ETF Tax Guide & Tools

Most ETFs are tax-efficient because redemptions are paid in securities rather than cash. The exceptions are structural, and they are identifiable from public filings: funds that send a K-1, notes that are not funds at all, trusts taxed as collectibles, funds that settle redemptions in cash and funds that paid out capital gains.

Likely K-1 issuers
34
commodity pools taxed as partnerships
Exchange-traded notes
45
issuer debt, not a fund
Paid a special distribution
84
of 4,221 paying funds, 12 months
Harvest pairs
40
same category, 70%+ overlap, different issuer

Same exposure, different fund: tax-loss harvest pairs

FundSimilar fundCategoryHoldings overlapFees1Y returnsCompare
IVViSharesSPYState Street SPDRLarge Cap Blend98%0.03% / 0.10%+15.6% / +15.7%side by side
IVViSharesSPYMState Street SPDRLarge Cap Blend98%0.03% / 0.02%+15.6% / —side by side
STXFStriveVOOVanguardLarge Cap Blend92%0.05% / 0.03%— / +15.7%side by side
MODLVictorySharesVOOVanguardLarge Cap Blend71%0.46% / 0.03%+14.3% / +15.7%side by side
LGHHCMVOOVanguardLarge Cap Blend80%1.00% / 0.03%+10.3% / +15.7%side by side
PBUSInvescoSPYState Street SPDRLarge Cap Blend96%0.04% / 0.10%+15.3% / +15.7%side by side
LGHHCMSPYState Street SPDRLarge Cap Blend79%1.00% / 0.10%+10.3% / +15.7%side by side
VTIVanguardSCHBSchwabTotal Market91%0.03% / 0.03%+15.1% / +15.1%side by side
QQQInvescoQNDXState Street SPDRLarge Cap Growth98%0.18% / 0.10%+22.9% / —side by side
IWFiSharesVUGVanguardLarge Cap Growth78%0.18% / 0.03%+7.7% / +13.3%side by side
SCHGSchwabVUGVanguardLarge Cap Growth78%0.04% / 0.03%+13.0% / +13.3%side by side
VEAVanguardSCHFSchwabDeveloped ex-US74%0.03% / 0.03%+15.6% / +15.3%side by side
VGTVanguardXLKState Street SPDRTechnology83%0.09% / 0.08%+33.3% / +36.8%side by side
IWYiSharesVUGVanguardLarge Cap Growth77%0.20% / 0.03%+8.3% / +13.3%side by side
ILCGiSharesVUGVanguardLarge Cap Growth75%0.04% / 0.03%+12.6% / +13.3%side by side
GGUSGoldman SachsVUGVanguardLarge Cap Growth76%0.12% / 0.03%+8.7% / +13.3%side by side
SCHVSchwabVTVVanguardLarge Cap Value72%0.04% / 0.03%+16.3% / +17.9%side by side
IYWiSharesVGTVanguardTechnology81%0.37% / 0.09%+33.9% / +33.3%side by side
FTECFidelityVGTVanguardTechnology91%0.08% / 0.09%+33.5% / +33.3%side by side
IGMiSharesVGTVanguardTechnology75%0.37% / 0.09%+32.9% / +33.3%side by side
IXNiSharesVGTVanguardTechnology75%0.37% / 0.09%+40.6% / +33.3%side by side
IYWiSharesXLKState Street SPDRTechnology81%0.37% / 0.08%+33.9% / +36.8%side by side
FTECFidelityXLKState Street SPDRTechnology79%0.08% / 0.08%+33.5% / +36.8%side by side
IGMiSharesXLKState Street SPDRTechnology74%0.37% / 0.08%+32.9% / +36.8%side by side
IXNiSharesXLKState Street SPDRTechnology76%0.37% / 0.08%+40.6% / +36.8%side by side
SCHESchwabVWOVanguardEmerging Markets77%0.06% / 0.06%+8.4% / +8.7%side by side
IVWiSharesSPYGState Street SPDRLarge Cap Growth97%0.18% / 0.04%+19.1% / +19.1%side by side
SCHGSchwabVONGVanguardLarge Cap Growth77%0.04% / 0.06%+13.0% / +7.8%side by side
SPTMState Street SPDRITOTiSharesTotal Market94%0.03% / 0.03%+15.4% / +15.2%side by side
PFMInvescoVIGVanguardDividend Growth85%0.52% / 0.04%+9.8% / +9.8%side by side
QQQMInvescoQNDXState Street SPDRLarge Cap Growth98%0.15% / 0.10%+22.9% / —side by side
IVWiSharesVOOGVanguardLarge Cap Growth92%0.18% / 0.07%+19.1% / +19.0%side by side
VONVVanguardIWDiSharesLarge Cap Value72%0.06% / 0.18%+23.5% / +23.7%side by side
GSEWGoldman SachsRSPInvescoEqual Weight77%0.09% / 0.20%+11.5% / +11.6%side by side
EUSAiSharesRSPInvescoEqual Weight85%0.09% / 0.20%+10.2% / +11.6%side by side
IWMiSharesVTWOVanguardSmall Cap Blend75%0.19% / 0.06%+13.1% / +13.0%side by side
IUSGiSharesSPYGState Street SPDRLarge Cap Growth93%0.04% / 0.04%+19.0% / +19.1%side by side
GSLCGoldman SachsSCHXSchwabLarge Cap Blend76%0.09% / 0.03%+13.3% / +14.9%side by side
SPYGState Street SPDRVOOGVanguardLarge Cap Growth94%0.04% / 0.07%+19.1% / +19.0%side by side
DFAIDimensionalSCHFSchwabDeveloped ex-US73%0.18% / 0.03%+12.4% / +15.3%side by side

