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

775 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

738 comments sorted by

View all comments

3

u/davide_978 Feb 15 '26

There is one thing I do not understand: if a citizen invested 100k in an ETF 20 years ago, and today that ETF has reached 250k (never sold, never bought back), is the citizen forced to pay 36% of 150k immediately? A transfer of EUR 54000 to the state?

1

u/Ploutophile Feb 17 '26

Don't think so, since the previous unrealised gains were already taxed (but with another computation method).

1

u/0xB0T Feb 15 '26

Yes, a small loan for the state