2023 Capital Gains Tax Rate
For 2023, the Capital Gains Tax Rate is $89,250 (Top of the 0% bracket, joint filers), $553,850 (Top of the 15% bracket, joint filers), $44,625 (Top of the 0% bracket, married filing separately) and 9 more figures below.
| Item | Rate | Joint filers | Married filing separately | Heads of household | Single filers | Estates and trusts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top of the 0% bracket | - | $89,250 | $44,625 | $59,750 | $44,625 | $3,000 |
| Top of the 15% bracket | 15% | $553,850 | $276,900 | $523,050 | $492,300 | $14,650 |
| Rate above the 15% bracket | 20% | - | - | - | - | - |
A dash is a figure this site has not published for that row, not an amount of zero.
Effective 2023-01-01Source: Rev. Proc. 2022-38 (IRS)Verified 2026-09-01
Rate above the 15% bracketSource: Publication 550 (2023), Investment Income and Expenses (IRS)Verified 2026-09-01
Compared with 2022
| Item | 2022 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top of the 0% bracket, joint filers | $83,350 | $89,250 | +$5,900 (+7.1%) |
| Top of the 15% bracket, joint filers | $517,200 | $553,850 | +$36,650 (+7.1%) |
| Top of the 0% bracket, married filing separately | $41,675 | $44,625 | +$2,950 (+7.1%) |
| Top of the 15% bracket, married filing separately | $258,600 | $276,900 | +$18,300 (+7.1%) |
| Top of the 0% bracket, heads of household | $55,800 | $59,750 | +$3,950 (+7.1%) |
| Top of the 15% bracket, heads of household | $488,500 | $523,050 | +$34,550 (+7.1%) |
| Top of the 0% bracket, single filers | $41,675 | $44,625 | +$2,950 (+7.1%) |
| Top of the 15% bracket, single filers | $459,750 | $492,300 | +$32,550 (+7.1%) |
| Top of the 0% bracket, estates and trusts | $2,800 | $3,000 | +$200 (+7.1%) |
| Top of the 15% bracket, estates and trusts | $13,700 | $14,650 | +$950 (+6.9%) |
| Rate above the 0% bracket | 15% | 15% | +0% (+0.0%) |
| Rate above the 15% bracket | 20% | 20% | +0% (+0.0%) |
Who it applies to
These amounts apply to individuals, estates and trusts with net capital gain or qualified dividends taxed under § 1(h) and § 1(j) for a taxable year beginning in 2023, and which pair applies depends on filing status. Rev. Proc. 2022-38 lists five statuses: married individuals filing joint returns and surviving spouses, married individuals filing separate returns, heads of household, all other individuals, which is the row a single filer uses, and estates and trusts. All five pairs are published on this page. The first amount in each pair is the maximum zero rate amount, the ceiling below which the long-term rate is zero. The second is the maximum 15% rate amount, the ceiling of the band taxed at 15%. Above that second ceiling a higher rate applies, and Rev. Proc. 2022-38 states no amount for it, so no rate above 15% is published here. Neither figure caps the gain that may be realized; each marks a point at which the rate on further gain changes.
What changed this year, and why
Rev. Proc. 2022-38 states the maximum capital gains rate amounts under § 1(h) and § 1(j) for taxable years beginning in 2023, and gives a pair of amounts for every filing status. The maximum zero rate amount is $89,250 on a joint return or for a surviving spouse, $44,625 for a married individual filing a separate return, $59,750 for a head of household, $44,625 for any other individual, and $3,000 for an estate or trust. The maximum 15% rate amount is $553,850 on a joint return or for a surviving spouse, $276,900 for a married individual filing a separate return, $523,050 for a head of household, $492,300 for any other individual, and $14,650 for an estate or trust. What the revenue procedure adjusts is the amounts themselves, not the rates: the bands are set by the Code and only the income at which each band ends moves with inflation. Against 2022, the zero rate amount for any other individual moved from $41,675 to $44,625 and the 15% rate amount from $459,750 to $492,300; on a joint return the two moved from $83,350 to $89,250 and from $517,200 to $553,850.
Common questions
- What are the 2023 long-term capital gains brackets?
- For taxable years beginning in 2023, Rev. Proc. 2022-38 states a maximum zero rate amount of $89,250 on a joint return or for a surviving spouse, $44,625 for a married individual filing a separate return, $59,750 for a head of household, $44,625 for any other individual, and $3,000 for an estate or trust. The maximum 15% rate amount is $553,850 on a joint return or for a surviving spouse, $276,900 for a married individual filing a separate return, $523,050 for a head of household, $492,300 for any other individual, and $14,650 for an estate or trust. Gain below the first amount for your status is taxed at the zero rate, gain between the two at 15%.
