California Capital Gains Tax 2026: Graduated income tax (top rate up to 13.3%)

California capital gains are modeled as Graduated income tax (top rate up to 13.3%). Use this free calculator to estimate capital gains tax in California, including federal rates, NIIT when applicable, and California's state treatment (graduated income tax (top rate up to 13.3%)).

State treatment: Graduated income tax (top rate up to 13.3%)·Official source ↗

Rates last verified: August 2026

Capital Gains Calculator

Federal · NIIT · All 50 states

2026 ratesIRS verified

Follow the three steps, save the sale, then calculate. Required fields are marked with *.

Your tax profile

These apply to every sale in this estimate.

Tax year

Filing status

State

Annual taxable income (before these gains)

Capital loss carried from prior years

What you sold

Prices and quantity for this lot. Give it a name if you will add more than one sale.

Asset type

Asset name

Buy price

Sell price

Quantity / units

Selling expenses

Repurchased within 30 days (wash-sale check)

When you bought and sold

The IRS uses these dates to decide short-term vs long-term rates.

Buy date

Sell date

Next: Save this sale to the order log, then click Calculate now. Tax results do not update until you calculate.

Order log

Sales included in this tax estimate.

Please fill in the details to see your results. Follow the three steps on the left, then save a sale here.

California capital gains tax overview

California generally taxes capital gains as ordinary income under steep graduated brackets, so a large stock, crypto, or home sale can face a heavier state layer than in zero-tax states even when the federal long-term rate is 15% or 20%. This page estimates federal tax and NIIT, then adds California’s modeled ordinary-income treatment (this model does not add Mental Health Services Tax).

Federally, short-term gains (held one year or less) are taxed as ordinary income, while long-term gains generally use 0%, 15%, or 20% preferential rates for tax years 2025 and 2026. High earners may also owe the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax when MAGI exceeds the IRS threshold for their filing status.

California generally taxes capital gains under its graduated income-tax framework. For planning estimates we apply California's top modeled rate (graduated income tax (top rate up to 13.3%)) to taxable gains. Your actual marginal state rate may be lower depending on total California taxable income.

California figures in this model are drawn from the official source we cite for the state: https://www.ftb.ca.gov/. Confirm the current-year statute or agency page before you file — rates and special rules can change.

California does not give capital gains a preferential state rate. The model applies graduated income tax with a top rate up to 13.3% to taxable gain, the same way it treats wages. A long-term federal 15% or 20% bill can therefore sit next to a larger California line on a big sale.

The Mental Health Services Tax is not added on top of that 13.3% figure in this calculator. Residency, not the exchange where the shares traded, is what this page assumes for the state line.

Rates last verified: August 2026. Official source: https://www.ftb.ca.gov/.

Use the calculator above with filing status and income to stack federal long-term or short-term tax, NIIT, and California state tax. Compare nearby states from the links below, review our methodology for data sources (including California's official reference), and consult a CPA before filing. This page is educational and not tax advice.

California rate snapshot

Category	graduated
Summary	Graduated income tax (top rate up to 13.3%)
Abbreviation	CA
Top / modeled rate	13.30%

Illustrated tax on a long-term gain

Long-term stock gain while living in California. Federal and NIIT use the same income on every state page. The California column is the only state tax that changes.

Gain	Federal	NIIT	California	Texas state tax
$50,000.00	$7,500.00	$0.00	$6,650.00	$0.00
$100,000.00	$15,000.00	$0.00	$13,300.00	$0.00
$250,000.00	$37,500.00	$4,940.00	$33,250.00	$0.00

Single filer, tax year 2026, $80,000.00 of other taxable income. Texas is the no-tax comparison. Illustration only, not your return.

Always verify rates with theCalifornia revenue agencyand review ourmethodology. Not tax advice.

Estimate California tax by asset

Estimate California tax on stocks, crypto, real estate, collectibles, and QSBS.

FAQ

California FAQs

How does California tax capital gains?

California generally taxes capital gains under its graduated income-tax framework (Graduated income tax (top rate up to 13.3%)). For planning we apply the top modeled rate to taxable gains; your actual California marginal rate may be lower depending on total taxable income.

Is the California amount on this calculator exact?

No. Graduated states are estimated at the top modeled rate, not a full multi-bracket state return. Federal tax and NIIT are stacked separately. Federal short-term and long-term capital gains tax, and the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax when MAGI exceeds the IRS threshold, can still apply.

Where do California rates come from?

Our model cites https://www.ftb.ca.gov/. Use this page for a combined federal-plus-state planning estimate, then confirm with California instructions or a CPA.

Are California capital gains sourced by residency or by where the asset sits?

California generally taxes residents on worldwide income, including capital gains, under its graduated framework (Graduated income tax (top rate up to 13.3%)). Nonresidents may still owe California tax on certain sourced assets such as in-state real property. This page assumes California residency for the state line.

Does California use the federal 0%, 15%, and 20% long-term rates?

Not for the state line. California’s model taxes the gain as ordinary income on a graduated scale with a top rate up to 13.3%. The federal 0/15/20 brackets still apply separately.

Does this California estimate include the Mental Health Services Tax?

No. The 13.3% top rate in this model does not stack an extra Mental Health Services Tax. Confirm the current Franchise Tax Board computation before you file.

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