If you own a lot of stock, does that mean you’ll owe a lot of taxes? The answer is a bit complicated, but it comes down to this: You only owe when you sell. You pay taxes on the profit from selling stock. How much and when depends on a few factors. Here’s what you need to know. How stocks are taxed When you sell a stock for a profit, it’s called a capital gain, so you’ll owe capital gains tax. The amount of the tax depends on your income, filing status, and how long you held the stock. Also, expect to ...