Calculate your stock profit or loss including commissions, capital gains tax, and return on investment.
How Stock Profit Calculation Works
Stock profit is the difference between what you receive when selling (revenue) and what you paid to buy (cost), minus commissions and taxes. The holding period determines your tax rate — long-term capital gains (held over 1 year) are taxed at preferential rates of 0%, 15%, or 20%, while short-term gains are taxed as ordinary income.
Capital Gains Tax
In the US, long-term capital gains rates for 2024 are 0% (up to $47,025 for single filers), 15% (up to $518,900), or 20% (above that). Short-term gains are taxed at your ordinary income tax bracket, which can be as high as 37%.
Stock profit = (Sell Price × Shares) - (Buy Price × Shares) - Commissions - Taxes. For example, buying 100 shares at $50 and selling at $70 gives a gross profit of $2,000. After 15% long-term capital gains tax ($300), your net profit is $1,700.
If you hold a stock for more than one year before selling, the profit is taxed at long-term capital gains rates (0%, 15%, or 20% depending on income). Stocks held for one year or less are taxed at short-term rates, which match your ordinary income tax bracket (up to 37%). This makes a significant difference in your after-tax return.
Yes. Capital losses offset capital gains dollar-for-dollar. If your losses exceed your gains, you can deduct up to $3,000 per year against ordinary income. Remaining losses carry forward to future tax years. This is called tax-loss harvesting and is a common strategy to reduce your tax bill.
This calculator focuses on price appreciation (buy low, sell high). Dividend income is calculated separately. For dividend analysis, try our Dividend Income Calculator or DRIP Calculator, which project income from dividend-paying stocks.
Selling losing positions to offset gains can save thousands in taxes. Losses offset gains dollar-for-dollar, plus up to $3,000/year against ordinary income. Remaining losses carry forward indefinitely.