Offer your thoughts or opinion on the input financial query or topic using your financial background.

What is the purpose of the wash sale rule?
Overall the question is one of a political nature.   However, this component can have objective answers: "What behavior is trying to be prevented?" There are mechanisms by which capital gains can be deferred (1031 like-kind exchange, or simply holding a long position for years) or eliminated by the estate step up in basis.  With these available, mechanisms that enable basis-reduction are ripe for abuse.   On the other hand, if this truly bothers you then if you meet the IRS qualifications of a day trader, you may elect to use "mark to market" accounting, eliminating this entirely as a concern. Special rules for traders of securities