Funds from different issuers in the same category whose holdings overlap at least 70% by weight. Whether two funds are "substantially identical" under the wash-sale rule is a legal question these numbers do not answer; funds tracking the same index are the riskiest case.

ETFs that paid a special distribution in the last 12 months

FundCategorySpecial distributionsAs % of priceLast paidAssets
SOFXDefiance Daily Target 2X Long SOFI ETFSingle-Stock Leveraged$3.59851.92%Dec 30, 2025$54M
SOUXDefiance Daily Target 2X Long SOUN ETFSingle-Stock Leveraged$2.20933.79%Dec 30, 2025$17M
SMCZDefiance Daily Target 2X Short SMCI ETFSingle-Stock Inverse$1.18127.60%Dec 30, 2025$4.8M
CGROCoreValues Alpha Greater China Growth ETFSingle Country$4.25825.88%Sep 29, 2026$1.6M
SMCXDefiance Daily Target 2X Long SMCI ETFSingle-Stock Leveraged$0.5003.56%Dec 30, 2025$194M
EWJiShares MSCI Japan ETFSingle Country$3.0613.13%Dec 16, 2025$23.7B
IONXDefiance Daily Target 2X Long IONQ ETFSingle-Stock Leveraged$0.5532.48%Dec 30, 2025$297M
WTPIWisdomTree Equity Premium Income FundCovered Call$0.7222.17%Dec 10, 2025$559M
AVGXDefiance Daily Target 2X Long AVGO ETFSingle-Stock Leveraged$0.7751.95%Dec 30, 2025$234M
CAMXCambiar Aggressive Value ETFLarge Cap Value$0.4791.41%Dec 30, 2025$65M
XCCCBondBloxx CCC-Rated USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETFHigh Yield Bond$0.3691.10%Dec 30, 2025$225M
JDIVJPMorgan Dividend Leaders ETFDividend Growth$0.5590.98%Dec 15, 2025$13M
SPUCSimplify US Equity Income ETFHigh Dividend$0.4800.97%Apr 27, 2026$259M
SMCOHilton Small-MidCap Opportunity ETFMid Cap Blend$0.2700.96%Dec 30, 2025$136M
FTMHFranklin Municipal High Yield ETFHigh Yield Muni$0.1000.92%Dec 19, 2025—
RXIiShares Global Consumer Discretionary ETFConsumer Discretionary$1.7360.92%Dec 16, 2025$303M
RGTXDefiance Daily Target 2X Long RGTI ETFSingle-Stock Leveraged$0.0660.90%Dec 30, 2025$58M
GMOIGMO International Value ETFDeveloped ex-US$0.3490.89%Dec 30, 2025$658M
EINCVanEck Energy Income ETFMultisector Bond$0.9840.84%Dec 29, 2025$80M
FTMUFranklin Municipal Income ETFNational Muni$0.0580.80%Dec 19, 2025—
FTCAFranklin California Municipal Income ETFState Muni$0.0540.79%Dec 19, 2025—
KBABKraneShares 2x Long BABA Daily ETFSingle-Stock Leveraged$0.0500.74%Dec 30, 2025$2.2M
MFSIMFS Active International ETFDeveloped ex-US$0.2400.73%Dec 16, 2025$1.2B
MSTUT-Rex 2X Long MSTR Daily Target ETFSingle-Stock Leveraged$0.2880.73%Aug 25, 2026$801M
XBBondBloxx B-Rated USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETFHigh Yield Bond$0.2460.65%Dec 30, 2025$88M
ITBiShares U.S. Home Construction ETFHomebuilders & Housing$0.5430.64%Sep 15, 2026$2.4B
FTOHFranklin Ohio Municipal Income ETFState Muni$0.0470.60%Dec 19, 2025—
TLCITouchstone International Equity ETFDeveloped ex-US$0.1560.59%Dec 30, 2025$111M
HYSABondBloxx High Yield Income ETFHigh Yield Bond$0.0850.59%Dec 30, 2025$100M
FTMAFranklin Massachusetts Municipal Income ETFState Muni$0.0490.57%Dec 19, 2025—
FTNJFranklin New Jersey Municipal Income ETFState Muni$0.0470.57%Dec 19, 2025—
SAGPStrategas Global Policy Opportunities ETFGlobal$0.1960.55%Oct 23, 2025$76M
FTMNFranklin Minnesota Municipal Income ETFState Muni$0.0440.54%Dec 19, 2025—
BBBLBondBloxx BBB Rated 10+ Year Corporate Bond ETFInvestment-Grade Corporate$0.2310.53%Dec 30, 2025$6.6M
ILFiShares Latin America 40 ETFLatin America$0.2010.53%Dec 30, 2025$4.2B
EWZSiShares MSCI Brazil Small-Cap ETFSingle Country$0.0900.53%Dec 30, 2025$361M
XBBBondBloxx BB-Rated USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETFHigh Yield Bond$0.1990.50%Dec 30, 2025$518M
HIMZDefiance Daily Target 2X Long HIMS ETFSingle-Stock Leveraged$0.1410.49%Dec 30, 2025$164M
BBBSBondBloxx BBB Rated 1-5 Year Corporate Bond ETFShort-Term Bond$0.2390.48%Dec 30, 2025$170M
TAXXBondBloxx IR+M Tax Aware Short Duration ETFShort Muni$0.2310.46%Dec 30, 2025$283M

