News

Here’s What We Know About Joe Biden’s Plan to Increase Capital Gains Taxes

And why it's actually good news for the vast majority of taxpayers.

by Cameron LeBlanc
Biden speaks in the oval office with a bust of JFK behind him
Getty

In order to pay for his ambitious plans for infrastructure, climate, and anti-poverty measures, President Biden promised to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans. Now, the details of those increases, which have yet to be formally announced, are coming into focus. And they’re great news for middle-class earners who could gain to get a lot more out of their government in terms of social services, like child care, education, and universal pre-k.

Bloomberg reports that Biden’s plan would double the capital gains tax rate to 39.6 percent for the wealthy. Coupled with the existing 3.8 percent surtax on investment income that helps fund the Affordable Care Act, wealthy investors could pay as much as 43.4 percent on the profits when they sell stocks.

Who Do The Tax Hikes Affect?

the bracketsthis rate would only apply to capital gains over $441,450 for individual filers and $496,600 for joint filers55 percent of Americans own any stocks

How Much Money Would The New Rules Raise?

estimated $370 billion over the next decadeclose the

carried interest loopholeCarried interestthe 37 percent maximum rate