What happens if I sell a stock and buy it back?

Asked by: Angelo Kerluke I  |  Last update: January 14, 2026
Score: 4.3/5 (65 votes)

The wash rule claims that, in case you sell any investment at a loss, and then you re-buy it within a month (30 days), the loss that you made initially cannot be accounted for the purpose of taxation. In case you want to purchase the stocks sold again, you have to wait for this period to lapse to claim a tax benefit.

How soon can you repurchase a stock after selling it?

It simply states that you can't sell shares of stock or other securities for a loss and then buy substantially identical shares within 30 days before or after the sale (i.e., for a 61-day period, since you count the day of the sale). If you do, the loss is disallowed for tax purposes.

Is it legal to sell a stock as profit but buy it back immediately again?

Yes you can repurchase the stock with a gain immediately, provided you have the settled funds to do so. It's called tax gain harvesting.

How do you avoid the wash sale rule?

After selling a security at a loss, you must wait 31 days to repurchase the same or a substantially identical security to avoid triggering the wash sale rule. The rule applies to both 30 days before and after the sale, meaning a total of 61 days must be considered when planning trades to avoid a wash sale.

Do I have to pay tax if I sell stock and buy again?

What if I reinvest the proceeds? Buying additional stock shares with the proceeds from a stock sale will not eliminate or reduce capital gains taxes. However, if you reinvest the gain into a QOF (Qualified Opportunity Fund), you can defer the payment of capital gains taxes while you are invested in an eligible fund.

Warren Buffett: The 3 Times When You Should Sell a Stock

20 related questions found

How do I avoid paying taxes when I sell stock?

7 ways to avoid capital gains tax on stocks for any investor
  1. Donate stock to charity.
  2. Hold stock shares for more than one year.
  3. Invest in retirement accounts.
  4. Pass it on in your estate plans.
  5. Sell stocks when you're in a lower tax bracket.
  6. Offset your capital gains with losses (aka tax-loss harvesting).

What are the rules for selling stock and buying it back?

Q: How does the wash sale rule work? If you sell a security at a loss and buy the same or a substantially identical security within 30 calendar days before or after the sale, you won't be able to take a loss for that security on your current-year tax return.

Does it make sense to sell stock and rebuy?

Taking profits sounds pretty good; unfortunately, this strategy is not wise. While you may feel some satisfaction in knowing that you made a profit on this stock, the only thing you will lock in with this sell/buy transaction is a taxable capital gain.

How do day traders avoid wash sales in the IRS?

There are strategies for avoiding wash sales while still taking advantage of taxable gains and losses. If you own an individual stock that experienced a loss, you can avoid a wash sale by making an additional purchase of the stock and then waiting 31 days to sell those shares that have a loss.

Do you pay taxes on stocks if you sell at a loss?

Selling a stock for profit locks in "realized gains," which will be taxed. However, you won't be taxed anything if you sell stock at a loss. In fact, it may even help your tax situation — this is a strategy known as tax-loss harvesting. Note, however, that if you receive dividends, you will have to pay taxes on those.

Can I sell a stock and rebuy the same day?

You can buy and sell the same stock as often as you like, provided that you operate within the restrictions imposed by FINRA on pattern day trading and that your broker allows it.

Does a wash sale ever go away?

Note that the wash sale period extends from 30 days before the sale to 30 days after the sale – and neither of those 30-day periods includes the sale date, so you can't buy that “substantially identical” security within a 61-day window.

What is the 30-day rule?

The 30-day savings rule is a simple strategy to cut down on overspending. It works like this: When you're tempted to make an impulse purchase, you commit to waiting 30 days before going through with it. Of course, at the end of those 30 days, you may decide that you do, in fact, want to make the purchase.

Can I buy back a stock I just sold?

Technically, you have to wait before you buy the stocks you sold for losses back. The wash rule claims that, in case you sell any investment at a loss, and then you re-buy it within a month (30 days), the loss that you made initially cannot be accounted for the purpose of taxation.

Are wash sales reported to the IRS?

The wash sale is reported in Box 1g of Form 1099-B. Note: Wash sales are in scope only if reported on Form 1099-B or on a brokerage or mutual fund statement.

How much stock loss can you write off?

Your maximum net capital loss in any tax year is $3,000. The IRS limits your net loss to $3,000 (for individuals and married filing jointly) or $1,500 (for married filing separately). You can reduce any amount of taxable capital gains as long as you have gross losses to offset them.

Who does the IRS consider a day trader?

You must seek to profit from daily market movements in the prices of securities and not from dividends, interest, or capital appreciation; Your activity must be substantial; and. You must carry on the activity with continuity and regularity.

Is it legal to buy and sell the same stock repeatedly?

As a retail investor, you can't buy and sell the same stock more than four times within a five-business-day period. Anyone who exceeds this violates the pattern day trader rule, which is reserved for individuals who are classified by their brokers are day traders and can be restricted from conducting any trades.

How do day traders avoid wash sales?

How to avoid a wash sale. One way to avoid a wash sale on an individual stock, while still maintaining your exposure to the industry of the stock you sold at a loss, would be to consider substituting a mutual fund or an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that targets the same industry.

How long do you have to wait after selling a stock to buy it back?

Keep in mind that the wash sale rule goes into effect 30 days before and after the sale, so you have a 61-day window to avoid buying the same stock. Alternatively, if waiting 61 days isn't feasible, you can purchase a security that is not substantially identical to the one you recently sold.

Does selling stock count as income?

When you sell an investment for a profit, the amount earned is likely to be taxable. The amount that you pay in taxes is based on the capital gains tax rate. Typically, you'll either pay short-term or long-term capital gains tax rates depending on your holding period for the investment.

Can I sell my stocks and get my money back?

Yes, you will receive money when you sell stock, as long as its value is more than $0. The proceeds from the stock sale will be deposited into your brokerage account or sent to you in the form of a check.

What is the capital gains tax rate in 2024?

Capital gains tax rates

Net capital gains are taxed at different rates depending on overall taxable income, although some or all net capital gain may be taxed at 0%. For taxable years beginning in 2024, the tax rate on most net capital gain is no higher than 15% for most individuals.

Do I pay tax if I sell one stock and buy another?

With some investments, you can reinvest proceeds to avoid capital gains, but for stock owned in regular taxable accounts, no such provision applies, and you'll pay capital gains taxes according to how long you held your investment.