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.
| Gain | Federal | NIIT | California | Texas 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.
