains tax is a tax on the profit you make when you sell an asset for more than you originally paid for it. The gain is worked out as your sale price minus your original cost and any allowable expenses. It applies to a wide range of assets including shares, investment property, cryptocurrency, and other investments, though it typically does not apply to your primary residence or to assets held inside a registered account such as a TFSA in Canada or an ISA in the UK.

How does Canada’s capital gains inclusion rate work?

Canada does not have a separate capital gains tax rate. Instead, a portion of your gain is added to your taxable income and taxed at your marginal rate. As of 2026, that inclusion rate sits at 50 percent for individuals, so only half of your gain counts toward your income for the year. If you made a 100,000 dollar gain, 50,000 dollars is added to your taxable income, and if your marginal rate happens to be 33 percent, your effective capital gains tax rate works out to 16.5 percent. Gains realized inside a TFSA remain completely tax free.

What are the US long-term capital gains rates?

In the United States, assets held for more than a year qualify for the preferential long-term rates. For 2026, that means 0 percent on taxable income up to 47,025 dollars if single or 94,050 dollars if married filing jointly, 15 percent up to 518,900 dollars single or 583,750 dollars married, and 20 percent above those thresholds. High earners may also owe an additional 3.8 percent net investment income tax on top. Short-term gains, on assets held a year or less, are taxed as ordinary income instead, which can run as high as 37 percent.

Is cryptocurrency subject to capital gains tax?

In most countries, yes. Cryptocurrency is generally treated as a capital asset, so selling it for cash, trading one coin for another, spending it on goods or services, and in some places even gifting it, can all count as a disposal that triggers capital gains tax. The gain is calculated the same way as any other asset, sale proceeds minus what you originally paid, so keeping accurate records of every transaction matters more with crypto than with most other asset types.

Does capital gains tax apply to my main home?

Most countries give your primary residence some form of exemption or relief. Canada’s principal residence exemption removes your main home from capital gains tax entirely. The US allows individuals to exclude up to 250,000 dollars of gain, or 500,000 dollars for married couples, on a primary residence lived in for at least two of the past five years. The UK offers similar relief through private residence relief, and Australia generally treats a primary residence as exempt as well. This calculator is built with investment properties and other disposable assets in mind, not the home you live in.

What costs can I deduct from my capital gain?

Allowable costs vary by country, but they generally include your original purchase price, brokerage or legal fees paid when you bought the asset, improvement costs for property, professional advice tied directly to the sale, and selling costs like agent commissions and legal fees. Loan interest, routine maintenance, and general repairs usually cannot be deducted. Since these details differ by jurisdiction and by asset type, keeping thorough records of every cost from the day you acquire an asset to the day you sell it will save a lot of guesswork later.

What You Need to Know

The rates and thresholds built into this calculator reflect 2026 figures, and tax rules like these are revised fairly often, sometimes annually, so it is worth checking that the numbers you are working with are still current if you are using this for anything beyond a rough estimate. This tool also assumes a fairly straightforward disposal, a single asset sold for cash. It does not account for more complex situations such as gains split between multiple owners, assets that have been partly used for business, transfers between related parties, or losses carried forward from previous years that could offset the gain shown here.

If you hold assets across more than one country, or if your gain involves inherited property, a trust, or a business sale, the interaction between different tax systems can get complicated quickly, and this calculator will not capture those nuances. Treat the result here as a solid starting point for planning purposes, then bring your actual numbers to a professional before filing or making a final decision on when to sell.

The figures produced by this calculator are estimates only, based on general 2026 tax rates and thresholds, and do not account for every personal circumstance that can affect your actual capital gains tax liability. Always consult a qualified accountant or tax professional before making decisions about buying, selling, or reporting capital assets.