What will I owe if I sell this stock?

How the math works

If you held the stock more than a year, the gain is long term and gets its own rates: 0%, 15% or 20%, depending on where your total taxable income lands. For 2026 the 0% rate covers taxable income up to $49,450 if you're single, $98,900 if you're married filing jointly and $66,200 for head of household.

If you held it a year or less, the gain is short term, and it's taxed just like your paycheck at your regular rate, which can go as high as 37%.

Losses you've already sold this year come off the gain first. If you end up with a net loss, up to $3,000 of it comes off your other income, and the rest carries forward to future years.

On top of that, if your income is over $200,000 single or $250,000 married filing jointly, the 3.8% net investment income tax can apply to some or all of the gain.

What this leaves out

State income tax (Texas, where I live, doesn't have one, but most states do), itemized deductions, credits, the alternative minimum tax, qualified dividends, other gains you've taken this year and losses carried in from past years. Married filing separately isn't included either. Rates are from the IRS's 2026 inflation adjustments (Revenue Procedure 2025-32).

Watch

• Tax-Loss Harvesting: What a $6,000 Loss Can Actually Save You
• Should I Sell My Stocks Now? Ask These 6 Questions First.