Sell at a $10,000 Loss but Buy Back in 29 Days? IRS Says You Owe Tax on $0 Deduction

The 61-day wash sale window catches investors harvesting losses for tax benefits

The Details

Your spouse buying the same stock in their IRA during your 61-day window still triggers wash sale rules — the IRS tracks across all accounts you control, including retirement accounts.

What this means for you

Retirement decisions compound — getting one of these details wrong can cost tens of thousands of dollars over a retirement. The good news: most of these mistakes are completely avoidable if you understand how the rule actually works.

Next step

If you want to see how this applies to your specific situation, take the free Retire Ready Score — a 2-minute assessment that scores your current plan across income, taxes, healthcare, and protection.