Must-read for stock profit calculation: How do trading commissions affect your investment returns? Complete analysis of Taiwan and US stock trading fees in 2025

An Overlooked Cost Reality: Why Precise Stock Profit Calculation Matters

When investing in stocks, many focus solely on price fluctuations, neglecting a hidden monster that directly eats into profits—transaction fees. Many investors assume that stock price increases mean profit, but they often overlook the actual costs involved. For example, Taiwanese investors pay a commission fee when buying a stock, and upon selling, they pay another commission plus transaction tax. These layered costs can ultimately lead to a situation where the account shows gains, but in reality, there is a loss.

To truly achieve accurate stock profit calculations, it’s essential to understand all cost components involved in the trading process. From broker commissions, transaction taxes, to miscellaneous fees, each one directly impacts the final investment return. That’s why savvy investors must first thoroughly understand these costs before accurately determining their profit thresholds.

Detailed Breakdown of Taiwan Stock Trading Costs: How to Calculate Fees and Taxes

Common Cost Items for Taiwan Stock Investors

In Taiwan, the main costs for stock trading include two categories: broker commissions (fees) and government-imposed securities transaction tax.

According to Taiwan Stock Exchange regulations, the commission rate is 0.1425% of the transaction amount, which is the basic rate. However, most brokers offer discounts, typically around 50-60% of the standard rate, so actual fees paid may be lower. The securities transaction tax is 0.30%, but it is only levied when selling stocks—a key point to note.

Correct Formula for Stock Profit Calculation

Cost when buying stocks:

• Commission = Purchase Price × Quantity × 0.1425% × Broker Discount

Total cost when selling stocks:

• Commission = Selling Price × Quantity × 0.1425% × Broker Discount
• Transaction Tax = Selling Price × Quantity × 0.30%
• Total Cost = Buy Commission + Sell Commission + Transaction Tax

Example: Master Kong (Code 910322.TW)

Suppose you buy 1 lot of Master Kong stock with a face value of 200 TWD, with a broker offering a 60% discount:

This means that even if the stock price doesn’t decline, the investor must earn at least 942 TWD in profit just to break even after covering all transaction costs.

Comparison of Major Taiwanese Brokers’ Fee Discounts

Different brokers offer varying discounts, and choosing the right broker can directly reduce trading costs:

Investors should choose brokers based on their trading habits (electronic vs. manual), trading frequency, and regional convenience.

US Stock Investment Costs: Custodian vs. Direct Account Opening

Trading US stocks via Taiwanese brokers’ custodial accounts

Custodial trading involves opening an account with a Taiwanese broker authorized for overseas trading, which then places orders with foreign brokers on your behalf, involving a double agency process. The advantage is local support and customer service, but costs tend to be higher.

Custodial fee rates: Usually between 0.25% ~ 1%, depending on the broker.

Additional costs (example from a Taiwanese broker):

• Manual order: 1% fee, minimum $50
• Electronic order: 0.5%~1%, minimum $35
• Selling tax: 0.00278%
• System service fee: $3 per order
• ADR custody fee: $0.02~$0.05 per share
• International remittance fee: $15 per day

Comparison of major Taiwanese brokers’ custodial fees:

Trading US stocks directly through overseas brokers

With increasing market competition, many overseas brokers now offer zero-commission stock trading services. For small-scale retail investors, this approach has clear cost advantages.

Cost components of overseas brokers:

• Stock trading commission: $0 (most have eliminated fees)
• Deposit fees: average $20~$30 per deposit
• Withdrawal fees: average $10~$25 per withdrawal
• Exchange and regulatory fees: approximately 0.01% (very small)

When choosing an overseas broker, prioritize:

• Established for a long time, large scale, well-regulated
• Providing Chinese interface and customer support
• Convenient deposit/withdrawal and reasonable fees

CFD platforms for US stocks: a low-cost choice for short-term traders

For high-frequency traders (intraday, short-term swing), spot stock trading can incur high fees. In such cases, consider trading US indices and stocks via CFD (Contract for Difference) platforms.

