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Disclaimer
The Capital Gains Ledger calculator and everything on this site are provided for education only. They are estimates — not tax, legal, or financial advice.
Published & last updated · Applies to CapGainsTaxCalc.com and all its tools and articles.
This calculator gives estimates for educational purposes only and is not tax, legal, accounting, or financial advice. Tax law is complex and situation-specific, so your real liability may differ. Consult a qualified CPA, enrolled agent, or tax attorney before you act, and treat the IRS and the Internal Revenue Code as the sole authorities. Figures for future years, including 2026, are projections marked (est.).
Is anything on this site tax advice?
No. The Capital Gains Ledger is an independent educational publication. The calculator, the worked examples, the state pages, and every article are general information intended to help you understand how U.S. capital gains tax is structured. Nothing here is tax, legal, accounting, or financial advice, and nothing here is tailored to your individual facts. Using the calculator or reading the site does not create a professional, advisory, fiduciary, or client relationship of any kind.
Why is the calculator only an estimate?
The engine applies the published federal framework — the 0%, 15%, and 20% long-term brackets under IRC §1(h), the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax under IRC §1411, and the primary-residence exclusion under IRC §121 — to the handful of inputs you type in. Real returns are more complicated. A number of things can move your actual liability, and the calculator does not model all of them:
- The Alternative Minimum Tax and how it interacts with capital gains.
- Depreciation recapture on real estate, taxed up to 25% under IRC §1250.
- The 28% maximum rate on collectibles and certain qualified small business stock under IRC §1(h).
- Wash-sale rules under IRC §1091, capital-loss limits, and loss carryforwards.
- State and local tax nuances, part-year residency, credits, phase-outs, and other items unique to your return.
Where a state is selected, the calculator applies that state's top marginal rate as a simplifying assumption; your effective state result may differ. Treat every figure as a ballpark for learning, not as a number to copy onto a filed return.
Why should you consult a qualified professional?
Tax law is complex, changes frequently, and turns on details specific to your situation — your other income, your basis records, the character of the asset, your residency, and elections you may or may not qualify for. A generic tool cannot weigh those the way a professional who reviews your actual documents can. Before you rely on any number here, consult a licensed CPA, an IRS enrolled agent, or a tax attorney. For the sale of a home or business, or anything involving trusts, gifts, or large amounts, professional review is especially important.
Who has the final word on your tax?
The Internal Revenue Service and the Internal Revenue Code are the sole authorities on federal tax; your state's department of revenue governs state tax. Where anything on this site conflicts with the IRS, the Internal Revenue Code, official IRS publications, or the advice of your own professional, those official sources control — not this site. Always confirm against primary sources such as IRS Topic No. 409 and IRS Publication 550.
Why are 2026 figures labeled "(est.)"?
Many bracket breakpoints, standard-deduction amounts, and exclusion thresholds are adjusted for inflation each year. Until the IRS publishes its final numbers for a tax year, the amounts we show for future years — including some 2026 figures — are projections. We mark any such projected dollar threshold with (est.) so you know it is not yet official. Verify these against the final IRS release before relying on them, and expect some to shift.
What accuracy do you promise?
We make a good-faith, best-effort attempt at accuracy and cite the underlying law and IRS guidance for every figure. Even so, this site and its tools are provided "as is," without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including any implied warranty of accuracy, completeness, merchantability, or fitness for a particular purpose. We do not warrant that the content is error-free, current, or applicable to your circumstances. To the fullest extent permitted by law, The Capital Gains Ledger and its authors are not liable for any loss or damage arising from your use of, or reliance on, this site — you use it at your own risk.
External links and no endorsement
We link to primary sources such as the Internal Revenue Code on law.cornell.edu and official guidance on irs.gov so you can verify our figures. We do not control those sites and are not responsible for their content. Links do not imply endorsement, and advertisements shown on this site are served by third parties and are not recommendations by us.
Disclaimer, answered
Is this calculator tax advice?
No. The calculator and everything on this site is general educational information only. It is not tax, legal, accounting, or financial advice, and using it does not create a professional or client relationship. For advice about your own situation, consult a qualified CPA, enrolled agent, or tax attorney.
Can I rely on these numbers to file my tax return?
No. The figures are estimates for illustration and education. Your actual liability depends on facts the calculator does not capture — AMT, depreciation recapture under IRC §1250, the 28% collectibles rate, wash-sale rules, state-specific treatment, and loss carryforwards. Verify every figure with a licensed professional and the official IRS instructions before filing.
Why are some 2026 dollar thresholds marked as estimates?
Several 2026 bracket breakpoints and exclusion amounts are inflation-adjusted figures that are projected until the IRS publishes its final release. Any projected amount is labeled (est.) and should be verified against the official IRS numbers once they are released.
Who is the authoritative source for my tax liability?
The Internal Revenue Service and the Internal Revenue Code are the sole authorities on federal tax, and your state's revenue department on state tax. Where anything on this site conflicts with the IRS, the Internal Revenue Code, IRS publications, or your professional advisor, those official sources govern.
Primary sources
- 26 U.S.C. §1(h) — capital gains rates
- 26 U.S.C. §1411 — 3.8% NIIT
- 26 U.S.C. §121 — home-sale exclusion
- 26 U.S.C. §1250 — depreciation recapture
- 26 U.S.C. §1091 — wash sales
- IRS Topic No. 409 — Capital Gains and Losses
- IRS Publication 550 — Investment Income
- IRS Publication 523 — Selling Your Home
Questions about this disclaimer? See our About and Contact pages, or review the full Privacy Policy. Estimates only — not tax advice.