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Level 2
posted Mar 25, 2025 7:04:43 AM

1256 Futures contracts carry back.....or not?

Last tax year (2023) and this tax year (2024) I have been day-trading futures contracts. Last year I made about $5,000, while this year I lost about $6,000. TTX says that I can (must?) carry back what I lost from 2024 to (in my case) 2023. I have several questions:

 

(1) Can I  (must I) carry back to 2023 $5,000, and therefore amend that tax return with form 1045?

 

(2) Since I would like to avoid the process of amending my 2023 tax return, could I just enter as carry back a small amount ($0.01). I am asking because  TTX seems to require entering a carry back amount larger than 0.

 

(3) If I just need to submit an amended 2023 return, do I need to install again my desktop TTX 2023 version? Would that work? And what about amending my 2023 State taxes? Would TTX also handle them?

 

Thank you for the help!

 

0 2 1110
2 Replies
Level 15
Mar 25, 2025 7:20:09 AM

You do not have to do any carryback That is totally your choice.

 

Since the carry backs is a complicated process, that involves amending two prior returns, you should not do it unless it is strongly to your advantage

 

@Massimo59 

Level 2
Mar 28, 2025 4:54:23 AM

Thank for your comment. It is as you suggested and what I have done!

Cheers.