Library

Take a look at our extensive collection of articles and content designed to help you understand
the different concepts within trading, investing, retirement planning, and more.

Taxes

Understanding and managing taxes is a key investing skill. Learn important tax-related concepts and how taxes apply to different investments.

Taxes are a fact of life. With that in mind, here are several things you might consider as you prepare for tax season—from year-end retirement planning to reviewing your portfolio and updating your investment goals. It’s not an exhaustive list, and not all items may apply to you, but it’s a good starting place. For specifics about your own tax situation, please consult a tax advisor.

When reviewing your Form 1099-DIV, you may notice either qualified or ordinary dividends that do not match with the cash distributions you received during the year.

Many people make a distinction between investors and traders, but by default the Internal Revenue Service does not. Whether you make three trades a year or three hundred, the IRS looks at your trades and any gains or losses the same way for tax purposes.

Let's look at what a wash sale is, how brokers such as E*TRADE track and report them to you, and what potential pitfalls you should keep in mind.

Every investor needs a solid understanding of cost basis and how it's calculated. Let's take a look at this important investing concept.

While taxes are unavoidable, you have choices when it comes to satisfying your tax obligation. Some of these choices can include paying in cash, liquidating investments, taking out a loan, or even using your credit card.

This article explores what the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) is and what you may need to know about the tax and your exposure to it. Read the article to learn more.

All investors should have some understanding of how capital gains work. Read on to learn more.

What is tax-loss harvesting exactly, and how do some investors use it to reduce their tax bills?

The countdown to Tax Day has begun. Here are some steps you can take as the deadline approaches.

On December 29, 2022, as part of a bipartisan spending bill, the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 (SECURE 2.0) was signed into law by President Biden. This new act built upon the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 (SECURE Act of 2019), which was the first major overhaul of retirement-related legislation since 2006. In this article, we’ll summarize some of the key provisions of the new law and discuss what they might mean for you. Please note that this article does not address all the provisions of SECURE 2.0. Every person’s situation is unique, and because E*TRADE is not a legal or tax advisor and does not provide legal or tax advice, we encourage you to talk with your legal and/or tax advisor about SECURE 2.0 and how it will affect you and your retirement accounts.

Start investing today

Enjoy $0 commissions on online US-listed stock, ETF, mutual fund, and options trades with no account minimums.1