Wash Sales
A wash sale occurs when you sell or trade securities at a loss and within 30 days before or after the sale you:
Concept at a glance
Definition and explanation
A wash sale occurs when you sell or trade securities at a loss and within 30 days before or after the sale you: [1]
Acquire substantially identical securities in a fully taxable trade, or [1]
Acquire a contract or option to buy substantially identical securities. [1]
Internal Revenue Service rules prohibit you from deducting losses related to wash sales. For more information about wash sales, read IRS Publication 550 , Investment Income and Expenses (Including Capital Gains and Losses). [1]
Source-supported connections
Frequently asked questions
What does Wash Sales mean in the cited reference?
A wash sale occurs when you sell or trade securities at a loss and within 30 days before or after the sale you: [1]
Wash Sales connection map
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Links retain their source-specific meaning. Award-time affiliations and links to related reading are not claims about current appointments or economic causation.
Sources and review dates
Reviewed 23 October 2026. Historical dates and award-time affiliations retain their original context. A review date is not an event date. Background sources are identified separately from official records.