Distributions paid outside a fund's regular schedule, per share, over the last 12 months. For a fund these are usually year-end capital gains, which are taxable to holders in a taxable account whether or not they sold. The fund's own tax notice says how each payment is characterised.

Funds likely to issue a Schedule K-1

Fund Category Assets
DBCInvesco DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund Broad Commodities $2.0B
USOUnited States Oil Fund, LP Oil $1.7B
AGQProShares Ultra Silver2x Leveraged & Inverse Commodity $1.3B
DBAInvesco DB Agriculture Fund Agriculture $1.2B
SCOProShares UltraShort Bloomberg Crude Oil−2x Leveraged & Inverse Commodity $965M
BNOUnited States Brent Oil Fund, LP Oil $793M
CPERUnited States Copper Index Fund Industrial Metals $754M
UGLProShares Ultra Gold2x Leveraged & Inverse Commodity $752M
UNGUnited States Natural Gas Fund, LP Unit Natural Gas $497M
UUPInvesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund Currency $441M
USCIUS Commodity Index Broad Commodities $419M
UCOProShares Ultra Bloomberg Crude Oil2x Leveraged & Inverse Commodity $414M
BOILProShares Ultra Bloomberg Natural Gas2x Leveraged & Inverse Commodity $400M
DBBInvesco DB Base Metals Fund Industrial Metals $364M
DBOInvesco DB Oil Fund Oil $291M
WEATTeucrium Wheat Fund Agriculture $279M
DBPInvesco DB Precious Metals Fund Precious Metals $250M
UGAUnited States Gasoline Fund, LP Oil $190M
CORNTeucrium Corn Fund Agriculture $126M
DBEInvesco DB Energy Fund Energy $119M
UDNInvesco DB US Dollar Index Bearish Fund Currency $102M
GLLProShares UltraShort Gold−2x Leveraged & Inverse Commodity $92M
KOLDProShares UltraShort Bloomberg Natural Gas−2x Leveraged & Inverse Commodity $91M
ZSLProShares UltraShort Silver−2x Leveraged & Inverse Commodity $73M
CANETeucrium Sugar Fund Agriculture $56M
USLUnited States 12 Month Oil Fund, LP Oil $50M
SOYBTeucrium Soybean Fund Agriculture $45M
EUOProShares UltraShort Euro−2x Inverse Equity $36M
YCLProShares Ultra Yen2x Leveraged Equity $30M
YCSProShares UltraShort Yen−2x Inverse Equity $27M

Commodity and volatility pools that hold futures directly are taxed as partnerships: gains are marked to market each year (60% long-term, 40% short-term) and reported on a K-1. Identified from structure and name; check the prospectus, since some use an offshore subsidiary to avoid it.

