Mutual-fund investors got to express their gratitude on Thanksgiving. Many of them won’t feel so appreciative between now and year end.

This tax year is shaping up as one of the worst on record for investors with mutual funds outside of retirement accounts. That’s despite muted returns for many funds and stocks generally—the S&P 500 is up 4.2% through Nov. 29, including dividends.

The issue: Mutual funds effectively must distribute all their realized capital gains, or profits on securities they have sold during the year. And, so far, through Nov. 29, 517 funds have announced they will pay out at least 10% of net assets as taxable gains, says Mark Wilson of Mile Wealth Management in Irvine, Calif., who runs a website tracking these payouts, CapGainsValet.com. He estimates that by year end, 531 funds will pay such large taxable distributions.

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Further reading

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Further reading