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

California Stocks capital gains in this model: Graduated income tax (top rate up to 13.3%). Use this calculator to stack federal long-term or short-term tax, NIIT when it applies, and California's modeled treatment. California generally taxes the gain as ordinary state income, so the state line can rival or exceed the federal long-term rate on a large sale.

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.

What you sold

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

Asset type

When you bought and sold

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

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 tax on stocks and ETFs

California generally taxes stocks and ETFs gains under its graduated income-tax framework (Graduated income tax (top rate up to 13.3%)). This estimate applies the top modeled California rate to remaining taxable gain.

Federal rules for stocks and ETFs: Broker sales generally report on Form 1099-B and flow to Form 8949 and Schedule D. Wash-sale disallowance can apply if you repurchase a substantially identical security within 30 days. Holding period still matters for LTCG vs STCG except where a longer QSBS or real-estate test applies.

Open the parent California calculator for a generic sale, or the national Stocks lander for asset-only copy. Nearby states below keep the same stocks preset so you can compare residency. Estimates are not tax advice.

A stock or ETF loss can be disallowed if you buy the same or a substantially identical security inside the 30-day wash-sale window. This illustration does not turn that disallowance on.

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/.

California calculatorStocks (all states)U.S. Capital Gains Tax CalculatorWash-sale ruleShort-term vs long-term

Illustrated tax on a long-term gain

Stocks held long enough for long-term treatment in California. Investment real estate does not use Section 121 in this table. QSBS uses a more-than-five-year hold.

GainFederalNIITCaliforniaTexas state tax
$25,000.00$3,750.00$0.00$3,325.00$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.

FAQ

California Stocks FAQs

How does California tax stocks and ETFs capital gains?

California generally taxes stocks and ETFs gains under its graduated income-tax framework (Graduated income tax (top rate up to 13.3%)). This estimate applies the top modeled California rate to remaining taxable gain.

Do wash sales change a California stocks estimate?

Federally, a wash sale can disallow a securities loss. California then taxes remaining recognized gain under graduated income tax (top rate up to 13.3%). Mark the wash-sale checkbox if you replaced shares inside 30 days.

Which IRS forms apply to a California stocks sale?

Plan around Form 1099-B, Form 8949, and Schedule D. California may require its own income-tax return when the state line is not $0. NIIT, if any, is computed on Form 8960.

Does California tax stocks gains if I am a part-year resident?

This page assumes full-year California residency and applies graduated income tax (top rate up to 13.3%) to taxable stocks and ETFs gain. Part-year allocation and nonresident sourcing are not modeled — use California instructions or a CPA.

What does the California Stocks illustration assume?

The California Stocks rows use a single filer with $80,000 of other income and a long-term gain in 2026. A stock or ETF loss can be disallowed if you buy the same or a substantially identical security inside the 30-day wash-sale window. This illustration does not turn that disallowance on. Texas is the no-tax comparison, not a second residency.

Same asset, nearby states