Collectibles tax treatment
Collectibles — such as works of art, antiques, stamps, coins, and certain precious metals — face a special federal long-term capital gains ceiling of 28%. That is higher than the 20% maximum that applies to most other long-term capital assets, so large collectible sales can produce a heavier federal bill than an equivalent stock sale.
Short-term collectibles gains (held one year or less) are still taxed as ordinary income. If your ordinary marginal rate is below 28%, your long-term collectibles rate may also be limited by your ordinary rate under the tax computation rules — the 28% figure is a ceiling, not a flat rate for every taxpayer.
NIIT and state tax can still apply. Some states follow federal collectibles characterisation; others simply tax the gain as ordinary state income. Auction fees, dealer commissions, and insurance costs may affect net proceeds or basis — keep detailed records.
Use this calculator with the collectibles tab selected to estimate federal, NIIT, and state layers. Confirm characterisations with IRS publications and a tax professional familiar with collectibles before filing.
Also see
Other calculators, how we model the numbers, and IRS Topic 409.