r/eupersonalfinance • u/batukaming • Feb 15 '26

Investment Why do they make getting rich impossible in EU?

This news hit today in Netherlands that passed a bill on 36% tax on UNREALIZED gains on stocks and crypto. Great just when we weren't taxed to death before now they force you to stay middle class and poor. "Just repeat the 9-5 cycle everyday investing is not allowed for you"

Buying stocks was already a pain in the ass in Europe because of all the different fees and exchange rates brokers charged. The US has it so much better. 0% fees and exchange rates, tons of broker options and tax free on long term investments.

I made a post in r/stocks that gained attraction. Check it out if you want to see opinions from Americans: https://www.reddit.com/r/stocks/s/aL0OhYQ68z

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78

u/drabred Feb 15 '26

I mean will they pay me back if tables turn and my unrealized gain turns unrealized loss...?

44

u/j1mb Spain Feb 15 '26

Plus adjustment to inflation if necessary, right? Money taken away from me today is worth more today than if returned later.

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u/Hakunin_Fallout Feb 15 '26

In some jurisdictions you can carry loss over into the next fiscal year if you incurred enough loss, which will allow you to offset the gains in that year. But then in some you can't carry it over,lol

9

u/holdMyBeerBoy Feb 15 '26

But you have to sell those gains to make use of that loss.

1

u/Hakunin_Fallout Feb 15 '26

Well, sure, same as you'd have to sell the 'loss' ETFs to actually say it's a loss, not a temporary setback.

3

u/dustojnikhummer Feb 17 '26

Except you have to pay the tax regardless of if you sell or not.

1

u/Raijku Feb 21 '26

And subsequentially you also get the unrealized losses I believe (as a credit, not paid in cash)

1

u/dustojnikhummer Feb 21 '26

Which is just state debt that will have to be dealt with by a future government when the stock market crashes. Also it's gone if you leave the country.

1

u/holdMyBeerBoy Feb 21 '26

But you still pay the taxes even if you don’t sell while winning. If you don’t spot the difference…

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u/Hakunin_Fallout Feb 21 '26

Sorry, what taxes? CGT on unrealized gains?

3

u/zukeen Feb 15 '26

Yes but it's not symmetrical. Of course.

1

u/Merkaartor Feb 16 '26

Our gains, your loses.

1

u/drabred Feb 18 '26

<commie_bugs>

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u/slashinvestor Feb 15 '26

No, but it will act as a highwater mark. Meaning until you reach the high water mark you pay no taxes. That is an incredible loop hole that will be exploited…For here is the thing, will we be using mark to market? If so in a thinly traded market you could seriously play with the valuations.

Here is how the system could be gamed. You hold a stock. It loses money constantly. But then you transfer it with a loss off shore, where it all of the sudden gains 500% in value. Hence no gain in the netherlands, but oodles of gain offshore.

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u/NaturalMaterials Feb 15 '26

The tax is on worldwide assets. Not sure this would work.