The Wall Street Journal Journal gave an update on the "wash sale" rule.  If you're selling stock in your brokerage account at a loss be aware of this rule.  And, our usual disclaimer-always consult your tax advisor.

 • It's a wash. IRS officials issued a ruling late last year answering a question raised in this column many years ago. Suppose you sell a stock at a loss in your regular taxable account and then buy the same stock a few minutes later for your IRA. Can you deduct your loss? Or have you violated what's known as the wash-sale rules and are thus unable to deduct the loss? (A "wash sale" typically occurs when you sell or trade securities at a loss and buy the same thing, or something "substantially identical," within 30 days before or after the sale.)
 

The IRS's decision: If you did that maneuver, you did indeed violate the rules and can't deduct your loss.