- How much can a single filer make before paying capital gains tax in 2023?
- The maximum zero rate amount for all other individuals, the row that covers single filers, is $44,625 for taxable years beginning in 2023. It is the ceiling of the zero rate band, not an exemption and not a cap on gains. Gain that carries the total above $44,625 falls in the next band, which runs to $492,300.
- What is the 2023 capital gains zero rate amount for married couples filing jointly?
- It is $89,250 for taxable years beginning in 2023, the maximum zero rate amount Rev. Proc. 2022-38 states for married individuals filing joint returns and surviving spouses. The same row gives $553,850 as the maximum 15% rate amount. A couple filing separately is a different row, at $44,625 and $276,900.
- What are the 2023 capital gains thresholds for a head of household?
- Rev. Proc. 2022-38 states $59,750 as the maximum zero rate amount for an individual who is a head of household for taxable years beginning in 2023, and $523,050 as the maximum 15% rate amount. Both are separate from the amounts for a single filer, which are $44,625 and $492,300.
- Do estates and trusts have their own capital gains thresholds in 2023?
- Yes, and they are far lower than an individual’s. For taxable years beginning in 2023 the maximum zero rate amount for an estate or trust is $3,000 and the maximum 15% rate amount is $14,650. An estate or trust reaches the higher band on much less income than an individual does.
- What rate applies above the 15% band in 2023?
- A higher one, and this page does not state it. Rev. Proc. 2022-38 sets the inflation-adjusted amounts at which the bands end and states no rate above 15%, so publishing one here would go beyond what the document says. The amounts above are the points at which the rate on further gain changes for a taxable year beginning in 2023.
- Which tax year do the 2023 capital gains amounts apply to?
- Taxable years beginning in 2023. A taxpayer whose taxable year is not the calendar year uses these amounts for the taxable year that begins in 2023, so Rev. Proc. 2022-38 applies to that year rather than to the year a return is filed in.
What the lower rates actually apply to
The IRS calls these the "maximum capital gain rates," and they apply to "net capital gain" - the amount by which your net long-term capital gain for the year exceeds your net short-term capital loss. For 2023, the main rates on ordinary investment gains are 0%, 15%, and 20%. The rate that applies to your gain depends on your taxable income and filing status. Single filers pay the 0% rate on taxable income up to $44,625, the 15% rate from there up to $492,300, and the 20% rate above $492,300. Joint filers get wider brackets: 0% up to $89,250, 15% up to $553,850, and 20% above that. Heads of household thresholds are $59,750 for the 0% bracket and $523,050 for the 15% bracket. Married filing separately uses $44,625 and $276,900. Estates and trusts have much tighter brackets: $3,000 for the 0% rate and $14,650 for the 15% rate. If the regular tax computation produces a lower tax than the capital gain rates, the regular rates apply instead. Higher rates of 25% and 28% apply to special categories like unrecaptured section 1250 gain and collectibles.
For 2023, the maximum capital gain rates are 0%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 28%. See Table 4-4 for details.
Publication 550 (2023), Investment Income and Expenses (IRS)
How long you must hold to get the long-term rate
If you sold or traded investment property, you must determine your holding period. Your holding period decides whether your capital gain or loss is short term or long term. You hold investment property more than 1 year to get long-term treatment; if you hold it 1 year or less, the result is short term. You begin counting the day after the date you acquired the property, and the day you disposed of it counts toward the period. For securities traded on an established market, the holding period starts the day after the trade date you bought the securities and ends on the trade date you sold them - do not confuse the trade date with the settlement date. The distinction matters because net capital gain (long-term gain in excess of short-term loss) is eligible for the lower maximum capital gain rates, while short-term gain is taxed at ordinary income rates. For example, if you bought stock on January 31, 2022, and sold it on January 28, 2023, the holding period is not more than 1 year and the gain or loss is short term; if you sold it on February 6, 2023, the holding period is more than 1 year and the gain or loss is long term.
Long-term or short-term. If you hold investment prop- erty more than 1 year, any capital gain or loss is a long-term capital gain or loss. If you hold the property 1 year or less, any capital gain or loss is a short-term capital gain or loss.
