Real return calculator
See your return after inflation and taxes: the number that tells you what your money can actually buy.
Real return after inflation
After tax as well, your money really grows about 3.69% a year. $10,000 becomes $21,589 on paper, worth about $14,366 in today's dollars after tax.
Simplified: assumes gains are taxed every year. Long-term holdings in the US are usually taxed only when sold, which helps.
How this calculator works
The real return removes inflation from your nominal (on-paper) return. The after-tax real return also takes out tax on gains.
It answers the question that matters: how much more will my money actually buy?
Real return = (1 + nominal) ÷ (1 + inflation) − 1Common questions
Why not just subtract inflation?
Subtracting is a close shortcut. Dividing is exact; the difference grows with higher rates.
Can a real return be negative?
Yes. Cash earning 2% while prices rise 3% loses buying power every year.
How are taxes simplified here?
The calculator taxes gains every year. Long-term US investors usually pay only when they sell, which makes the real result a bit better.
FatDCA calculators are educational estimates, not investment, tax or legal advice. Results depend on the assumptions you enter, and past returns do not predict future returns.
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