are you a trader that made the475f election or an investor? investor or trader without 475f election reports the full gain or loss in the year the position is closed. a trader with a 475f election reports the unrealized gain or loss every year but the reporting is not done on Schedule D but on form 4797.
Whenever you place an order to buy or sell a security with your broker, there will be a "trade date" and "settlement date" recorded. The trade date, which is the date that the order was executed, is the one that counts for tax purposes. The settlement date is just the date when the cash or securities from the transaction are plunked into your account.
