Internal Revenue Code · 26 U.S.C.

§ 1233. Gains and losses from short sales

In force Text current through Public Law 119-121 (October 9, 2026) release point 119-121

Official text, no changes From the Office of the Law Revision Counsel, release point 119-121 (current through Public Law 119-121 (October 9, 2026)). Compare it with the official text at uscode.house.gov (external site).

Cite as 26 U.S.C. § 1233

At a glance

Read from the text, the source credit and the official notes. Not part of the law.

Status: In force
Enacted: September 2, 1958 by Pub. L. 85–866
Last amended: March 9, 2002 by Pub. L. 107–147
Amendments: 6 dated changes in the source credit
Length: 8 subsections · 1,742 words · about 8 min to read
Defines: 2 terms
Cross-references: cites 5; cited by 3 Code sections and 7 other regulations
Regulations: 2 issued under this section

¶(a) Capital assets

For purposes of this subtitle, gain or loss from the short sale of property shall be considered as gain or loss from the sale or exchange of a capital asset to the extent that the property, including a commodity future, used to close the short sale constitutes a capital asset in the hands of the taxpayer.

¶(b) Short-term gains and holding periods If gain or loss from a short sale is considered as gain or loss from the sale or exchange of a capital asset under subsection (a) and if on the date of such short sale substantially identical property has been held by the taxpayer for not more than 1 year (determined without regard to the effect, under paragraph (2) of this subsection, of such short sale on the holding period), or if substantially identical property is acquired by the taxpayer after such short sale and on or before the date of the closing thereof—

¶(1) any gain on the closing of such short sale shall be considered as a gain on the sale or exchange of a capital asset held for not more than 1 year (notwithstanding the period of time any property used to close such short sale has been held); and

¶(2) the holding period of such substantially identical property shall be considered to begin (notwithstanding section 1223, relating to the holding period of property) on the date of the closing of the short sale, or on the date of a sale, gift, or other disposition of such property, whichever date occurs first. This paragraph shall apply to such substantially identical property in the order of the dates of the acquisition of such property, but only to so much of such property as does not exceed the quantity sold short.

For purposes of this subsection, the acquisition of an option to sell property at a fixed price shall be considered as a short sale, and the exercise or failure to exercise such option shall be considered as a closing of such short sale.

¶(c) Certain options to sell

Subsection (b) shall not include an option to sell property at a fixed price acquired on the same day on which the property identified as intended to be used in exercising such option is acquired and which, if exercised, is exercised through the sale of the property so identified. If the option is not exercised, the cost of the option shall be added to the basis of the property with which the option is identified. This subsection shall apply only to options acquired after August 16, 1954.

¶(d) Long-term losses

If on the date of such short sale substantially identical property has been held by the taxpayer for more than 1 year, any loss on the closing of such short sale shall be considered as a loss on the sale or exchange of a capital asset held for more than 1 year (notwithstanding the period of time any property used to close such short sale has been held, and notwithstanding section 1234).

¶(e) Rules for application of section

¶(1) Subsection (b)(1) or (d) shall not apply to the gain or loss, respectively, on any quantity of property used to close such short sale which is in excess of the quantity of the substantially identical property referred to in the applicable subsection.

¶(2) For purposes of subsections (b) and (d)—

¶(A) the term “property” includes only stocks and securities (including stocks and securities dealt with on a “when issued” basis), and commodity futures, which are capital assets in the hands of the taxpayer, but does not include any position to which section 1092(b) applies;

¶(B) in the case of futures transactions in any commodity on or subject to the rules of a board of trade or commodity exchange, a commodity future requiring delivery in 1 calendar month shall not be considered as property substantially identical to another commodity future requiring delivery in a different calendar month;

¶(C) in the case of a short sale of property by an individual, the term “taxpayer”, in the application of this subsection and subsections (b) and (d), shall be read as “taxpayer or his spouse”; but an individual who is legally separated from the taxpayer under a decree of divorce or of separate maintenance shall not be considered as the spouse of the taxpayer;

¶(D) a securities futures contract (as defined in section 1234B) to acquire substantially identical property shall be treated as substantially identical property; and

¶(E) entering into a securities futures contract (as so defined) to sell shall be considered to be a short sale, and the settlement of such contract shall be considered to be the closing of such short sale.

¶(3) Where the taxpayer enters into 2 commodity futures transactions on the same day, one requiring delivery by him in one market and the other requiring delivery to him of the same (or substantially identical) commodity in the same calendar month in a different market, and the taxpayer subsequently closes both such transactions on the same day, subsections (b) and (d) shall have no application to so much of the commodity involved in either such transaction as does not exceed in quantity the commodity involved in the other.

