West Virginia Capital Gains Tax Calculator
West Virginia taxes capital gains as ordinary income at the state level, which means a gain on selling shares, property or other investments is added to your other income and taxed using the West Virginia income tax brackets, with no separate preferential long-term rate like the federal system provides. This calculator estimates the West Virginia state tax on a capital gain by stacking the gain on top of your other taxable income and applying the sourced West Virginia State Tax Department brackets for tax year 2024, then taking the difference. Enter your gain, your other annual taxable income and your filing status to see the state tax attributable to the gain and the effective rate on it. The result is the West Virginia state portion only; federal capital gains tax, which has separate short-term and long-term rates set by the IRS, is calculated separately. Because the gain stacks on your other income, the same gain is taxed at a higher rate the more you already earn. Some states provide specific exclusions or preferential treatment for certain gains; this tool uses the standard ordinary-income method and links the West Virginia State Tax Department so you can confirm any special rule that applies to you.
West Virginia taxes capital gains as ordinary income. A $20,000.00 gain on top of $60,000.00 of other income (single) adds about $0.00 in West Virginia state tax, an effective rate on the gain of 0.00%.
How West Virginia taxes capital gains
West Virginia taxes capital gains as ordinary income, so the gain is added to your other income and taxed at the West Virginia bracket rates.
state tax on gain = state income tax on (other income + gain) - state income tax on (other income)
effective rate on gain = state tax on gain / gain x 100
West Virginia capital gains tax: frequently asked questions
How are capital gains taxed in West Virginia?
West Virginia taxes capital gains as ordinary income at the state level: the gain is added to your other taxable income and taxed using the West Virginia income tax brackets published by the West Virginia State Tax Department. This calculator applies those brackets to your gain. Some states provide specific exclusions or rates for particular gains; confirm your situation with the West Virginia State Tax Department.
How much state tax will I pay on a $20,000.00 capital gain in West Virginia?
Stacked on $60,000.00 of other income, a $20,000.00 gain adds about $0.00 of West Virginia state income tax for a single filer, an effective rate on the gain of 0.00%. Your figure depends on your total income and filing status; enter them above.
Does West Virginia have a separate long-term capital gains rate?
Most states, including the default treatment here, tax long-term and short-term capital gains at the same ordinary income rates, unlike the federal system which has preferential long-term rates. Any state-specific exclusion or preferential rate is set by the West Virginia State Tax Department; this calculator uses the ordinary income method and links the source.
What are West Virginia's income tax brackets for 2024?
For 2024, West Virginia uses five brackets, the same for all filing statuses. The rates are 2.36% on income up to $10,000; 3.15% on $10,001 to $25,000; 3.54% on $25,001 to $40,000; 4.72% on $40,001 to $60,000; and 5.12% on income above $60,000.
What did West Virginia HB 2526 do?
House Bill 2526, signed in 2023, cut all West Virginia individual income tax rates by 21.25% compared to the previous schedule. The prior top rate of 6.5% fell to 5.12%, and the previous bottom rate of 3% fell to 2.36%. The reductions applied to all five brackets uniformly and took effect beginning with tax year 2023.
Does West Virginia have a standard deduction?
No. West Virginia does not offer a standard deduction. Instead, the state provides a personal exemption credit of $2,000 per exemption, including the taxpayer, spouse, and each dependent. This credit is subtracted directly from the tax owed rather than from taxable income. Authority: West Virginia Code §11-21-12a.
Are West Virginia income tax rates continuing to fall?
Yes. Following HB 2526 (2023), West Virginia enacted further legislation to continue phasing down rates. Governor Justice and the Legislature have expressed intent to eliminate the personal income tax over time, and additional incremental cuts have been signed into law. The West Virginia State Tax Department publishes updated rate tables each year.
Official sources
- West Virginia income tax rates applied to capital gains (tax year 2024): West Virginia State Tax Department, as at Jun 12, 2026.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 25 June 2026. See our methodology. General information, not financial or tax advice. State-specific exclusions, if any, are set by the West Virginia State Tax Department.