Why not speculate at EOY and write the loss off on taxes?

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At the end of the year I will owe some money in taxes. Rather than simply pay it, I am considering making a wild bet (with options, for example), in a controlled way such that I can't lose more than I'll owe in taxes.



If I win the bet, I make a profit. If I lose, I simply write the loss off as capital gains losses, and pay my taxes that way.



Why is this a bad idea?










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    up vote
    2
    down vote

    favorite












    At the end of the year I will owe some money in taxes. Rather than simply pay it, I am considering making a wild bet (with options, for example), in a controlled way such that I can't lose more than I'll owe in taxes.



    If I win the bet, I make a profit. If I lose, I simply write the loss off as capital gains losses, and pay my taxes that way.



    Why is this a bad idea?










    share|improve this question























      up vote
      2
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      2
      down vote

      favorite











      At the end of the year I will owe some money in taxes. Rather than simply pay it, I am considering making a wild bet (with options, for example), in a controlled way such that I can't lose more than I'll owe in taxes.



      If I win the bet, I make a profit. If I lose, I simply write the loss off as capital gains losses, and pay my taxes that way.



      Why is this a bad idea?










      share|improve this question













      At the end of the year I will owe some money in taxes. Rather than simply pay it, I am considering making a wild bet (with options, for example), in a controlled way such that I can't lose more than I'll owe in taxes.



      If I win the bet, I make a profit. If I lose, I simply write the loss off as capital gains losses, and pay my taxes that way.



      Why is this a bad idea?







      united-states taxes






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      asked 10 hours ago









      horse hair

      1,32921222




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          2 Answers
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          up vote
          10
          down vote













          Suppose your tax rate is 20%.



          You have earned 5000 coins during the year and now owe 1000 coins in taxes.



          Instead of paying the tax, you speculate using your 1000 coins -- but, alas, you lose all of it.



          Assuming you can deduct that loss, your net income for the year is now 4000 coins.



          You still owe 800 coins in taxes.






          share|improve this answer



























            up vote
            1
            down vote













            If you incur a loss on your option play, it only reduces your income by the amount of your tax bracket.



            Most investment decisions should not be made solely on the basis of taxation. Making a "wild bet" with options is one of them. As a wild bet, it most likely has a poor risk/reward spectrum and is a bad bet at any time of the year.



            You could possibly defer taxes by taking a pairs position in highly correlated assets that are not substantially identical. For example, buying one gold stock and selling another.



            If they move, at the end of the year, you cover the one that has the loss, deferring the gain until January 2nd. There is greater risk in doing this (the correlation breaks down). If you had a fundamental reason for the position then the taxation might be a secondary benefit. But again, this shouldn't be done based solely on taxation.






            share|improve this answer




















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              2 Answers
              2






              active

              oldest

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              2 Answers
              2






              active

              oldest

              votes









              active

              oldest

              votes






              active

              oldest

              votes








              up vote
              10
              down vote













              Suppose your tax rate is 20%.



              You have earned 5000 coins during the year and now owe 1000 coins in taxes.



              Instead of paying the tax, you speculate using your 1000 coins -- but, alas, you lose all of it.



              Assuming you can deduct that loss, your net income for the year is now 4000 coins.



              You still owe 800 coins in taxes.






              share|improve this answer
























                up vote
                10
                down vote













                Suppose your tax rate is 20%.



                You have earned 5000 coins during the year and now owe 1000 coins in taxes.



                Instead of paying the tax, you speculate using your 1000 coins -- but, alas, you lose all of it.



                Assuming you can deduct that loss, your net income for the year is now 4000 coins.



                You still owe 800 coins in taxes.






                share|improve this answer






















                  up vote
                  10
                  down vote










                  up vote
                  10
                  down vote









                  Suppose your tax rate is 20%.



                  You have earned 5000 coins during the year and now owe 1000 coins in taxes.



                  Instead of paying the tax, you speculate using your 1000 coins -- but, alas, you lose all of it.



                  Assuming you can deduct that loss, your net income for the year is now 4000 coins.



                  You still owe 800 coins in taxes.






                  share|improve this answer












                  Suppose your tax rate is 20%.



                  You have earned 5000 coins during the year and now owe 1000 coins in taxes.



                  Instead of paying the tax, you speculate using your 1000 coins -- but, alas, you lose all of it.



                  Assuming you can deduct that loss, your net income for the year is now 4000 coins.



                  You still owe 800 coins in taxes.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered 9 hours ago









                  Henning Makholm

                  618512




                  618512






















                      up vote
                      1
                      down vote













                      If you incur a loss on your option play, it only reduces your income by the amount of your tax bracket.



                      Most investment decisions should not be made solely on the basis of taxation. Making a "wild bet" with options is one of them. As a wild bet, it most likely has a poor risk/reward spectrum and is a bad bet at any time of the year.



                      You could possibly defer taxes by taking a pairs position in highly correlated assets that are not substantially identical. For example, buying one gold stock and selling another.



                      If they move, at the end of the year, you cover the one that has the loss, deferring the gain until January 2nd. There is greater risk in doing this (the correlation breaks down). If you had a fundamental reason for the position then the taxation might be a secondary benefit. But again, this shouldn't be done based solely on taxation.






                      share|improve this answer
























                        up vote
                        1
                        down vote













                        If you incur a loss on your option play, it only reduces your income by the amount of your tax bracket.



                        Most investment decisions should not be made solely on the basis of taxation. Making a "wild bet" with options is one of them. As a wild bet, it most likely has a poor risk/reward spectrum and is a bad bet at any time of the year.



                        You could possibly defer taxes by taking a pairs position in highly correlated assets that are not substantially identical. For example, buying one gold stock and selling another.



                        If they move, at the end of the year, you cover the one that has the loss, deferring the gain until January 2nd. There is greater risk in doing this (the correlation breaks down). If you had a fundamental reason for the position then the taxation might be a secondary benefit. But again, this shouldn't be done based solely on taxation.






                        share|improve this answer






















                          up vote
                          1
                          down vote










                          up vote
                          1
                          down vote









                          If you incur a loss on your option play, it only reduces your income by the amount of your tax bracket.



                          Most investment decisions should not be made solely on the basis of taxation. Making a "wild bet" with options is one of them. As a wild bet, it most likely has a poor risk/reward spectrum and is a bad bet at any time of the year.



                          You could possibly defer taxes by taking a pairs position in highly correlated assets that are not substantially identical. For example, buying one gold stock and selling another.



                          If they move, at the end of the year, you cover the one that has the loss, deferring the gain until January 2nd. There is greater risk in doing this (the correlation breaks down). If you had a fundamental reason for the position then the taxation might be a secondary benefit. But again, this shouldn't be done based solely on taxation.






                          share|improve this answer












                          If you incur a loss on your option play, it only reduces your income by the amount of your tax bracket.



                          Most investment decisions should not be made solely on the basis of taxation. Making a "wild bet" with options is one of them. As a wild bet, it most likely has a poor risk/reward spectrum and is a bad bet at any time of the year.



                          You could possibly defer taxes by taking a pairs position in highly correlated assets that are not substantially identical. For example, buying one gold stock and selling another.



                          If they move, at the end of the year, you cover the one that has the loss, deferring the gain until January 2nd. There is greater risk in doing this (the correlation breaks down). If you had a fundamental reason for the position then the taxation might be a secondary benefit. But again, this shouldn't be done based solely on taxation.







                          share|improve this answer












                          share|improve this answer



                          share|improve this answer










                          answered 17 mins ago









                          Bob Baerker

                          10.4k11440




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