@D_ONEILL
I know you believe what you are saying.
The reporting is counterintuitive.
Please refer to the IRS instructions for how to report a short sale.
I myself could not interpret the document correctly for many years.
Finally, I realized what the instructions are saying.
I myself did not interpret the wash sale instructions correctly for many years.
I finally got it when an expert at Vanguard called me to explain my confusion.
After several readings, you should, finally, get it.
References:
IRS Instructions for Form 8949
"Column (c)—Date Sold or Disposed Of
Enter in this column the date you sold or
disposed of the property.
For a short sale, enter the date you delivered
the property to the broker or lender to
close the short sale. "
This would be the settlement date after acquiring the property.
