Free educational tool · Investing

Tax-Loss Harvesting Engine

Organize loss utilization, carryforward, and wash-sale review before a trade.

Tax year 2026 · Last reviewed 2026-07-29 · Inputs stay in your browser

Investing · Educational Decision Engine

Tax-Loss Harvesting Engine

Estimate how a realized capital loss may offset entered gains and ordinary income, while screening for wash-sale and cross-account risks. Tax considerations should not dictate an investment decision.

Filing-status groupThe ordinary-income capital-loss limit is lower for married filing separately.

Loss expected from proposed saleEnter a positive loss amount.

Character of proposed lossCharacter is generally determined by the holding period and special instrument rules.

Other net short-term capital gainsEnter gains before applying this proposed loss.

Other net long-term capital gainsCapital-loss netting order depends on short- and long-term character.

Short-term capital-loss carryforward entering the yearPreserve the character shown on the prior-year Schedule D worksheet.

Long-term capital-loss carryforward entering the yearPreserve the character shown on the prior-year Schedule D worksheet.

Federal rate applicable to short-term gainsShort-term gains generally use ordinary rates; enter a directional rate for this scenario.

Federal rate applicable to long-term gainsEnter the applicable directional long-term capital-gain rate.

Federal marginal ordinary-income rateUsed only for the limited ordinary-income deduction estimate.

Substantially identical purchase within 30 days before or after saleThe wash-sale window spans 30 days before through 30 days after.Replacement may occur in an IRA or retirement accountIRA replacement can create especially unfavorable permanent loss consequences.Spouse, advisor, employee plan, or another account may buy a replacementBroker reporting may not capture cross-account activity.Options, short sale, crypto, straddle, or substantially-identical uncertainty is involvedInstrument identity and special rules need review.

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Tax-Loss Harvesting Engine

Tax-Loss Harvesting Engine

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Use this result to prepare for professional review—not to take a filing or transaction position.