Exchange-traded notes

Fund Category Assets
AIQDMicroSectors -3x Short Artificial Intelligence (AI) ETNs−3xETN Inverse Equity —
AIQUMicroSectors 3x Long Artificial Intelligence (AI) ETNs3xETN Leveraged Equity —
AMJBAlerian MLP Index ETNs due January 28 2044ETN MLPs & Midstream —
AMUBETRACS Alerian MLP Index ETN Series B due July 18, 2042ETN MLPs & Midstream —
BDCXETRACS Quarterly Pay 1.5x Leveraged MarketVector BDC Liquid Index ETN due June 10, 20501.5xETN Leveraged Equity —
BDCZETRACS MarketVector Business Development Companies Liquid Index ETN due April 26, 2041ETN Financials —
BERZMicroSectors FANG & Innovation -3x Inverse Leveraged ETN−3xETN Inverse Equity —
BNKDMicroSectors U.S. Big Banks -3x Inverse Leveraged ETNs due February 17, 2045−3xETN Inverse Equity —
BNKUMicroSectors U.S. Big Banks 3x Leveraged ETNs due February 17, 20453xETN Leveraged Equity —
BULZMicroSectors FANG & Innovation 3x Leveraged ETN3xETN Leveraged Equity —
CARDMAX Auto Industry -3x Inverse Leveraged ETN−3xETN Inverse Equity —
CARUMAX Auto Industry 3x Leveraged ETN3xETN Leveraged Equity —
CEFDETRACS Monthly Pay 1.5X Leveraged Closed-End Fund Index ETN1.5xETN Leveraged Equity —
DGPDB Gold Double Long ETN due February 15, 2038ETN Gold —
DGZDB Gold Short ETN due February 15, 2038ETN Gold —
DJPiPath Bloomberg Commodity Index Total Return ETN due June 12, 2036ETN Multisector Bond —
DZZDB Gold Double Short ETN due February 15, 2038ETN Gold —
FLYDMicroSectors Travel -3x Inverse Leveraged ETN−3xETN Inverse Equity —
FLYUMicroSectors Travel 3x Leveraged ETN3xETN Leveraged Equity —
FNGDMicroSectors FANG+ Index -3X Inverse Leveraged ETNs due January 8, 2038−3xETN Inverse Equity —
FNGOMicroSectors FANG+ Index 2X Leveraged ETNs due January 8, 20382xETN Leveraged Equity —
FNGSMicroSectors FANG+ ETNs due January 8, 2038ETN Internet & Innovation —
FNGUMicroSectors FANG+ 3x Leveraged ETNs due February 17, 20453xETN Leveraged Equity —
GDXDMicroSectors Gold Miners -3x Inverse Leveraged ETN−3xETN Inverse Equity —
GDXUMicroSectors Gold Miners 3x Leveraged ETN3xETN Leveraged Equity —
GRNiPath Series B Carbon Exchange-Traded NotesETN Multisector Bond —
HDLBETRACS Monthly Pay 2xLeveraged US High Dividend Low Volatility ETN Series B due October 21, 2049ETN High Dividend —
IFEDETRACS IFED Invest with the Fed TR Index ETNETN Unclassified —
JETDMAX Airlines -3x Inverse Leveraged ETN−3xETN Inverse Equity —
JETUMAX Airlines 3x Leveraged ETN3xETN Leveraged Equity —

An ETN is unsecured debt of the issuing bank that promises an index return. There is no portfolio behind it, so there are no holdings to show and the holder carries the bank's credit risk.

