Selling Just Above Your Buy Price Can Still Be a Loss
It's tempting to assume that selling stock or property for a little more than you paid means you've made a profit, but once you factor in trading fees and capital gains tax, the true breakeven point is often well above your original purchase price. This calculator takes your buy price, transaction fee rate, capital gains tax rate, and target profit, then calculates the actual sale price you need — with tax and fees fully accounted for.
The math starts from your total cost at purchase (buy price plus buying fees), works backward from your after-tax target profit to find the pre-tax gain required, then adds selling fees to arrive at the final breakeven sale price. Set your target profit to 0 to find the minimum price that gets you back to even, or enter a dollar amount to find the price needed to pocket that much after tax.
This is a simplified model that uses whatever tax and fee rates you enter directly. Real-world tax rules can add complexity — different rates for short-term vs. long-term holdings, standard deductions, and state taxes among them — so double-check your specific situation with the IRS or a tax professional before relying on the result.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — enter 0 for your target profit and the calculator will find the minimum sale price where you recover exactly your original cost after taxes and fees.
For stocks, this typically covers brokerage commissions and any SEC/exchange fees. For real estate, it usually means agent commissions and closing costs. Enter the total rate that applies on both the buy and sell side for a more accurate result.
It depends on the asset type, how long you held it, and your income bracket — short-term gains are taxed as ordinary income, while long-term gains get preferential rates of 0%, 15%, or 20%. Check your specific bracket with the IRS or a tax professional before entering a rate.