Investors Facing $20 Billion in Capital Gains Taxes

Investors are likely to rejoice at the estimated $200 billion in capital gains distributions this year—until they get their tax bill, Business Week reports.

That’s likely to be $20 billion.

That’s why Morningstar analyst Christopher Davis and other experts are advising investors to find out if a fund intends to make a distribution this year before buying it ahead of Dec. 31. “Otherwise you’ll be paying for the gains you weren’t there to enjoy,” Davis says.

Strong-performing funds, such as small-cap value and natural resource funds, are likely to give the biggest payouts, and about one-quarter of the distributions are expected to be for short-term capital gains, 35% of which are subject to tax. By comparison, long-term capital gains are subject to only a 15% tax.

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Money Management Executive
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