Crypto Capital Gains Tax Calculator (US, 2026)
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Estimate the US federal tax on your crypto gains for tax year 2026 (the return you file in early 2027). It runs in your browser: nothing you type is sent anywhere.
How the calculator works
It follows the order the IRS uses on Schedule D and the capital gains worksheet:
- Net your gains and losses. Short-term results are netted together, long-term results are netted together, then a loss on one side reduces a gain on the other.
- Apply the loss limit. If you end up with a net loss, up to $3,000 ($1,500 if married filing separately) comes off your other income this year. The rest carries forward to next year.
- Tax short-term gains as ordinary income. They are stacked on top of your wages and other income and taxed at your normal bracket rates (10% to 37%).
- Tax long-term gains at 0%, 15% or 20%. Which rate applies depends on your total taxable income, including the gain itself. The gain sits on top of your other income, so part of it can fall in one band and part in the next.
- Add the 3.8% net investment income tax if your income is above the threshold.
The answer at the top is the difference between your federal tax with the crypto and without it. That is the number most people actually want: what the crypto cost them at tax time.
2026 numbers used
All figures come from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32, which sets the inflation-adjusted amounts for tax year 2026.
| Filing status | Standard deduction | 0% long-term rate up to | 15% rate up to | 20% above |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | $16,100 | $49,450 | $545,500 | $545,500 |
| Married filing jointly | $32,200 | $98,900 | $613,700 | $613,700 |
| Married filing separately | $16,100 | $49,450 | $306,850 | $306,850 |
| Head of household | $24,150 | $66,200 | $579,600 | $579,600 |
The long-term thresholds are amounts of taxable income (after your deduction), not of the gain alone.
Ordinary income brackets for a single filer in 2026: 10% up to $12,400, 12% up to $50,400, 22% up to $105,700, 24% up to $201,775, 32% up to $256,225, 35% up to $640,600, and 37% above that. The calculator uses the full tables for every filing status.
The 3.8% net investment income tax applies to the smaller of your net investment income or the amount your modified AGI exceeds $200,000 (single or head of household), $250,000 (married filing jointly) or $125,000 (married filing separately). Those thresholds are set in the law and are not adjusted for inflation.
Three worked examples
These are calculated with the same code as the calculator above.
1. Single, $70,000 salary, $5,000 short-term gain and $10,000 long-term gain. The short-term gain is taxed at 22%, the long-term gain at 15%. Federal tax goes from $6,570 to $9,170, so the crypto costs $2,600. Had the short-term coins been held past one year, the bill would have been $350 lower.
2. Married filing jointly, $90,000 combined income, $20,000 long-term gain. Taxable income after the $32,200 standard deduction is $77,800, below the $98,900 ceiling for the 0% rate. The gain adds $0 in federal income tax. It still has to be reported on Form 8949.
3. Single, $40,000 salary, $8,000 short-term loss and $2,000 long-term gain. The net loss is $6,000. You deduct $3,000 this year, which saves about $360, and carry $3,000 into 2027.
What counts as a gain or loss
In the US, the IRS treats crypto as property. You have a capital gain or loss when you:
- sell crypto for dollars or another currency
- swap one coin for another (including stablecoins)
- pay for goods or services with crypto
Buying crypto with dollars and moving coins between your own wallets are not taxable events, but you need records of both to prove your cost basis later. Staking rewards, mining income and airdrops are generally ordinary income when you receive them; enter them in the "other income" box. Our US crypto tax guide covers each case with the IRS source.
What this calculator leaves out
- State income tax. Most states tax capital gains as ordinary income; a few have no income tax.
- Alternative minimum tax, credits and other special rules that change your total tax.
- Collectibles. Long-term gains on collectibles can be taxed at up to 28%. Some NFTs may fall into this category.
- Your cost basis. The calculator needs your net gain. Working out that number across exchanges and wallets is the hard part. Start with the exchange guides to export your history.
This guide is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Tax rules depend on your country and situation; check with a qualified tax professional before you file.