Advantages of CFD trading over spot stocks:

• No commission: completely fee-free
• No transaction tax
• No deposit/withdrawal fees: saving currency exchange and remittance costs
• Only spreads (difference between buy and sell price) as cost

CFD is suitable for: short-term, intraday, high-frequency trading, small lots, multiple trades. Be aware of each platform’s spread levels—the smaller the spread, the lower the trading cost.

Practical Application of Stock Profit Calculation: How Much Do You Need to Earn to Avoid Loss

Calculating profit thresholds in Taiwan stocks

Returning to real investment scenarios, if an investor buys 1 lot of stock and pays a total of 942 TWD in costs (as in the Master Kong example above), then the stock price must increase enough to generate at least 942 TWD in profit to truly break even.

Don’t just look at percentage gains; instead, calculate explicitly: Profit = Total Selling Revenue - Total Buying Cost - Buy Commission - Sell Commission - Transaction Tax

If the stock only rises slightly, it might show a 10% increase on paper, but the actual profit could be fully offset by the 942 TWD cost.

US stock profit threshold calculation

Profit calculation for US stocks is more complex due to multiple layers of costs. Investors should determine the full cost structure based on their chosen trading method (custodial or overseas broker) and then work backward to find the profit threshold.

Why CFD platforms are recommended for short-term US stock trading:

Suppose an investor makes 5 intraday trades, each with a $5,000 amount:

• Custodial method: at 0.25% fee, total cost = 5000 × 0.25% × 5 = $62.50
• Overseas broker: no commission, but deposit/withdrawal costs apply
• CFD platform: only spread costs, possibly $100~$200 total

For frequent traders, CFD platforms offer significant cost advantages.

Core Factors Affecting Stock Profit Calculation

Market differences

Different stock markets have varying fee standards. Taiwan, US, Hong Kong markets each have their own fee caps and tax rules, which are subject to periodic adjustments. When investing across markets, it’s essential to understand local regulations.

Impact of broker selection on costs

Large full-service brokers tend to charge higher fees but offer comprehensive services; smaller brokers may provide more competitive discounts. Promotions and discounts vary over time, so investors should regularly compare and choose the most cost-effective options.

Effect of trading volume

Larger trading amounts often qualify for additional discounts or fixed fee models, significantly reducing per-trade costs. However, small investors may face minimum fee restrictions.

Cumulative effect of trading frequency

Each buy or sell incurs two fees. The more frequent the trades, the higher the accumulated costs. Short-term, high-frequency traders should be especially cautious of fee erosion. Some brokers offer special deals for high-frequency traders, which can be advantageous.

Common Q&A on Stock Investment Costs

Q: How much does it cost to trade Taiwan stocks in total?
A: A complete buy-sell transaction includes buy commission, sell commission, and transaction tax. For a trade of 100,000 TWD, the total cost is roughly 500~600 TWD based on standard rates. Actual costs vary depending on broker discounts.

Q: Which Taiwanese broker has the lowest fees?
A: Discount rates differ; there’s no absolute “cheapest.” E.SUN offers strong electronic order discounts (20%), but other brokers have promotions. Choose based on your trading habits (electronic/manual) and frequency.

Q: For US stock investment, should I choose custodial or open an overseas account?
A: For small amounts and long-term holding, overseas brokers are recommended (lower fees). For large amounts or short-term trading, custodial accounts are better (local support). For intraday, high-frequency trading, CFD platforms are most cost-effective.

Q: How much stock price increase is needed to avoid losses?
A: It’s not just about percentage increase; you must calculate the absolute amount. In the Master Kong case, at least a 942 TWD rise is needed to cover all costs. The exact figure varies with each trade’s fees.

Starting your investment journey involves three steps: first, understand trading costs; second, choose the right broker; third, select suitable stocks. Grasping the logic of stock profit calculation helps avoid falling into the trap of “paper gains, real losses.”