¶(4)

¶(A) In the case of a taxpayer who is a dealer in securities (within the meaning of section 1236)—

¶(i) if, on the date of a short sale of stock, substantially identical property which is a capital asset in the hands of the taxpayer has been held for not more than 1 year, and

¶(ii) if such short sale is closed more than 20 days after the date on which it was made,

subsection (b)(2) shall apply in respect of the holding period of such substantially identical property.

¶(B) For purposes of subparagraph (A)—

¶(i) the last sentence of subsection (b) applies; and

¶(ii) the term “stock” means any share or certificate of stock in a corporation, any bond or other evidence of indebtedness which is convertible into any such share or certificate, or any evidence of an interest in, or right to subscribe to or purchase, any of the foregoing.

¶(f) Arbitrage operations in securities In the case of a short sale which had been entered into as an arbitrage operation, to which sale the rule of subsection (b)(2) would apply except as otherwise provided in this subsection—

¶(1) subsection (b)(2) shall apply first to substantially identical assets acquired for arbitrage operations held at the close of business on the day such sale is made, and only to the extent that the quantity sold short exceeds the substantially identical assets acquired for arbitrage operations held at the close of business on the day such sale is made, shall the holding period of any other such identical assets held by the taxpayer be affected;

¶(2) in the event that assets acquired for arbitrage operations are disposed of in such manner as to create a net short position in assets acquired for arbitrage operations, such net short position shall be deemed to constitute a short sale made on that day;

¶(3) for the purpose of paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection the taxpayer will be deemed as of the close of any business day to hold property which he is or will be entitled to receive or acquire by virtue of any other asset acquired for arbitrage operations or by virtue of any contract he has entered into in an arbitrage operation; and

¶(4) for the purpose of this subsection arbitrage operations are transactions involving the purchase and sale of assets for the purpose of profiting from a current difference between the price of the asset purchased and the price of the asset sold, and in which the asset purchased, if not identical to the asset sold, is such that by virtue thereof the taxpayer is, or will be, entitled to acquire assets identical to the assets sold. Such operations must be clearly identified by the taxpayer in his records as arbitrage operations on the day of the transaction or as soon thereafter as may be practicable. Assets acquired for arbitrage operations will include stocks and securities and the right to acquire stocks and securities.

¶(g) Hedging transactions

This section shall not apply in the case of a hedging transaction in commodity futures.

¶(h) Short sales of property which becomes substantially worthless

¶(1) In general If—

¶(A) the taxpayer enters into a short sale of property, and

¶(B) such property becomes substantially worthless,

the taxpayer shall recognize gain in the same manner as if the short sale were closed when the property becomes substantially worthless. To the extent provided in regulations prescribed by the Secretary, the preceding sentence also shall apply with respect to any option with respect to property, any offsetting notional principal contract with respect to property, any futures or forward contract to deliver any property, and any other similar transaction.

¶(2) Statute of limitations If property becomes substantially worthless during a taxable year and any short sale of such property remains open at the time such property becomes substantially worthless, then—

¶(A) the statutory period for the assessment of any deficiency attributable to any part of the gain on such transaction shall not expire before the earlier of—

¶(i) the date which is 3 years after the date the Secretary is notified by the taxpayer (in such manner as the Secretary may by regulations prescribe) of the substantial worthlessness of such property, or

¶(ii) the date which is 6 years after the date the return for such taxable year is filed, and

¶(B) such deficiency may be assessed before the date applicable under subparagraph (A) notwithstanding the provisions of any other law or rule of law which would otherwise prevent such assessment.

(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 327; Aug. 12, 1955, ch. 871, § 1, 69 Stat. 717; Pub. L. 85–866, title I, § 52(a), (b), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1643, 1644; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIV, § 1402(b)(1)(T), (2), title XIX, § 1901(a)(137), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1732, 1787; Pub. L. 97–34, title V, § 501(c), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 326; Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title X, § 1001(b)(17), (e), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 1012; Pub. L. 105–34, title X, § 1003(b)(1), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 910; Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(7) [title IV, § 401(f)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–649; Pub. L. 107–147, title IV, § 412(d)(3)(A), Mar. 9, 2002, 116 Stat. 54.)

Terms defined here

Where the text says “the term … means”. Select a term to jump to its definition.

property § 1233(e)(2)(A)
stock § 1233(e)(4)(B)(ii)

Regulations under this section

Treasury regulations (26 CFR) issued under § 1233

Cross-references

Computed from the citations in the text of Title 26 and 26 CFR.

