Wash Sale

An illegal transaction an investor makes by simultaneously buying and selling a security through two different brokers, thereby creating the illusion of activity. Investors do this to try and recognize a tax loss without actually changing their position.


The effectiveness of this strategy has been greatly diminished with the implementation of the IRS 30-day wash rule, where a taxpayer cannot recognize a loss on an investment if that investment was purchased withing 30 days of sale (before or after sale). 





Tax Code - Wash Sale Rule - Some good info on the wash sale rule by invest-faq.com.

Five Tips for the Tax-Smart Investor - Being tax savvy can help you increase your returns more than you'd expect!

Selling Losing Securities for a Tax Advantage - Tax-loss harvesting can help you to reduce taxes on your portfolio gains, but make sure you know the rules!
Related Terms

Crystallization

Daisy Chain

Paper Profit (or Loss)

Wash

Wash Sale Rule

Word Search:

Categories