CNBC: What the Wyden-Proposed Tax on Unrealized Capital Gains Might mean for You

Marking an asset to market means that you’re treating it as if you’ve sold it for fair market value at the end of the year, accounting for the gain or loss incurred.

“It won’t help the wealthy to hold the asset for a longer time; that ability to defer the tax would be taken away,” said Steve Wamhoff, director for federal tax policy at the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.

Figuring out the appreciation of a stock or a mutual fund isn’t all that hard to do, but calculating gains on real estate investments, partnership interests and other closely held businesses could present a problem. Read more

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