This section cites 5 other sections

Cited by 3 Code sections

Cited in 7 regulations not issued under it

Amendment history

From the source credit and the official notes, newest first.

March 9, 2002Amended by Pub. L. 107–147Parts changed in 2002: (e)(2)(E)
December 21, 2000Amended by Pub. L. 106–554Parts changed in 2000: (e)(2)(D)
August 5, 1997Amended by Pub. L. 105–34Parts changed in 1997: (h)
July 18, 1984Amended by Pub. L. 98–369Parts changed in 1984: (b)
August 13, 1981Amended by Pub. L. 97–34Parts changed in 1981: (e)(2)(A)
October 4, 1976Amended by Pub. L. 94–455Parts changed in 1976: (b) (c) (d)
September 2, 1958Enacted by Pub. L. 85–866Parts changed in 1958: (a) (e)(4) (g)

Where it sits in the Code

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Official notes

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Editorial Notes

Amendments

2002—Subsec. (e)(2)(E). Pub. L. 107–147 added subpar. (E).

2000—Subsec. (e)(2)(D). Pub. L. 106–554 added subpar. (D).

1997—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 105–34 added subsec. (h).

1984—Subsecs. (b), (d), (e)(4)(A)(i). Pub. L. 98–369 substituted “6 months” for “1 year” wherever appearing, applicable to property acquired after June 22, 1984, and before Jan. 1, 1988. See Effective Date of 1984 Amendment note below.

1981—Subsec. (e)(2)(A). Pub. L. 97–34 inserted “, but does not include any position to which section 1092(b) applies” after “taxpayer”.

1976—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1402(b)(2), provided that “9 months” would be changed to “1 year”.

Pub. L. 94–455, § 1402(b)(1)(T), (2), provided that “6 months” would be changed to “9 months” for taxable years beginning in 1977.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1901(a)(137), substituted “August 16, 1954” for “the date of enactment of this title”.

Subsecs. (d), (e)(4)(A)(i). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1402(b)(2), provided that “9 months” would be changed to “1 year”.

Pub. L. 94–455, § 1402(b)(1)(T), provided that “6 months” would be changed to “9 months” for taxable years beginning in 1977.

1958—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 85–866, § 52(b), struck out “, other than a hedging transaction in commodity futures,” after “sale of property”.

Subsec. (e)(4). Pub. L. 85–866, § 52(a), added par. (4).

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 85–866, § 52(b), added subsec. (g).

1955—Subsec. (f). Act Aug. 12, 1955, added subsec. (f).

Effective Date of 2002 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 107–147 effective as if included in the provisions of the Community Renewal Tax Relief Act of 2000 [H.R. 5662, as enacted by Pub. L. 106–554], to which such amendment relates, see section 412(e) of Pub. L. 107–147, set out as a note under section 151 of this title.

Effective Date of 1997 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–34, title X, § 1003(b)(2), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 910, provided that: “The amendment made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] shall apply to property which becomes substantially worthless after the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 5, 1997].”

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–369 applicable to property acquired after June 22, 1984, and before Jan. 1, 1988, see section 1001(e) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 166 of this title.

Effective Date of 1981 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 97–34 applicable to property acquired and positions established by the taxpayer after June 23, 1981, in taxable years ending after such date, and applicable when so elected with respect to property held on June 23, 1981, see section 508 of Pub. L. 97–34, set out as an Effective Date note under section 1092 of this title.

Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

Pub. L. 94–455, title XIV, § 1402(b)(1), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1731, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective with respect to taxable years beginning in 1977.

Pub. L. 94–455, title XIV, § 1402(b)(2), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1732, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective with respect to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1977.

Amendment by section 1901(a)(137) of Pub. L. 94–455 applicable with respect to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1976, see section 1901(d) of Pub. L. 94–455, set out as a note under section 2 of this title.

Effective Date of 1958 Amendment

Amendment by section 52(b) of Pub. L. 85–866 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1953, and ending after Aug. 16, 1954, see section 1(c)(1) of Pub. L. 85–866, set out as a note under section 165 of this title.

Pub. L. 85–866, title I, § 52(c), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1644, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to short sales made after December 31, 1957.”

Effective Date of 1955 Amendment

Act Aug. 12, 1955, ch. 871, § 2, 69 Stat. 718, provided that: “The amendment made by the first section of this Act [amending this section] shall apply only with respect to taxable years ending after the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 12, 1955] and only in the case of a short sale of property made by the taxpayer after such date.”