Investing - Theory, News & General • Re: Complicated wash sale question

If you sell something in a taxable account at a loss and buy it back the next day in the same account, and your Broker adjusts the cost basis… can you buy that same thing in your IRA the next day and not have to worry about a permanent loss because the cost basis was already adjusted in your taxable account because you bought that the same amount of shares?

Example:

- Buy 100 shares of X at $600/share in taxable on July 1
- Sell 100 shares of X at $500/share in taxable on September 3
- Buy 100 shares of X at $400/share in taxable on September 4 (broker adjusts cost basis up to $500)

Are you the free to buy more as you please given the loss has already been adjusted on the new buy?

Here is one way I would look at it: When you sold on 09/03, you had a permanent (realized loss of $100/share). If you didn't make the purchase on 9/4, you could get Uncle Sam to share a portion of your loss. But because you made that purchase, you need to wait until you sell the shares you now own.

If you made an additional purchase in your IRA (as well) on 09/04, I am unsure if that would hurt.

Statistics: Posted by an_asker — Thu Sep 24, 2026 3:00 pm