TD Ameritrade Fee Calculator
How to Use This Calculator
- 1
Enter Trade Amount
Input the total dollar value of your trade. For a sell, this is the proceeds; for a buy, it's the cost.
- 2
Specify Number of Shares / Contracts
Enter the quantity of shares for stocks/ETFs or contracts for options. This is crucial for FINRA TAF calculations.
- 3
Select Asset Type
Choose whether you are trading Stock, ETF, Options, Bond, or Mutual Fund (Non-NTF).
- 4
Choose Order Side
Indicate if your order is a Buy or a Sell, as some fees apply only to sell orders (e.g., SEC Section 31).
- 5
Review Total Fees
The calculator displays your Total Fees, Net Proceeds, Fee as % of Trade, SEC Regulatory Fee, and Cost Per Share. The Insights panel shows your regulatory burden breakdown, annualized fee impact, and break-even price movement needed.
Example Calculation
An investor is selling 100 shares of a stock for a total trade amount of $10,000 via TD Ameritrade (now Schwab).
Trade Amount ($)
10,000
Number of Shares / Contracts
100
Asset Type (select)
Stock
Order Side (select)
Sell
Results
Total Fees
$0.0966
Net Proceeds
$9,999.90
Fee as % of Trade
0.0010%
SEC Regulatory Fee
$0.0800
Cost Per Share
$0.000966
Tips
Understand Zero-Commission Doesn't Mean Zero Fees
While Schwab (TD Ameritrade's parent company) offers $0 commission for online stock and ETF trades, small regulatory fees like SEC Section 31 ($0.08 on a $10,000 sell) and FINRA TAF ($0.0166 on 100 shares) still apply on sell orders.
Options Trading Has Contract Fees
Options trades incur a $0.65 per-contract fee even with zero-commission stock/ETF trading. For 10 contracts, that's $6.50 per trade — factor this into your options strategy.
Mutual Funds May Have Transaction Fees
Non-NTF mutual funds carry a $49.99 flat transaction fee at Schwab. Always check whether a fund is on the NTF list before investing to avoid this charge.
Calculating Trading Fees with the TD Ameritrade (Schwab) Fee Calculator
The TD Ameritrade Fee Calculator, now reflecting Charles Schwab's fee structure after the acquisition, helps investors understand the true cost of their trades beyond just commissions.
While many platforms advertise $0 commissions, underlying regulatory fees, options contract fees, and mutual fund transaction fees can still apply.
This tool clarifies the SEC Section 31, FINRA TAF, and other charges for various asset types and order sides, providing a transparent view of your total trading expenses in 2026.
Why Understanding Trading Fees is Crucial
Understanding trading fees is crucial for investors because even seemingly small charges can erode returns over time, especially for frequent traders or large portfolios.
While headline "zero-commission" trading has become standard for stocks and ETFs, regulatory fees, options contract fees, and other charges still exist.
Neglecting these can lead to an inaccurate assessment of investment performance.
For instance, a $0.08 SEC fee on a $10,000 stock sell is negligible, but across 100 trades per year that's $8 in regulatory costs alone.
Being aware of all fees allows investors to make informed decisions and accurately calculate net profits.
How Schwab Calculates Trading-Related Fees
While Charles Schwab largely offers $0 commissions for online U.S. stock and ETF trades, specific regulatory and product-specific fees still apply.
The calculator determines total fees based on:
- SEC Section 31 Fee: Applied only to sell orders of stocks and ETFs. Rate is $8.00 per $1 million of principal (subject to change by the SEC).
SEC Fee = Trade Amount x SEC Rate (0.000008) - FINRA Trading Activity Fee (TAF): Applied only to sell orders of stocks and ETFs at $0.000166 per share, capped at $8.30 per trade.
FINRA TAF = min(Number of Shares x $0.000166, $8.30) - Options Contract Fee: Applied to both buy and sell options orders at $0.65 per contract.
Options Fee = Number of Contracts x $0.65 - Mutual Fund Transaction Fee: $49.99 flat fee for non-NTF mutual funds.
- Bond Fee: $1.00 per bond.
The Total Fees is the sum of all applicable charges based on asset type and order side.
Analyzing a Stock Sell Order Fee
Let's examine a scenario where an investor is selling 100 shares of a stock for a total trade amount of $10,000 using TD Ameritrade (now Schwab).
- Identify Trade Details:
- Trade Amount: $10,000
- Number of Shares: 100
- Asset Type: Stock
- Order Side: Sell
- Calculate SEC Section 31 Fee:
SEC Fee = $10,000 x 0.000008 = $0.0800 - Calculate FINRA TAF:
FINRA TAF = 100 shares x $0.000166/share = $0.0166 - Total Fees:
Total Fees = $0.0800 (SEC) + $0.0166 (FINRA TAF) = $0.0966 - Net Proceeds:
Net Proceeds = $10,000 - $0.0966 = $9,999.90 - Fee as % of Trade:
Fee % = ($0.0966 / $10,000) x 100 = 0.0010%
For this $10,000 stock sell order, the total fees are a minimal $0.0966, demonstrating that while commissions are $0, small regulatory charges still apply.
Regulatory or Standards Context for Brokerage Fees
Brokerage fees, particularly regulatory fees like the SEC Section 31 fee and FINRA TAF, are mandated by specific governmental and self-regulatory bodies.
The SEC Section 31 fee is levied by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 31 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Its purpose is to recover the costs incurred by the government for supervising and regulating the securities markets.
The fee rate is adjusted periodically by the SEC based on market activity.
The FINRA Trading Activity Fee (TAF) is imposed by FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
FINRA uses TAF revenue to fund its regulatory activities, including examinations, surveillance, and investor protection programs.
These fees are standardized across all brokerage firms subject to U.S. regulations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are SEC Section 31 fees?
SEC Section 31 fees are regulatory fees charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission on sell-side transactions. They are calculated at $8.00 per $1,000,000 of proceeds and apply only to sell orders for stocks, ETFs, and options. For a $10,000 stock sell, the fee is just $0.08.
What is FINRA TAF?
FINRA TAF (Trading Activity Fee) is a regulatory fee assessed by FINRA on sales of exchange-listed securities at $0.000166 per share, capped at $8.30 per trade. For 100 shares sold, the fee is $0.0166.
Are TD Ameritrade (now Schwab) commissions truly $0?
For online trades of U.S. exchange-listed stocks and ETFs, Schwab offers $0 commission. However, regulatory fees (SEC Section 31, FINRA TAF) still apply to sell orders, options trades incur a $0.65 per-contract fee, and non-NTF mutual funds carry a $49.99 transaction fee.
How does this calculator handle different asset types?
The calculator applies different fee structures based on asset type: stocks/ETFs have $0 commission with regulatory fees on sells, options charge $0.65 per contract plus regulatory fees, bonds charge $1.00 per bond, and non-NTF mutual funds have a $49.99 flat fee.