4.8. Wash Sale Rules

While losses can almost always be used to offset gains, there is a limitation. When an investor sells securities at a loss and then buys back the same or substantially identical securities within 30 calendar days, the investor cannot use the loss to offset gains. This is considered a wash sale, according to IRS rules. Moreover, the investor could not have purchased replacement securities 30 calendar days before the sale either—this would also be considered a wash sale because the investor is replacing the shares that they are selling at a loss. Thus, the wash sale period is 30 days before the trade and 30 days after the trade plus the day of the trade.

Keep in mind that a wash sale is not illegal; rather, it is using the loss from a wash sale to offset gains that is a violation of IRS rules. In fact, the investor can capture the loss later by adding it to the cost basis of the new securities. If an investor does implement a wash sale, the