Large funds that redeem mostly in cash

FundCategoryIn kindAssets
QDECFT Vest Growth-100 Buffer ETF - DecemberBuffer-0%$697M
VTECVanguard California Tax-Exempt Bond ETFState Muni-0%$3.2B
IEFAiShares Core MSCI EAFE ETFDeveloped ex-US0%$189.5B
BNDXVanguard Total International Bond ETFInternational Bond0%$82.5B
JPSTJPMorgan Ultra-Short Income ETFUltra-Short Bond0%$42.2B
MBBiShares MBS ETFMortgage & Securitized0%$35.6B
PULSPGIM Ultra Short Bond ETFUltra-Short Bond0%$19.4B
MINTPIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Active Exchange-Traded FundUltra-Short Bond0%$18.3B
DFAIDimensional International Core Equity Market ETFDeveloped ex-US0%$17.8B
SPEMState Street SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETFEmerging Markets0%$17.5B
BINCiShares Flexible Income Active ETFMultisector Bond0%$16.4B
JCPBJPMorgan Core Plus Bond ETFCore Bond0%$15.3B
DFICDimensional International Core Equity 2 ETFDeveloped ex-US0%$15.0B
PAAAPGIM AAA CLO ETFBank Loans & CLOs0%$13.9B
SCHESchwab Emerging Markets Equity ETFEmerging Markets0%$12.9B
COROiShares International Country Rotation Active ETFTactical & Rotation0%$12.8B
AMLPAlerian MLP ETFMLPs & Midstream0%$12.8B
DFAXDimensional World ex U.S. Core Equity 2 ETFDeveloped ex-US0%$12.4B
JPIEJPMorgan Income ETFMultisector Bond0%$10.9B
FNDESchwab Fundamental Emerging Markets Equity ETFEmerging Markets0%$10.5B
DFAEDimensional Emerging Core Equity Market ETFEmerging Markets0%$10.1B
DFEMDimensional Emerging Markets Core Equity 2 ETFEmerging Markets0%$9.6B
ICSHiShares Ultra Short Duration Bond Active ETFUltra-Short Bond0%$8.9B
JBNDJPMorgan Active Bond ETFCore Bond0%$8.7B
BONDPIMCO Active Bond Exchange-Traded FundMultisector Bond0%$8.5B
JMUBJPMorgan Municipal ETFNational Muni0%$8.3B
IDViShares International Select Dividend ETFInternational Dividend0%$8.1B
PDBCInvesco Actively Managed Exch-Traded Commodity Fd Tr Invesco Optimum Yield Diversified Commodity Strategy No K-1 ETFBroad Commodities0%$7.9B
JMSTJPMorgan Ultra-Short Municipal Income ETFShort Muni0%$7.7B
JMTGJPMorgan Mortgage-Backed Securities ETFMortgage & Securitized0%$6.9B

From each fund's annual SEC census. A fund that pays redemptions in cash has to sell holdings to do it, which can realise gains for the remaining shareholders. Bond, derivative-based and some international funds do this by necessity.

Physical metal trusts

Fund Category Fee Assets
GLDSPDR Gold Trust, SPDR Gold Shares Gold — $142.4B
IAUiShares Gold Trust Gold — $62.2B
GLDMSPDR Gold MiniShares Gold — $31.0B
SLViShares Silver Trust Silver — $29.5B
PHYSSprott Physical Gold Trust Gold — $15.4B
PSLVSprott Physical Silver Trust Silver — $12.1B
CEFSprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust Precious Metals — $7.1B
SGOLabrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF Gold — $7.0B
IAUMiShares Gold Trust Micro Gold — $6.6B
SIVRabrdn Physical Silver Shares ETF Silver — $4.1B
OUNZVanEck Merk Gold ETF Gold — $2.7B
GLTRabrdn Physical Precious Metals Basket Shares ETF Precious Metals — $2.6B
PPLTabrdn Physical Platinum Shares ETF Precious Metals — $2.0B
BARGraniteShares Gold SharesActive Gold — $1.4B
PALLabrdn Physical Palladium Shares ETF Precious Metals — $599M
SPPPSprott Physical Platinum and Palladium Trust Precious Metals — $490M
FGDLFranklin Responsibly Sourced Gold ETF Gold — $433M
DBPInvesco DB Precious Metals Fund Precious Metals — $250M
PLTMGraniteShares Platinum SharesActive Precious Metals — $183M

Trusts that hold gold, silver or platinum bullion are taxed as owning the metal: long-term gains are taxed at the collectibles rate, up to 28%, not the 15-20% rate on stock funds.

General information, not tax advice. Tax treatment depends on your circumstances; confirm against the fund's prospectus and with an adviser.

Fund data comes from each fund's SEC filings and issuer disclosures and is shown with the date it is as of. SEC portfolio and flow filings become public about 60 days after the period they cover. Nothing here is investment advice; see Terms.