What is Tax-Loss Harvesting?
Tax-loss harvesting realizes losses to offset taxable capital gains, then may rebuy similar exposure.
Formula
Net short-term gains: $150,000 − $27,000 = $123,000 Tax saved: $27,000 × 40.8% (37% + 3.8% NIIT) ≈ $11,016
Indian market context (NSE)
Reference levels: Nifty 50 at 24,300, Reliance Industries at ₹1,300, Bank Nifty futures at 55,000 (lot size 30). Examples below show how Tax-Loss Harvesting shows up on Indian index, equity, and futures books — update to live quotes in your journal.
Nifty 50 perspective
Tax-Loss Harvesting in Indian context at Nifty 24,300: apply SEBI/regulatory framing where relevant and tag index trades separately in weekly review.
Reliance Industries perspective
Tax-Loss Harvesting using Reliance at ₹1,300 as a liquid large-cap example — adjust numbers to your live quote and contract note.
Bank Nifty futures perspective
Tax-Loss Harvesting with Bank Nifty futures at 55,000 — respect lot size 30 and quarterly vs monthly contract rules on NSE.
How to validate
- Validate Tax-Loss Harvesting with a written rule and at least 20 tagged examples.
- Ask whether the reading changed because of process or one outlier trade.
- Compare two independent time windows before adjusting position size.
- Document validation date in weekly review notes.
How to track in TradeLyser
- Mention Tax-Loss Harvesting in trade comments when it influenced the decision.
- Mirror the term in weekly review questions for consistency.
- Filter trades mentioning the concept during monthly analytics.
- Cross-link to related glossary terms in mentor notes.
Best practices
- Teach Tax-Loss Harvesting the same way to mentors and peers — shared vocabulary.
- Re-read this page after major rule changes to Tax-Loss Harvesting usage.
- Prefer one improvement per month over ten simultaneous tweaks.
- Link learn articles when Tax-Loss Harvesting needs deeper study.
Common pitfalls
- Using Tax-Loss Harvesting buzzwords without measurable journal tags.
- Copying another trader’s Tax-Loss Harvesting rule without sample size context.
- Skipping weekly review because the term feels “basic”.
- Letting social media redefine Tax-Loss Harvesting mid-quarter.
How to use this in TradeLyser
Investment notebook only; do not mix with intraday trading expectancy analytics.
Related terms
Cost basis is the original value of an asset for tax and performance — includes purchase price plus certain costs.
Demat account stores securities in electronic form — linked to trading account.
Profit and loss (P&L) is the change in value from trading activity. Realised P&L locks at exit; unrealised P&L marks open positions to market.
Wash sale rule (US) denies loss deduction when substantially identical security is bought within 30 days.
FAQ
Harvest and rebuy same stock?
Wash sale risk in US; India rules differ — professional advice.
Harvest drives trading decisions?
Tag tax trades separately from edge trades.
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