Trading is stressful enough.....Your taxes shouldn't be! Ph: (813)746-8208
E-Mail: info@TraderTaxCoach.net

Trader Status Benefits

The difference between filing your tax return as a trader and filing as an investor can be summed up in one word: DEDUCTIONS!  If you qualify for trader status, you get to file a business tax return (Schedule C) and claim business expenses. This enables you to take many more deductions than you’d be able to take if you filed as an investor. Investors are severely limited under the tax code from deducting trading expenses.

Let’s look at a comparison side by side: 

 

 

 

INVESTOR

TRADER

Capital Loss and Wash Sale Rules Apply

YES

YES

Investment Interest Expense


LIMITED

UNLIMITED

Investment Expenses

 

LIMITED

UNLIMITED

Where Are Expenses Taken?


SCHEDULE A

SCHEDULE C

Can Elect Mark to Market Method of Accounting?

NOT ALLOWED

YES

Home Office Expenses

 

NOT ALLOWED

YES

Education Expenses

 

NOT ALLOWED

YES

Depreciation of Computers and Office Equipment

LIMITED:

SUBJECT TO 2% FLOOR

YES

Net Operating Loss Carryback


NOT ALLOWED

YES

 

LIMITS ON EXPENSES

Looking at the above list you can see that filing your tax return as an investor limits the amount of expenses you are able to take. Since all expenses for an investor are filed on a Schedule A, they are classified as miscellaneous itemized deductions. This means that they must be greater than 2% of your adjusted gross income. It also means you can deduct only the amount over the 2% limit!

For example, if your AGI is $100,000, your expenses must be greater than $2,000 in order for you to deduct them. If your expenses are $3000, you can deduct only $1000 (the amount over the 2% limit) from your taxes.

Traders are not subject to this limitation since they will claim all of their business expenses on a Schedule C. This enables them to deduct ALL expenses associated with their trading business dollar for dollar!

LIMITS ON INVESTMENT INTEREST

Investors can deduct margin interest as an itemized deduction on their Schedule A but only to the extent of their net investment income. Any excess investment interest expenses are carried over to the following tax year to be deducted in the same way.

Traders are not subject to this limitation. They deduct margin interest in full on Schedule C as a business expense instead of an itemized deduction.  Since margin interest for most traders can run many thousands of dollars, this is a HUGE tax advantage.

HOME OFFICE AND EDUCATION EXPENSES

Investors cannot deduct home office expenses or education expenses. This is another big tax savings for traders. Even if you rent your home or apartment, a trader can take the home office deduction, opening up thousands of dollars in tax savings every year!

MARK TO MARKET ACCOUNTING

One of the most beneficial aspects of trader tax status is the ability to claim mark to market accounting. If you make this election, your trading losses won't be subject to the $3000 capital loss limitation that investors are stuck with. Instead, your capital gains/losses are treated as ordinary gains/losses. Ordinary losses don't have a limit and can be used to offset any income. This is a huge benefit for a trader who has a bad year.

Click here to learn more about mark to market accounting.

If you have questions on this or any other trader taxation topic, please use the form below to contact us:

Contact Information

Please fill out and submit the form below. Most inquiries are responded to within 24 hours.

First Name:
Last Name:
Address Street 1:
Address Street 2:
City:
Zip Code: (5 digits)
State:
Daytime Phone:
Evening Phone:
Email:
Question or Comments:



Website Builder