What are Capital Gains?
Capital gains are the difference between a security’s purchase price and its selling price, when the difference is positive and sold at a profit.
When it comes to mutual funds, capital gains may also be realized without selling the security as a distribution of gains the fund has made and pays out to shareholders.
Capital Gains Calculator
To determine capital gains, subtract your basis (what you paid), from the amount realized (how much you sold it for). The difference is your capital gain if it is a positive number, or capital loss if it is negative.
Capital Gain/Loss = Selling Price – Purchase Price
What is Capital Gains Tax?
Capital gains tax is a type of tax applied to the profits earned on the sale of a long-term asset. These gains are usually taxed at a lower rate than income.
What Qualifies as Capital Gains?
Any asset that is sold for more than you paid for it qualifies as a capital gain.
Short-term capital gains are assets held for a year or less and are typically taxed at a higher rate. Long-term gains are assets held for more than a year and are taxed at a lower rate.
