ARTICLES

If you sell a stock or mutual fund at a loss and buy a substantially identical one within 30 days, the wash sale rule applies. This rule disallows the loss for tax purposes, deferring it by adding it to the cost basis of the new shares. Proper timing is key to successfully harvesting tax-saving capital losses. Learn more.

You can deduct capital losses to offset gains and reduce up to $3,000 of ordinary income each year. Losses beyond that can be carried forward. Be aware of the wash sale rule and special rules for claiming losses on worthless stocks.