-
The “wash sale” rule: Don’t let losses circle the drain
June 3, 2025
Categories: Capital Loss, Crypto, wash sale rule
Stock, mutual fund and ETF prices have bounced around lately. If you make what turns out to be an ill-fated investment in a taxable brokerage firm account, the good news is that you may be able to harvest a tax-saving capital loss by selling the loser security. However, for federal income tax purposes, the wash sale rule could disallow your hoped-for tax loss. Rule basics A loss from selling stock or mutual fund shares is disallowed if, within the 61-day period beginning 30 days before the
-
Understanding the “step-up in basis” when inheriting assets
May 21, 2025
Categories: Basis, Capital Gain, Capital Loss, inheritance, Stepped down, Stepped up
If you inherit assets after a loved one passes away, they often arrive with a valuable — but frequently misunderstood — tax benefit called the step-up in basis. Below is an overview of how the rule works and what planning might need to be done. What “basis” means First, let’s look at a couple definitions. Basis is generally what the owner paid for an asset, adjusted for improvements, depreciation, return of capital, etc. Capital gain (or loss) equals
-
Turning stock downturns into tax advantages
April 22, 2025
Categories: Capital Gain, Capital Loss, Stock Options, wash sale rule
Have you ever invested in a company only to see its stock value plummet? (This may become relevant in light of recent market volatility.) While such an investment might be something you’d rather forget, there’s a silver lining: you can claim a capital loss deduction on your tax return. Here are the rules when a stock you own is sold at a loss or is entirely worthless. How capital losses work As capital assets, stocks produce capital gains or losses when they’re sold. Your
-
How Section 1231 gains and losses affect business asset sales
January 14, 2025
Categories: Business Property, Capital Gain, Capital Loss, Section 1231
When selling business assets, understanding the tax implications is crucial. One area to focus on is Section 1231 of the Internal Revenue Code, which governs the treatment of gains and losses from the sale or exchange of certain business property. Business gain and loss tax basics The federal income tax character of gains and losses from selling business assets can fall into three categories: Capital gains and losses. These result from selling capital assets which are generally defined