Stock Return Calculator
Calculate your total return on stocks, including price gains and dividends, then see the after-tax return based on your country's capital gains tax rules.
Capital Gains Tax on Shares by Country
| Country | Short-Term | Long-Term / Discount | Annual Allowance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 US | Ordinary income (10–37%) | 0%, 15%, or 20% | None |
| 🇬🇧 UK | 18% / 24% | 18% / 24% (no distinction) | £3,000 |
| 🇦🇺 AU | Marginal rate | 50% discount (held >12 mo) | None |
| 🇨🇦 CA | 50% inclusion rate | 50% inclusion rate | TFSA room |
| 🇩🇪 DE | 26.375% flat | 26.375% flat | €1,000 Sparerpauschbetrag |
| 🇯🇵 JP | 20.315% | 20.315% | NISA exemption |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you calculate total stock return?
Total return = (Sale Price − Purchase Price + Dividends) ÷ Purchase Price × 100. This captures both price appreciation and income. The annualized version uses the holding period to show the equivalent per-year return, allowing fair comparison between stocks held for different lengths of time.
How does Australia's CGT discount work for shares?
Australian residents who hold shares for more than 12 months receive a 50% CGT discount. If you made a $10,000 capital gain, only $5,000 is added to your assessable income. At a 37% marginal rate, you'd pay just $1,850 in tax on that $10,000 gain — an effective rate of 18.5%. This makes long-term investing significantly more tax-efficient in Australia.
Is it better to hold stocks in a tax-free account?
Generally yes. UK ISA, US Roth IRA, Canadian TFSA, and Australian Super accounts shelter gains from CGT entirely. Over 20+ years, this tax compounding advantage can represent 20–30% more in terminal wealth compared to a taxable account with the same investments. Always maximize tax-advantaged accounts before investing in taxable brokerage accounts.