Publication 550 (2023), Investment Income and Expenses (IRS)
How much of a loss you can deduct in one year
When your capital losses exceed your capital gains for the year, you can deduct the net loss against other income, but the deduction is capped. Your allowable capital loss deduction is the lesser of $3,000 ($1,500 if you are married and file a separate return) or your total net loss as shown on line 16 of Schedule D (Form 1040). You can use your total net loss to reduce your income dollar for dollar, up to the $3,000 limit. If your total net loss exceeds the yearly limit, the unused portion carries over to the next year and is treated as if you had incurred it in that year. You can continue carrying over remaining losses to later years until the entire loss is used up. When you carry a loss forward, it keeps its original character: a long-term capital loss you carry over reduces the next year's long-term capital gains before it reduces that year's short-term capital gains. You must account for the current year's allowable deduction when computing the carryover, whether or not you actually claimed it or filed a return for that year.
Limit on deduction. Your allowable capital loss deduc- tion, figured on Schedule D (Form 1040), is the lesser of: • $3,000 ($1,500 if you are married and file a separate return), or • Your total net loss as shown on line 16 of Schedule D (Form 1040).
Publication 550 (2023), Investment Income and Expenses (IRS)
The loss you cannot deduct if you buy back in
A wash sale occurs when you sell or trade stock or securities at a loss and within 30 days before or after the sale you buy substantially identical stock or securities, acquire substantially identical stock or securities in a fully taxable trade, acquire a contract or option to buy substantially identical stock or securities, or acquire substantially identical stock for your individual retirement arrangement (IRA) or Roth IRA. If your spouse or a corporation you control buys substantially identical stock after your sale, that also counts as a wash sale. When the wash sale rule disallows your loss, you add the disallowed amount to the cost of the replacement stock or securities (except for stock acquired in an IRA). The result becomes your basis in the new shares, and your holding period for the new shares includes the holding period of the shares you sold. This adjustment defers the loss deduction until you later dispose of the replacement property. The wash sale window runs both before and after the sale, so any purchase of substantially identical stock in that window triggers the rule. The wash sale rules also apply to losses from sales or trades of contracts and options to acquire or sell stock or securities.
You cannot deduct losses from sales or trades of stock or securities in a wash sale unless the loss was incurred in the ordinary course of your business as a dealer in stock or securities. A wash sale occurs when you sell or trade stock or se- curities at a loss and within 30 days before or after the sale you:
Publication 550 (2023), Investment Income and Expenses (IRS)
The extra tax on top of the capital gain rate
Beyond the regular capital gains rates, the IRS may apply a Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT). The NIIT is a 3.8% surtax on the lesser of your net investment income or the portion of your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) that exceeds a threshold amount determined by your filing status. The threshold varies depending on whether you file as married filing jointly, single, head of household, married filing separately, or qualifying surviving spouse. If your MAGI falls below the applicable threshold for your filing status, you owe no NIIT even if you have net investment income. For taxpayers whose income exceeds the threshold, the 3.8% rate applies to the smaller of the MAGI excess or the net investment income. This tax is reported on Form 8960 and is separate from, and in addition to, the regular capital gains tax computed on Schedule D.
The NIIT is a 3.8% tax on the lesser of your net investment income or the amount of your modified adjus- ted gross income (MAGI) that is over a threshold amount based on your filing status.
Publication 550 (2023), Investment Income and Expenses (IRS)
How each figure was verified
Each number below was read from a stored copy of the document named beside it, and checked to occur word for word in the quoted sentence. The digest is of that stored text.
Rev. Proc. 2022-38 (IRS)
- Top of the 0% bracket, joint filers
Married Individuals Filing Joint Returns and Surviving Spouse $89,250
- Top of the 15% bracket, joint filers
Married Individuals Filing Joint Returns and Surviving Spouse $89,250 $553,850
- Top of the 0% bracket, married filing separately
Married Individuals Filing Separate Returns $44,625
- Top of the 15% bracket, married filing separately
Married Individuals Filing Separate Returns $44,625 $276,900
- Top of the 0% bracket, heads of household
Heads of Household $59,750
- Top of the 15% bracket, heads of household
Heads of Household $59,750 $523,050
- Top of the 0% bracket, single filers
All Other Individuals $44,625 $492,300
- Top of the 15% bracket, single filers
All Other Individuals $44,625 $492,300
- Top of the 0% bracket, estates and trusts
Estates and Trusts $3,000
- Top of the 15% bracket, estates and trusts
Estates and Trusts $3,000 $14,650
- Rate above the 0% bracket
maximum 15 percent rate amounts under
Publication 550 (2023), Investment Income and Expenses (IRS)
- Rate above the 15% bracket
other gain1 and the regular tax rate that would apply is 37% your taxable income is... $553,851 or more if married filing jointly or surviving spouse; $523,051 or more if head of household; $276,901 or more if married filing separately; $492,301 or more if single; or $14,651 or more if estate or trust… 20%