The 31-day timer is the part everyone knows. These are the eight parts that actually catch people — answer each honestly before you harvest.
SAFE DATES
Your window, from your sale date
danger window · 61 dayssafe
Window opens
Jul 25, 2026
Your sale
Aug 24, 2026
Window closes
Sep 23, 2026
First safe repurchase
Sep 24, 2026
The window runs BOTH directions. Shares bought in the 30 days BEFORE your sale can wash the loss too — including dividend reinvestments.
CHECKLIST
The eight traps
0/8 reviewed
Did you buy shares of this security in the 30 days BEFORE the sale?
Is dividend reinvestment (DRIP) turned on for this position in ANY account?
Might you (or an automatic contribution) buy this security in an IRA or Roth IRA within the window?
Could your spouse buy it in any of their accounts?
Do you plan to buy call options or a contract to acquire this security?
Is your replacement an ETF tracking the exact same index as what you sold?
Are you selling in December?
Do you have automatic purchases (payroll ESPP, 401(k) fund buys) that include this security?
THE GRAY AREA
What actually counts as "substantially identical"?
The statute never defines it, so practice has filled the gap. The same stock: yes, obviously. Options on that stock, or a contract to acquire it: yes — the rule says so explicitly. A different company in the same industry: generally no, and that's the premise of replacement-based harvesting — Home Depot and Lowe's are similar businesses, but they are not the same security. Two funds tracking the same index are the genuine gray area: no court case or ruling has settled it, and reasonable professionals disagree. The conservative playbook is simple — swap into something correlated but distinct (different index, different issuer, or a single name in the same sub-industry), document your reasoning, and let the 31 days pass before returning if you still want the original.
Calculations happen in your browser. We don't store or transmit what you enter. Educational summary of IRC §1091 and related guidance, not tax advice — wash-sale treatment depends on your facts and circumstances. Confirm with a tax professional.