Finance Tools

Effective Tax Rate on Investments Calculator

Estimate your effective tax rate on investment income by combining taxes from dividends and capital gains, and see after-tax investment income.

Effective Tax Rate on Investments Calculator

Estimate your effective (blended) tax rate on investment income by combining taxes on dividends and capital gains. This helps you understand your overall tax burden and after-tax investment income.

Enter the dividend income amount for the period you’re analyzing (annual, quarterly, etc.).
Use a withholding or effective rate. Qualified vs ordinary treatment can change this.
Use realized gains for the same period (not unrealized price changes).
Enter your estimated capital gains rate (short-term/long-term rules may apply).

Results

Total Investment Income: $4,000

Total Tax: $750

After-Tax Investment Income: $3,250


Effective Tax Rate (blended): 18.75%

Breakdown: dividend tax $150, capital gains tax $600. This is an estimate for planning.

How to use

  1. Enter dividend income and a dividend tax rate.
  2. Enter capital gains amount and a capital gains tax rate.
  3. Review total tax and your blended effective tax rate.
  4. Adjust rates to compare scenarios (qualified vs ordinary, short vs long term).

FAQ

What is an effective tax rate on investments?

It’s the total tax you pay divided by your total investment income for a period. If you have multiple income types (dividends and gains), it becomes a blended rate.

Should I include unrealized gains?

Typically no. Taxes are usually triggered on realized gains. Use realized amounts to estimate your effective rate more accurately.

Does this include account-level tax benefits?

Not automatically. If you’re using a tax-advantaged account, your effective tax rate may differ. Use rates that reflect your account type and situation.

How to use this effective tax rate on investments calculator

  1. Enter your dividend income amount.
  2. Enter your dividend tax rate (%).
  3. Enter your capital gains amount.
  4. Enter your capital gains tax rate (%).
  5. Review total tax, total investment income, and effective (blended) tax rate.

Example

If dividends are $1,000 taxed at 15% and capital gains are $3,000 taxed at 20%, total tax is $750 and effective tax rate is 18.75% on $4,000 of investment income.

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