1. Trade Details and Calculations
March 1: Bought 500 shares at $20
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Action: Buy
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Shares: 500
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Price per share: $20
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Total cost: 500 × 10,000**
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No gain or loss at this point.
March 2: Sold 500 shares at $10
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Action: Sell
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Shares: 500
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Price per share: $10
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Proceeds: 500 × 5,000**
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Cost basis: $10,000 (from March 1 purchase)
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Realized loss: 10,000 = -$5,000
This is a realized loss of $5,000. However, we need to check if this loss is disallowed due to the wash sale rule.
Wash Sale Rule
The wash sale rule disallows a loss if you buy "substantially identical" securities within 30 days before or after the sale. In this case:
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You sold 500 shares at a loss on March 2.
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On March 5, you bought 200 shares of the same stock.
Since the March 5 purchase occurred within 30 days of the March 2 sale, the wash sale rule applies to the 200 shares bought on March 5. The disallowed loss is calculated as follows:
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Disallowed loss: 200 shares × (10) = $2,000
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Allowed loss: 2,000 (disallowed loss) = $3,000
The disallowed loss of $2,000 is added to the cost basis of the 200 shares bought on March 5.
March 5: Bought 200 shares at $5
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Action: Buy
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Shares: 200
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Price per share: $5
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Total cost: 200 × 1,000**
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Adjusted cost basis (due to wash sale): 2,000 (disallowed loss) = $3,000
March 5: Sold 200 shares at $20
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Action: Sell
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Shares: 200
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Price per share: $20
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Proceeds: 200 × 4,000**
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Adjusted cost basis: $3,000
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Realized gain: 3,000 = $1,000
March 10: Bought 100 shares at $20
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Action: Buy
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Shares: 100
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Price per share: $20
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Total cost: 100 × 2,000**
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No gain or loss at this point.
March 10: Sold 100 shares at $25
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Action: Sell
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Shares: 100
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Price per share: $25
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Proceeds: 100 × 2,500**
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Cost basis: $2,000
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Realized gain: 2,000 = $500
2. Summary of Gains/Losses
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Allowed loss from March 2 sale: -$3,000
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Gain from March 5 sale: $1,000
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Gain from March 10 sale: $500
3. Total Taxable Income
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Net gain/loss: -1,000 + 1,500**
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This is a **net loss of 3,000 of ordinary income for the year.
4. Wash Sale Impact
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The wash sale rule disallowed 2,000 was added to the cost basis of the 200 shares bought on March 5, reducing the gain on the March 5 sale.
Final Answer
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Allowed loss: $3,000 (from March 2 sale)
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Gains: 500 (March 10) = $1,500
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Net taxable loss: -$1,500
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Wash sale disallowed loss: $2,000 (added to cost basis of March 5 purchase).