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The Daily Insight

Is income tax paid on capital gains?

Author

John Thompson

Published Mar 23, 2026

Capital gains are generally included in taxable income, but in most cases, are taxed at a lower rate. Short-term capital gains are taxed as ordinary income at rates up to 37 percent; long-term gains are taxed at lower rates, up to 20 percent.

How do capital gains taxes get paid?

If you sell a capital asset you owned for one year or less, you will pay tax at your ordinary income tax rate. For example, say you sold stock at a profit of $10,000. You held the stock for six months. If you are in the 25 percent tax bracket, for example, your tax rate on long-term capital gains is only 15 percent.

Do you pay capital gains or ordinary income tax?

Most states tax capital gains and ordinary income at the same rate, but nine states tax long-term capital gains at a lower rate than ordinary income, and nine more have no capital gains tax (or income tax) at all.

What kind of tax do you pay on cap gains?

After that, your long-term cap gains income would be taxed at capital gains rates rather than ordinary income rates. Thanks for contributing an answer to Personal Finance & Money Stack Exchange!

What are the tax rates for long term capital gains?

If you have owned the asset for longer than one year, the gain will typically be subject to the tax rates of a long-term capital gain, which is generally lower than the rates for ordinary income. Currently, the federal rates for tax on long-term capital gains are 0, 15, or 20%, depending on your income.

When do you pay capital gains tax from an asset disposition?

Keep in mind that some states also levy a capital gain tax. Most states tax capital gains and ordinary income at the same rate, but nine states tax long-term capital gains at a lower rate than ordinary income, and nine more have no capital gains tax (or income tax) at all. When Do I Need To Pay The Capital Gains Tax From An Asset Disposition?