The 25% on the unrealized gain is only part of the taxes owed on the $50,000 appreciation in this scenario.
It’s just the start.
You owe $12,500 for the 25% tax on the unrealized gain.
Don’t have the cash to pay it? Proceed to tax 2:
Sell shares to generate the cash needed to pay the Unrealized Gains Tax. Which means….. Capital Gains Tax.
You’ll need to sell $22,500 under the proposed 44% Capital Gains Tax rate to generate the $12,500 you owe for the Unrealized Gains Tax.
$12,500 in Unrealized Gains
$10,000 in Capital Gains
On a $50,000 appreciation on paper
One of you nerds check the math.