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

    <documentType>5</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2004-01-02</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>
    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000704159</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PAULSON CAPITAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PLCC</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001217810</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PARKER TRACY H</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>
<derivativeTable>
<derivativeHolding>
<securityTitle>
<value>Stock Option (Right to Buy Common Stock)</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>4.4375</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
</transactionCoding>
<exerciseDate>
<value>1999-08-16</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2004-08-15</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>7000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>12500</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding>
<securityTitle>
<value>Stock Option (Right to Buy Common Stock)</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>7.01</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
</transactionCoding>
<exerciseDate>
<value>2002-03-19</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2007-03-18</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>3000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>12500</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding>
<securityTitle>
<value>Stock Option (Right to Buy Common Stock)</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>8.10</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
</transactionCoding>
<exerciseDate>
<value>2003-11-10</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2008-11-09</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>2500</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>12500</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes>
<footnote id="F1">As of October 1, 2003 Tracy Parker is no longer an officer of Paulson Investment Company, Inc. (a wholy owned subsidiary of Paulson Capital Corp.)</footnote>
</footnotes>
<remarks></remarks>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>Harry L. Striplin, Attorney-in-Fact for Tracy Parker</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2004-01-23</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

