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Wash Sale Rule - Multiple Purchases across accounts

Personal Finance & Money Asked on February 3, 2021

If I purchase a stock/option, sell it for a loss, and then repurchase the same stock/option in multiple accounts, does the wash rule apply to the first repurchase? I think my understanding of options are that they are all considered the same for wash rule purchases, so let’s assume the calls are for the same strike price.

Account 1:

1/5/2020 – Purchase 20 STOCK_A CALLS @ 2.55 ($5100)

1/10/2020 – Sell 20 STOCK_A CALLS @ 2.00 ($4000) ($1100 in loss)

1/12/2020 – Purchase 20 STOCK_A CALLS @ 1.95 ($3900)

Account 2:

1/15/2020 – Purchase 100 STOCK_A @ 50 ($5000)

My understanding is that the purchase of calls on 1/12/2020 triggers a wash sale. Does the cost basis get applied to the first stock/option purchase, in this case, the cost basis of the transaction on 1/12/2020 be ($3900 + $1100).

This is also assuming that none of these accounts are ROTH IRAs. If Account 2 is a ROTH IRA, does this change anything? My understanding is that a wash rule that involves a loss in a brokerage account and a purchase in a ROTH IRA means the loss is permanently lost: it cannot be deferred anywhere and the cost basis of the stock in the ROTH IRA remains the same.

One Answer

Interesting question that I don't know the exact answer to.

(1) Yes, you are correct that the 1/12/20 call purchase triggers a wash sale and the $1,100 loss is added to its cost basis of $3,900.

(2) IRS Rev. Rul. 2008-5 Rev. Rul. 2008-5 states that if you realize a loss in a taxable account and you purchase substantially a identical securities within the 60 day window then the loss is permanently lost: it cannot be deferred anywhere and the cost basis of the stock in the ROTH IRA remains the same.

So if you made the first two option trades ($1,100 loss) and the IRA share purchase in account 2 without the call repurchase on 1/12/20 then you'd violate the above rule.

(3) What I'm not sure of is how this is handled with two wash sale violations, two accounts, and an involvement with an IRA account. My gut feeling is that trade #3 creates the wash sale with cost basis adjustment and that trade #4 results in loss of that adjustment and you permanently lose the ability to deduct the $1,100.

Answered by Bob Baerker on February 3, 2021

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