<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-09-19</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000704159</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PAULSON CAPITAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PLCC</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001227535</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LAMEAR KENNETH</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>811 SW NAITO PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PORTLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>97204</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>1</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText>See Footnote (1)</otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable>
<nonDerivativeTransaction>
<securityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-09-19</value>
</transactionDate>
<deemedExecutionDate>
</deemedExecutionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value>
</transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>3400</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare>
<value>6.00</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>21000</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value>See Footnote</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<footnotes>
<footnote id="F1">Kenneth LaMear is a Director of Paulson Investment Company, Inc. (A wholly-owned subsidiary of Paulson Capital Corp.).  The shares referred to are owned by LaMear Investment Co., LLC.  Mr. LaMear and his wife, Barbara Ann LaMear, are the sole members of the LaMear Investment Co., LLC.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<remarks></remarks>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>Kenneth T. LaMear, Individually</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-09-19</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>Kenneth T. LaMear for LaMear Investment Co., LLC</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-09-19</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

