@ISIDEWITHQuestionsthe EconomyStarted 5mos agoActive 11hrs ago

Should the government tax unrealized gains?

An unrealized gain is an increase in the value of an asset or investment that an investor has not sold, such as an open stock position. A proposal in the Biden-Harris Administration’s 2025 budget would require households with more than $100 million in wealth to pay income taxes of at least 25 percent of their annual income, including their unrealized capital gains — gains in the value of assets that they have not yet sold. Critics argue that unrealized capital gains, which are a primary source of income for many extremely wealthy households, are mere “paper” gains that do not constitute real income (though they meet a textbook definition of income). Proponents argue that unrealized gains make asset owners (such as Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk) rich unless they sell their companies’ stock.

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Response rates from 21.8k America voters.

29%
Yes
71%
No
29%
Yes
71%
No

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Other Popular Answers

Unique answers from America voters whose views went beyond the provided options.

 @n35w101  from Oklahoma  answered…5mos5MO

Yes, real estate is already taxed annually based on their current valuation, even when not sold. I see no reason why other assets shouldn't be treated similarly.

 @9TSHCBZ from North Carolina  answered…5mos5MO

Only if two criteria are met: 1. it would only apply to individuals with net unrealized gains in a given year of $100 million + 2. they would be able to take unrealized losses against the unrealized gains.

 @9TTXNZC from Texas  answered…5mos5MO

If it means the super wealthy don't have to pay as much taxes as the poor then yes they should be taxed.

 @9TRLW9J from Florida  answered…5mos5MO

The value of an asset is based on what someone is willing to pay for it. If the item has not sold then there is only speculation on the value. It’s not fair to tax anyone on someone else’s speculation of value.

 @9TSRQSW from Arizona  answered…5mos5MO

25% is way to much to tax anybody, just because they are making more money than others doesn't mean that they should get a quarter of their annual income taken from them

 @9TRHHBS from Utah  answered…5mos5MO

No, unless there is going to be a suitable replacement option for retirement plans since 401Ks and the stock market as a whole will be extremely negatively impacted when the ultra-rich inevitably liquidate those assets.

 @9TRGFKQ from Massachusetts  answered…5mos5MO

We won’t need taxes after wealth is redistributed and it becomes impossible to amass wealth to the point than one individual can exploit another.

 @9TWTGPT from Minnesota  answered…5mos5MO

Yes. There needs to be some way to do it that is fair to all meaning it does harm lower income people.

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