Series 79: A.8.4. Portfolio Income

A.8.4. Portfolio Income

In addition to being taxed on the profits from selling investments that have gone up in value, investors are also taxed on the portfolio income they earn. That term might be a tad confusing because profiting from a sale may seem like income as well. But from a tax point of view, portfolio income or investment income consists primarily of two things—dividends and interest paid to investors on their investments.

The taxation of interest income, which is essentially “rent” paid to an investor for the use of his money, is pretty straightforward. All interest received is added up for the calendar year, then any interest paid by the investor in the process of investing is subtracted from that, and