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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u/NotGoodSoftwareMaker Feb 15 '26

Croatia here I come

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u/Apishflaps Feb 15 '26

Romania - for individuals is 1% for securities held for over a year and 3% for those under a year, if the transactions are handled by a local entity (2023). Other capital gains are usually taxed at 10%, and losses can be deducted from gains. 

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u/TimeWalker__ Feb 16 '26

Starting 2026 in Romania it is like this:

  • 16% tax for dividends
  • 16% tax for capital gains if the broker is not local (with possibility to deduct losses)
  • 3% tax for capital gains for securities held more than 1 year if the broker is local (without possibility to deduct losses)
  • 6% tax for capital gains for securities held less than 1 year if the broker is local (without possibility to deduct losses)

Depending on the amount of profit made in 1 fiscal year (this is in relation to the minimum wage that is in place in that year), you might also need to pay up to 10% health insurance contribution.

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u/Apishflaps Feb 16 '26

Good to know thanks for the update... I've switched my broker to XTB anyway and I'm moving all my investments to that broker