If I make $1000 profit on the stock market, how much goes to uncle sam?  Long term VS short term?
485173
0% forever if the money is in a Roth IRA.\n\n0% if the money is in a Traditional IRA - until you are required to withdraw the money at age 70 or so and claim the gain as regular income (not capital gains)\n\n15% if held for a year or more.\n\n35% (approximately, depending on tax bracket) if held for less than a year.
645245
NO Question is dumb, as long as it is asked with the purpose of learning, not just getting attention.  You seem sincere, so here is my shot at it:\n\nI will use the formula :\nEarnings - Investment = Profit\n(Profit / Investment) x 100 = Percentage Yield\n\nOne thing is confusing about your profit :\n\nIF you end up with $110 after you sell it, then you made $100 profit or 1000%.  \n($110 earnings  - $10 investment = $100 profit = 1000%)\n\nIF you end up with $120 after you sell it, then you made $110 profit or 1000%.  \n($120 earnings  - $10 investment = $110 profit = 1100%)\n    \n\nIf you are asking based on a text-book math problem, its probably the 1st, more simplified answer, which gave us an answer of 1000% ...\n\nHope it helps, please vote my asnwer as best ...  Than You.
76535
You need to figure out your basis and subtract it from the proceeds when you sell your mutal fund.  You may have had to pay taxes on profits for the mutual fund while you owned it.  You add these profits to your purchase price to compute the basis. \n\nThe previous "advice" is incorrect about long term capital gains(more than one year) being tax free.  The benefit to long term capital gains is that they are taxed at a lower rate(15% or 5%) rather than the rate of your ordinary income.
636266
21 shilling and 8d would equate to just over have an average weeks pay in 1899.\n\nThe following pdf file gives some idea what your money would have bought in 1899.
1039301
Anyone can make 200% to 300% on an individual stock if they get lucky.  On my best stock pick ever, I bought it for 0.64 and sold it a year later for 12.75.  That's like 2000%.  The fact is, my stock portfolio went up only by around 40-50% that year, because the stock was not a huge part of my portfolio.  Obviously, if I'd known the stock was going to go up so much, I would have put every penny I could borrow into it, but unless you can see into the future, it's better to be safe and diversify.\n\nAnyway, as far as what you should expect to make in the stock market, if your portfolio averages 10% per year over a long period, you're doing well.  If you average 20% you're doing very well.  If you can average 30% annual returns over a long period you are getting an amazingly good return, and you should thank your lucky stars.  \n\nIf you go into the stock market expecting to make 200-300% per year, you might as well just take that money to Las Vegas instead, because you'll be taking way too many risks.  Trust me I know.
700012
It all depends on the price you purchase it for. If you purchase 30-40% below market then you can make an instant profit. If you purchase close to market ; you should hold on to it for  few years then sell.
691600
Either buy one key of the white stuff down south and move it up North then flip that double your money in 5 days or Bet 10K that San Antonio will cover against Dallas on Sat. Ha ha that's the risky side. Or just watch the news if they say gas will get MORE expensive just put it all on EXXON stock and wait for their profits to come out get your residuals then sell. It should get you at least 5K. 1 or 2 yr period to double your cash you have to be risky though and watch whats hot on silicon Vally jump on that early
219015
Depends what kind of "profit"
588169
A 50% prifit in 1 month is not realistic.  A stock market gain of 10% in 1 month is not uncommon but the following month may see a bigger loss.\n\nThere are 2 kinds of invested money.  Money that can be replaced by future earnings and money that can never be replaced as in legacies or retirement funds.  The former may be invested at risk and get up to 10% profits.  The latter should be in secured accounts that are now paying 5% per year.
51635
Gains from stocks held less than 1 year are termed "short term" capital gains. Short term gains are taxed as ordinary income, meaning that the gains will be taxed at your personal marginal tax rate. If you hold the stock for 1 year or more, the gains will be "Long Term" capital gains and will be taxed at 15%(Unless your marginal tax rate is lower than 15%, in which case the long term gains will be taxed at 5%)\n\nAs far as reporting and paying the taxes, you can wait until you file your taxes. IF the amount of your gains is substantial relative to your adjusted gross income from last year, you will want to file a quarterly estimated tax payment to avoid potential penalties at the end of the year. the IRS website is a great resource, check it out.
1170586
What you are hoping to capture by buying a calendar spread is the decay of the first expiring option relative to the decay of the second. Read "Options as a Strategic Investment".\n\nA short term option loses its time value faster than a longer term option. So, if the decay on the longer is a penny a day...and the decay on the shorter option is 1/8 a day...you are capturing 11 1/2cents per day and protecting yourself in case of a big market move. Is it a given that you'll make money??? Absolutely not. Every time you think that, think to yourself "there are a million other people out there that have thot about this for at least 25 years...chances are I am not thinking anything original" !
51865
it depends on how much money you have to invest
360066
I agree with vamsy, however I do both so much it is hard to choose whick is best, however when you think of the profit range, I think Google.   because the stock market talks about it alot and it made alot of people that work for them very rich within the last year. ( those that invested in the stocks that is. ) Oh My, I can't believe I overlooked that one!!!! eewwwww!
886902
I'd tell you to invest in some good education.  With the added knowledge, you're most likely to have future $100's go much further, more quickly, than risking this first $100 in an investment.\n\nA couple good books to consider:\n\nHow to make money in stocks by William O'Neill\nMastering the trade by John Carter\nTrading in the Zone by Mark Douglas\n\nHope that helps!
419136
It's possible to buy stock's for a penny a share and pay $10 in copmmission. If stock appreciates to, say, $10.00, you've earned a 999% return before commissions.
26759
Stocks don't always make money, that is the risk you take when you buy them.  You just hope you pick enough winners to make up for the losers in the long run.\n\nStocks don't have any memory, either...and neither should you.  What you paid for a stock last year has nothing to do with what is it worth today.  You need to forget about all that, and decide whether you think the stock will go up or not.  If not, sell it, and put your money in a better place.  It hurts, but if you can't do this, you don't belong in the stock market.
68981
Depends on your objectives.  I wouldn't put your whole life savings into it.  If you can take the time out to do some research during the week then you might be able to make some cash.  Be careful and don't get too greedy.  I would take a small % of your total net worth and play with it.\n\nAs far as long term.  Be very careful with large sums of money in the market because you can lose your shirt (ie Enron).