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Wash Sale Rule

The wash sale rule prevents investors from selling at a loss to claim the tax deduction and immediately repurchasing the same investment. If you buy a substantially identical security within 30 days before or after a loss sale, the loss is disallowed and added to the cost basis of the new shares. The rule applies to stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and options, but not to cryptocurrency (as of 2026).

Example

You sell 100 shares of XYZ stock at a $5,000 loss on December 15, then buy 100 shares of XYZ on January 5. The $5,000 loss is disallowed. Instead, it's added to your new shares' basis.

Related Topics

Alabama Capital Gains Tax

Alabama taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its progressive brackets.

Alaska Capital Gains Tax

Alaska has no state capital gains tax. Residents pay only federal capital gains tax.

Arizona Capital Gains Tax

Arizona taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its flat rate.

Arkansas Capital Gains Tax

Arkansas taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its progressive brackets.

California Capital Gains Tax

California taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its progressive brackets.

Colorado Capital Gains Tax

Colorado taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its flat rate.

Connecticut Capital Gains Tax

Connecticut taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its progressive brackets.

Delaware Capital Gains Tax

Delaware taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its progressive brackets.

Florida Capital Gains Tax

Florida has no state capital gains tax. Residents pay only federal capital gains tax.

Georgia Capital Gains Tax

Georgia taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its flat rate.

Hawaii Capital Gains Tax

Hawaii offers a preferential rate on long-term capital gains, lower than ordinary income rates.

Idaho Capital Gains Tax

Idaho taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its flat rate.

Illinois Capital Gains Tax

Illinois taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its flat rate.

Indiana Capital Gains Tax

Indiana taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its flat rate.

Iowa Capital Gains Tax

Iowa taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its flat rate.

Kansas Capital Gains Tax

Kansas taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its progressive brackets.

Kentucky Capital Gains Tax

Kentucky taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its flat rate.

Louisiana Capital Gains Tax

Louisiana taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its flat rate.

Maine Capital Gains Tax

Maine taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its progressive brackets.

Maryland Capital Gains Tax

Maryland taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its progressive brackets.

Massachusetts Capital Gains Tax

Massachusetts taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its flat rate.

Michigan Capital Gains Tax

Michigan taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its flat rate.

Minnesota Capital Gains Tax

Minnesota taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its progressive brackets.

Mississippi Capital Gains Tax

Mississippi taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its flat rate.

Missouri Capital Gains Tax

Missouri has no state capital gains tax. Residents pay only federal capital gains tax.

Montana Capital Gains Tax

Montana offers a preferential rate on long-term capital gains, lower than ordinary income rates.

Nebraska Capital Gains Tax

Nebraska taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its progressive brackets.

Nevada Capital Gains Tax

Nevada has no state capital gains tax. Residents pay only federal capital gains tax.

New Hampshire Capital Gains Tax

New Hampshire has no state capital gains tax. Residents pay only federal capital gains tax.

New Jersey Capital Gains Tax

New Jersey taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its progressive brackets.

New Mexico Capital Gains Tax

New Mexico taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its progressive brackets.

New York Capital Gains Tax

New York taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its progressive brackets.

North Carolina Capital Gains Tax

North Carolina taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its flat rate.

North Dakota Capital Gains Tax

North Dakota offers a preferential rate on long-term capital gains, lower than ordinary income rates.

Ohio Capital Gains Tax

Ohio taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its progressive brackets.

Oklahoma Capital Gains Tax

Oklahoma taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its progressive brackets.

Oregon Capital Gains Tax

Oregon taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its progressive brackets.

Pennsylvania Capital Gains Tax

Pennsylvania taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its flat rate.

Rhode Island Capital Gains Tax

Rhode Island taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its progressive brackets.

South Carolina Capital Gains Tax

South Carolina taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its progressive brackets.

South Dakota Capital Gains Tax

South Dakota has no state capital gains tax. Residents pay only federal capital gains tax.

Tennessee Capital Gains Tax

Tennessee has no state capital gains tax. Residents pay only federal capital gains tax.

Texas Capital Gains Tax

Texas has no state capital gains tax. Residents pay only federal capital gains tax.

Utah Capital Gains Tax

Utah taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its flat rate.

Vermont Capital Gains Tax

Vermont taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its progressive brackets.

Virginia Capital Gains Tax

Virginia taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its progressive brackets.

Washington Capital Gains Tax

Washington imposes a capital gains excise tax on long-term gains above a threshold. This is not an income tax.

West Virginia Capital Gains Tax

West Virginia taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its progressive brackets.

Wisconsin Capital Gains Tax

Wisconsin taxes capital gains as ordinary income using its progressive brackets.

Wyoming Capital Gains Tax

Wyoming has no state capital gains tax. Residents pay only federal capital gains tax.