How to File a Return That Tells the IRS You're a Trader

The difference between investors and traders, in simple terms, is the difference between hobbyists and professionals.

Investors invest to increase wealth, but it's really a sideline to their day jobs.

For traders, trading is their day job. It puts bread on the table and pays the rent. As such, the Internal Revenue Service treats it like a business, offering tax breaks in two key areas: ...